Ranking Michael Jordan’s 11 most iconic commercials of all-time
By Titan Frey
8. Nike: Is It the Shoes? (1991)
What’s a better mix than NBA star Michael Jordan and famed director Spike Lee recreating a famous character from one of his films? Nothing is the answer.
Lee plays Mars Blackmon, who was his character in his first feature film, She’s Gotta Have It. Mars Blackmon constantly asks Jordan questions about why he’s so good at basketball.
These questions were: “Is it the vicious dunks, and is it the haircut?” Jordan replies, “No, Mars,” after each question. Finally, Lee’s character says, “It’s gotta be the shoes!”
Overall, the Mars Blackmon character asks Jordan eight times if it is the shoes, but Jordan denies it every time.
His shoes and ability to overcome adversity were two key reasons Michael Jordan was a commercial superstar.
7. Jordan Brand: Failure (1997)
When you think of Michael Jordan, you think of a successful player who seemingly never failed. This, of course, wasn’t true.
Jordan had failed multiple times, and that is the reason why he succeeded so much. In the 1997 commercial, Jordan explains precisely how many times he has failed in his career.
Jordan narrates this as he gets out of his car and is greeting the Paparazzi. As Jordan heads to the arena, he gives the viewers this inspiring quote:
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot — and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
If you’re not pumped up to take on any challenge after watching this commercial, then maybe you’re not human. That’s the power of Michael Jordan, the ability to inspire all who watch him.