Michael Jordan is a name that is synonymous with greatness. He was an incredible basketball player who revolutionized the game and set new standards for excellence.
But his greatness did not stop on the court. Michael Jordan has also been a part of some of the most iconic and memorable commercials in advertising history. From Nike, Gatorade, McDonald’s, and more, Jordan’s impact on advertising has earned companies and himself millions of dollars.
In this article, we’ll pop the popcorn, open the tabs on our soda cans, and watch Michael Jordan’s top 11 greatest commercials.
These are Michael Jordan’s 11 most iconic commercials of all time.
11. Nike: 100-Foot Rim (1995)
One of the most iconic Air Jordan shoes is the Air Jordan XI, the shoe MJ wore when the Bulls won 72 games and their fourth NBA title. This commercial is another one where Jordan doesn’t speak, but it’s extremely effective.
Jordan starts the commercial out by eyeing a 100-foot rim. This doesn’t scare Jordan, as he’s wearing his Air Jordan XI. Jordan takes off after the hoop and soars in the air.
Jordan slams the ball, but now he has a new problem… How to get down? This is something Jordan is unsure of as he gives the camera a look.
This is a simple yet effective message that made fans want to cop a pair of Air Jordan XI. Even though the 100-foot rim commercial doesn’t crack our top 10, it’s still good enough for an honorable mention.
10. Gatorade: Challenge (1997)
Moving on into the top 10 of this list, we’ll look at Gatorade’s “Challenge” commercial. It’s a simple yet effective commercial showing Jordan sitting with Gatorade pouring off him like sweat.
The music that plays as you watch Jordan can make the hair stick up on your arms, as it is an inspiring commercial. Does it make you want to drink Gatorade?
After seeing the Gatorade slogan, “Is it in you?” I’d say it makes me want to grab a bottle of Gatorade.
Gatorade and Nike consistently ran some of the greatest ads in sports history with Michael Jordan.
9. Nike: Banned (1985)
This 1985 Nike commercial, which was titled “Banned” is what led to Nike and its Air Jordan line finding massive success. The commercial shows Jordan bouncing a basketball and tossing it back and forth through his hands.
The G.O.A.T. doesn’t speak, but he doesn’t need to. A narrator then tells the audience about the Air Jordan I shoes getting banned by the NBA.
Black blocks cover shoes, which continues to push Nike’s message of Jordan’s shoes being banned by the NBA. The reason the shoes were banned was because they didn’t have white in them, and NBA shoes worn by players at the time were required to be 50% white.
This was the perfect anti-establishment message by Nike, and guess what? It worked. What makes this even crazier is the shoe Jordan wore that resulted in the NBA stepping in wasn’t even the original Air Jordan shoe, but the Nike Air Ship.
Jordan wore the Air Ship in a preseason game, but that didn’t matter. The ad campaign by Nike worked as the company, along with the Jordan Brand, are among the top of the shoe market, and that won’t change for the foreseeable future.
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.
6. Jordan Brand: Maybe It’s My Fault (2008)
It was 10 years after Jordan last wore a Chicago Bulls uniform and five years since he played in the NBA. Still, he was the most popular NBA player.
Because of this, some believed Jordan was so good for the game that it hurt the league. Maybe it’s because some people felt like the NBA couldn’t replace him.
This was the premise of the Jordan Brand commercial titled “Maybe it’s my fault.” The commercial shows different scenarios from Jordan’s life, from the North Carolina and Laney High School locker rooms.
What really makes the commercial great is Jordan’s narration:
"“Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy, When it wasn’t. Maybe I made you think my highlights started at the free-throw line, And not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game-winner. That my game was built on flash, and not fire. Maybe it’s my fault that you didn’t see that failure gave me strength, That my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, And not something I worked for, Every single day of my life. Maybe I destroyed the game.”"
After this narration, Jordan is now shown in front of a group of teenage basketball players. Jordan then says, “Or maybe, you just making excuses.”
This commercial is incredible, and it’s well deserved to be on our list.
Michael Jordan’s ‘The Showdown’ is one of the greatest advertisements in Super Bowl history.
5. McDonald’s: The Showdown (1993)
What’s better than having Michael Jordan and Larry Bird together? This partnership was so good that they made a video game of the two. But that wasn’t all.
The pair was featured in a McDonald’s commercial titled “The Showdown.” This commercial has Bird and Jordan playing in an intense game of H-O-R-S-E.
The winner of the game earns the ultimate prize, which is Jordan’s Big Mac meal. Before the two begin the game, Bird hilariously says, “The first one to miss watches the winner eat. No dunking!”
The two would make incredible shots after incredible shots. Of course, when you have two stars of their magnitude, you can’t have a winner.
The commercial ends with the two continuing to play H-O-R-S-E. Rumor has it the two are still playing to this day.
4. Jordan Brand: Frozen Moment (1997)
The Jordan Brand commercial known as “Frozen Moment?” is one commercial many fans remember from the 90s. The reason for that is that the message the commercial gives is 100% correct.
The commercial, which is showing off the Air Jordan XII shoe, has Jordan playing against the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan makes his patent spin move to get by his defender.
All of this occurs in slow motion while a tranquil voice sings, bringing out goosebumps on the viewer’s skin. The message of the commercial is when Jordan is playing on TV, everyone stops what they’re doing to watch.
The commercial shows this happening, like when a man, who is in the middle of shaving, stops to watch Jordan while the water runs and overflows in the sink. This was the power of Michael Jordan during the 90s.
’23 vs. 39′ perfectly demonstrated why Michael Jordan is a timeless legend.
3. Gatorade: 23 vs. 39 (2003)
This commercial is in the top spot for many Jordan fans, as it premiered during Super Bowl XXXVII, and it showcased a 39-year-old Michael Jordan playing one-on-one against a 23-year-old MJ. Yes, this was a sight to see for all Jordan fans.
At this time, the 39-year-old Jordan was a member of the Washington Wizards. Even though he wasn’t quite the same player as he was when he was a member of the Chicago Bulls, Jordan was arguably a smarter player.
As the two MJs played one-on-one, the elder Jordan, who may not be as athletic, showed his knowledge by tricking the younger Jordan and blocking the Bulls Jordan’s layup when he should have dunked. Of course, the younger MJ did showcase some specular dunks over Wizards MJ, as well.
As the commercial ends, the two Jordans are sitting and enjoying their Gatorade while college MJ approaches and asks, “Who’s got next?” The elder MJ tells Bulls Jordan to get out and play.
The CGI in the commercial is great, as it looked like the younger Jordan was truly there. This commercial is a classic, but there are two other commercials that we have to rank above.
2. Jordan Brand: What Is Love? (2003)
While Michael Jordan was enjoying his final NBA season in 2002-03, this Jordan Brand commercial premiered during the 2003 All-Star Game, and it touched every Jordan fan’s heart. The commercial chronicles Jordan’s career throughout the years.
It also shows each Air Jordan shoe released during those years, and the commercial title is “What is Love?” The message shows Jordan’s love for the game of basketball and why he came back to the NBA (again).
The commercial is 4 minutes and 30 seconds long, but it doesn’t feel that long, as it’s very entertaining. From highlights of Jordan’s game-winner against the Cavs in 1989 to Jordan’s last shot as a member of the Bulls, it’s a joy for every MJ fan to watch.
The commercial ends with Jordan on the bench as a member of the Wizards, getting ready to check into a game. Jordan gets off the bench, and as he claps his teammates’ hands, Jordan as a narrator says, “What is love? Love is playing every game as if it’s your last.”
The commercial promoted the Air Jordan XVIII shoes, and it was extremely effective, as most Jordan commercials are.
In the early 90s, there was only one thing every kid wanted to be…
1. Gatorade: If I Could Be Like Mike (1991)
Was there any other choice for the top Michael Jordan commercial? In 1991, Jordan not only won his first NBA title but when Gatorade launched the “If I Could Be Like Mike” commercial, his popularity soared to new heights.
The commercial shows footage of Jordan’s famous switch-hands layup in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals, which continued to push the narrative of Jordan being on another level as a basketball player. It also showed Jordan playing pickup basketball with a group of guys and children.
The song is 100% true, as everyone, old and young, wanted to be like Mike. Jordan was truly a one-of-a-kind player.
In the world of advertising, Michael Jordan’s commercials stand as a slam dunk, capturing the essence of his unparalleled talent, magnetic personality, and unwavering dedication. The G.O.A.T. has many more incredible commercials, but out of the bunch, these truly are Michael Jordan’s top 11 greatest commercials.