Players used to be intimidated by Michael Jordan’s competitive fire. But not this ingenious director! If MJ was tough on himself in games, it’s no surprise he’d be just as fiercely competitive in other areas. However, his friend and renowned director, Spike Lee, knew how to turn that competitive edge to his advantage. He recalled an instance where he did just that, all for a good cause.

Lee has often spoken about how friends and famous personalities stepped in to help him complete his film Malcolm X. In a recent interview, he shared how he cleverly used LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson to receive a larger donation from Jordan.

“I did this strategically. So I called Magic, said boom boom boom. I said ‘bet’. Got the check. And the final call was to Michael Jordan and I know how competitive he is. Mike said, ‘Magic gave what? I got you I got you,’” Lee narrates on The Realest Podcast Ever, rejoicing at the memory of Jordan writing a larger check.

Lee has previously mentioned that other celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Tracy Chapman, also pitched in whatever they could. The director recalled how the cast began filming with the knowledge that there wasn’t enough budget to finish. But Lee never gave up. With the help of his celebrity friends, Lee managed to complete the film, which starred Denzel Washington, and went on to make around $73 million.

Lee was proud of the outcome and the contribution of everyone involved. He even went on to give their flowers just before the filming was complete. But Lee admits he never let anyone in on the amount these stars donated. “I made a promise… I will go to my grave,” he says of keeping the information with him. Warner Bros – the studio that held the rights to this project – would contact him soon after, letting him know they had hired everybody.

The movie then went on to be nominated for the Academy Awards and it turned out to be one of his most important works. So using both Jordan’s and the Los Angeles Lakers legend Johnson’s influence was a clever and creative move. This was something you can only expect from Lee whose visionary approach worked wonders.

Spike Lee’s iconic commercial with Michael Jordan

The two first came together in 1988 for a Nike commercial. While the Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s fame was soaring, Spike Lee had just made his directorial debut with She’s Gotta Have It in 1986. But how did this collaboration begin? It was made possible thanks to Jim Riswold, then a copywriter at the ad agency. 

He saw the potential in creatively linking Jordan with Lee’s character, Mars Blackmon. Blackmon was a character known for his obsession with Air Jordans, in She’s Gotta Have It. Recognizing the potential, Riswold contacted Lee to help create the ad.

The rest is history, as we saw the groundbreaking connection that helped propel Nike to more success. Blackmon’s character resonated deeply with millions of fans who shared his passion for Air Jordans.

The ad’s massive success was a surprise to Lee as well. “I was completely surprised when it blew up. It blew up, it changed the culture, and I’m just happy I was a part of it. And it was 100 percent accident,” Lee recalled in an interview with Good Morning America.

While many other ads have been made till now, this initial collaboration remains one of the most iconic.