Spike Lee created the Mars Blackmon-Air Jordan cultural reset out of Chicago Bulls’ turf, but make no mistake, he bleeds New York. Despite the Knicks’ lack of success for five decades, he wears a symbol of the glory days around his neck hoping for a comeback. In case you kept up with the ins and outs of Knicks nation recently, the championship hopes come alive with the dramatic addition of Karl-Anthony Towns. So sitting next to Michael Jordan at the Hall of Fame weekend, Spike Lee begged an NBA insider to give him more confidence in the Knicks. Whether it worked or not, can’t be said, but Mars Blackmon left the 6x champion and the room in splits.

The Hall of Fame weekend attracted celebrity basketball fanatics like Jack Nicholson, Billy Crystal, and Spike Lee. Seated next to Lee was the overly private Michael Jordan with his wife, Yvette Prieto, making a rare public appearance this year.

Spike Lee addressed Ahmad Rashad as a representative of the “People’s Republic of Brooklyn, New York.” He first verified Rashad’s credentials stating, “You learned a lot from my brother here from Brooklyn, Michael Jordan?” Ahmad Rashad humored him with a yes as if he isn’t a 30-year veteran sportscaster.

The filmmaker then showed the bling on his neck, Red Holzman’s Knicks ring from when they won the 1973 championship. That’s the last time the Knicks won. “It’s been over 50 years…This year we got a squad…we got KAT, one of the best point guards in the league, we got defense. What’s going to happen this year? Are the Knicks finally gonna win a championship?” The room was already laughing at that point, including MJ and Rashad.

Jordan had his head down, laughing, clapping his hands at the hilarity. But that came to a halt when Rashad composed himself and said, “I think they’ll break that whole thing. This is the year.” The reason, according to Rashad, is, “Must be the shoes.” He meant the Air Jordans decorating Spike Lee’s feet, obviously. Can’t be Mars Blackmon without the Jumpman sneaks.

Michael Jordan breaks his own drought

The Knicks emerged as a top seed in the East this past season but they went a step further trading for Towns with Minnesota. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo went to the Wolves. Now Knicks nation anticipates huge things from Jalen Brunson and KAT together. What no one anticipated was the rare public appearance from Michael Jordan.

It wouldn’t be HoF weekend without him, but yet it was a bit of a surprise to see him and his wife in Massachusetts. But of course, he was there with old friends Spike Lee and Ahmad Rashad. Lee is the director and star of the famous Nike ads for Air Jordan based on his character, Mars Blackmon. These days he’s spotted at Madison Square Garden wearing Brunson’s jersey. Rashad was a staple of The Last Dance as MJ’s close confidante.

The NBA is also celebrating Rashad’s iconic show, NBA Inside Stuff alongside the 2025 class of inductees. So after Jordan congratulated Vince Carter, he stuck to his friends and got some laughs out of it.