The Legacy of the Air Jordan 12 'Flu Game'
Only Michael Jordan could redefine the legacy of a sneaker and a viral infection all in the same night. June 11, 1997 will forever be remembered as the birth of the Air Jordan XII "Flu Game."
In order to properly understand the significance of the "Flu Game" XIIs, you first have to revisit the timeline of events that led up to this sneaker being branded as such.
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At the time of its release, Jordan's Chicago Bulls were locked in a decisive battle with the Utah Jazz during the 1996-97 NBA Finals. After a Game 4 loss—the Bulls' second in a row—it was time to regroup and take control of the series.
Game 4 was brutal on all fronts. The Bulls put up a measly 73 points. Jordan didn't fare much better, going 11-for-27 from the field, resulting in a series-low 22 points for him.
Having lost two games in a row, and with Game 5 in Salt Lake City, the Bulls were hanging on for dear life. To make matters worse, Jordan was experiencing flu-like symptoms leading up to a must-win Game 5.
Everything changed that night. Jordan blew past the Jazz, trouncing his Western Conference foe to the tune of 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 90-88 Bulls win.
"Battling the spirit and savvy of the Utah Jazz and the nauseating symptoms of the flu, Jordan tonight backpacked his team from the depths of despair," Mike Wise wrote in the New York Times the following morning.
The Bulls went on to win the '97 Finals in six games, and Jordan's legacy, as well as the shoes he wore that fateful evening, were forever enshrined into the memories of sports devotees.
The Air Jordan XII has since gone on to play a significant role in the line's history. Steve Jaconetta of Sole Collector formulated an oral report about the shoe, explaining that the red and black "Flu Game" version was actually the original colorway.
Thanks to StockX's data, we also know that the "Flu Game" XIIs dropped on June 1, 1997—ten days prior to the sneaker being deemed worthy of the Smithsonian Institution. We also know the shoe piggybacked off the success of the Air Jordan XI model and brought Nike's flagship designer Tinker Hatfield back into the mix in order to solidify the design.
Hatfield's vision for the XII was unique. Sean Sweeney over at The Drop touched on what the longtime Jordan collaborator used to fuel the XII's triumphant aesthetic: "a 19th century women’s dress boot and the Japanese war flag, known as the Nisshoki."
But it was Jordan's valiant performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that elevated this sneaker from simply a "Bred" offering to the "Flu Game" XII we've all come to know and love.
To prove how significant these shoes are, all you have to do is check out how much the original "Flu Game" sneakers worn by Jordan went for at auction. According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Jordan's game-worn kicks were picked up for a lofty price tag of $104,765.
Fortunately, for those who don't have that kind of cash lying around, Jordan Brand is set to drop a retro, remastered version of the "Flu Game" XIIs on May 28.
The shoe is enhanced with premium materials, including a tumbled leather base. Tumbled leather spread across the kicks was used to reveal layers of grain detailing.
Between the black-and-red colorway and inclusion of tumbled leather, Jordan Brand's vision for this retro came across without a hitch. It's a shoe that, because of legacy and quality, has become a must-cop for sneakerheads.
Watch out on May 28, because the Air Jordan XII “Flu Game” is coming.
All production information via News.Nike.com, unless noted otherwise. All stats and information via Sports-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
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