Ben Affleck Is a Low-Key Sneaker Legend

Photographs: Getty Images, Nike; Collage: Gabe Conte

One of the best movies of 2023 is also one of the best sneaker movies of all time: Air, the inspirational sports drama about the true story of how Nike landed Michael Jordan to the most consequential sneaker deal ever signed. Matt Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, the schlubby but tenacious Nike marketing guy who parlayed his gift for scouting into a hugely ambitious plan to sign a generational talent, and a sizable portion of the movie’s running time is dedicated to the conceiving, designing, and building of the original Air Jordan 1, the sneaker that gives the movie its name and has given many sneaker fans’ lives meaning.

So it’s probably no surprise that Ben Affleck, who both directed Air and co-starred in it as Nike founder Phil Knight, is something of a sneaker fan himself. He showed off his impressive shoe collection with pride during the promotional tour for the movie—so much so that he sent the online sneakerhead community into an uproar by appearing on live TV wearing an unholy combination of the classic Air Jordan 1 Chicago and the much-coveted Travis Scotts, which no one had ever so much as seen before, let alone wore. It was as if to make clear that Affleck was no mere amateur collector. The guy has the kind of access to grails reserved for big-time insiders alone.

But lest anyone assume that the public sneaker love was just a bit of movie marketing, Affleck’s been out and about lately making his affection for shoes apparent all over again. He was spotted out earlier this week pairing the “Skate Like a Girl” Dunks from Nike SB, released last year in partnership with the non-profit organization of the same name, which shows both his love for an awesome cause and the kind of sartorial boldness needed to pair skater Dunks with, well, a Rolls Royce. If that weren’t enough, he was seen walking around earlier this month wearing yet another pair of Travis Scott Jordan 1s, this time the low-top mochas. This is no gimmick. Ben Affleck is a bona fide sneakerhead, and the man deserves his props.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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