When Michael Jordan put on his signature sneaker, he began a revolution. Some of the biggest names on the basketball planet have come under the Jordan brand umbrella. Through the partnerships, the brand has created a variety of exclusive shoes. But it wasn’t until 2024 that they curated their ‘greatest creation’. The Air Jordan 39 became such a hit for Paolo Banchero, that he launched the shoe far before it should have been.
“Once I put the shoe on, though, that was when I was like, It’s over. I gotta be in these. I told Sam this 39 is their best work in my opinion. As long as I’ve been with the brand, it’s their best work. It’s a super comfortable shoe, I love wearing it,” the Magic’s knight told Slam. Originally, Banchero used to wear the Luka 2 before sampling the Air Jordan 39. When he did, he felt limitless. And with the playoffs approaching, he felt the need to have these shoes on his feet.
“It felt like I was floating. Obviously, I’m a big guy. I play with a lot of force, I cut a lot, I jump, and there’s just a lot of force being thrown around in my shoes. But those shoes, I don’t feel limited at all. I feel like I can make any movement, any cut. I can put however much force I need to into the shoe, and it’ll hold up. It just performed really well. I think I noticed it right away,” he further commented.
Standing at 6’10”, Paolo Banchero carries a large frame. But his game is far from using just his physical tools. His offensive chart spreads across all dimensions. Playing with fluidity and strength, the 250-pound forward needed a shoe that supported his bullying style. The Air Jordan 39 contains a midsole combination of full-length ZoomX foam and full-length Air Zoom. The cushioning system helps a heavy frame like Banchero move in any direction with ease.
The foam system took inspiration from Jordan’s cross-step, a dribble move that required him to produce immense force to blindside defenders. The Air Jordan 39 allows the creation of such explosive power without overloading the foot itself. For Banchero it was paradise. And the shoe worked magic in his debut playoff series.
The Air Jordan 39 unlocked the entire arsenal for Paolo Banchero
The Magic hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2020. Banchero’s rampant improvement and the Magic’s tenacity helped them achieve a winning season and meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first-round series. That’s when Banchero first felt the Air Jordan 39’s leisure comfort on his feet. And it unlocked him fully.
After taking the first two games to accustom himself to the freedom, Banchero exploded for 31 points in merely three quarters. He finished the series with three straight games of 25 or more points, including 38 points and 16 rebounds in Game 7. For the series, he averaged 27 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4 assists. He hadn’t found such a degree of scoring success during any month of the regular season.
Sadly though, the Magic’s inexperience led them to crumble in Game 7. The Cavaliers came back from 18, the biggest comeback in Game 7 history. But it left Banchero burning with vengeance, and also anticipating what he could be with an entire regular season wearing the Air Jordan 39.
He has become the unofficial face of the newest sneaker. And Paolo Banchero is proving to be an ideal ambassador for the state-of-the-art shoe. Do you think Paolo Banchero and the Magic will be a surprise squad this season? Let us know what you think in the comments below.