The New York Knicks are 2026 NBA Champions for the first time in 53 years and there’s arguably no one happier about the win than iconic filmmaker and lifelong Knicks’ superfan Spike Lee. The Brooklyn native was just 16 years old when the Knicks won their last championship a now at 69 years of age, he was able to witness a Knicks’ championship first-hand with their 4-1 NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs.
While Lee has become a New York institution and Madison Square Garden fixture with his Knicks fandom, he’s also responsible for one of the most iconic Nike marketing campaigns of all-time. In 1988, Nike enlisted the help of Lee and his alter ego “Mars Blackmon” to partner with Michael Jordan and promote the Air Jordan 4 with his now-infamous tagline “It’s gotta be the shoes!”
Michael Jordan and Spike Lee remain close friends to this day with Lee calling Jordan and leaving a voicemail right after the Knicks’ championship win. Spike Lee has been a massive ambassador for Nike and Air Jordan, serving as a walking billboard for all things New York, Knicks, and Nike products in the process.
This also means Jordan Brand extends their gratitude to Lee consistently, recently gifting him a custom one-of-one Air Jordan 3 sneaker to wear as a good-luck charm throughout the 2026 NBA Finals.
Spike Lee’s exclusive ‘Knicks Finals’ Air Jordan 3
Spike Lee shows off another custom pair of Air Jordan 3s made by @Jumpman23 ahead of game 5 of the 2026 NBA finals
: (IG) officialspikelee pic.twitter.com/xskJE2bq2r
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) June 13, 2026
The iconic Air Jordan 3 was sent to Lee ahead of the Knicks’ clinching Game 5, featuring all-over blue leather throughout the uppers. The signature elephant print throughout the toe and heel are done in white and orange for the perfect contrast, matching the orange sockliner and laces. Coming in two pairs, both sneakers will offset each other with blue/orange colorblocking for an unmistakable Knicks look.
Finer details include the lace dubraes reading “ORANGE” and “BLUE” while we also see both Jumpman logos on the tongue and back heel donning Knicks’ colors. The final and most personal detail is Spike Lee’s “Mars Blackmon” insignia on the back heel, appearing for the first time since the “Mars” Jordan 4 and making these truly one of a kind.
Whether or not Spike Lee directly had a hand in helping the Knicks win a championship can be left up to history, but now he definitely has a valid claim reasoning their Game 5 clinch: “It’s gotta be the shoes!”
The post Spike Lee unveils New York Knicks Air Jordan 3 for NBA Championship win appeared first on ClutchPoints.
