“It’s really weird”: Even Without Michael Jordan’s Blessings, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Air Release Date Pays a Tribute to NBA Legend’s Jersey Numbers

During his recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his latest movie Air (2023), Matt Damon took a moment to reflect on a special milestone in his personal life. With a wistful tone, he shared that it had been 20 years since he first laid eyes on his beloved wife Luciana Barroso.

As he reminisced about the past, Matt couldn’t help but marvel at the coincidence of the date with Michael Jordan’s jersey numbers. But it was clear that the most meaningful part of the day for him was the celebration of his enduring love with Lucy.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon worked behind a bar to woo his wife, Luciana Barroso

“It’s really weird. The movie Air is opening today, and we realized that Michael Jordan wore two numbers in his career, 45 and 23, and the date is 4/5/23,” he told host Jimmy Fallon. “Isn’t that crazy?” he said while promoting his latest movie, Air (April 2023), in a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso have been going strong for an incredible two decades now, and their love story is one for the ages.

Matt Damon & his wife Luciana Barroso

Their serendipitous meeting in 2003, when Luciana was a hard-working single mother and bartender in Miami, has become the stuff of legend:

“He says, ‘Oh I saw you and I really wanted to talk to you,’” she continued.

“So I put him to work with me! I said, ‘You know, if you’re going to be back here, you can’t just be standing there!’ He had trained as a bartender for a film years before, so he started making drinks.

And he made me a ton of money in tips that night because, of course, everyone wanted to go and see him. It turned into a really fun night and then 15 years later here we are!”

In 2005, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso sealed their love with a beautiful wedding ceremony after two years of dating. Over the years, their family has grown, and they welcomed three more lovely daughters — Isabella, Gia, and Stella — to their family.

Everything you need to know about Matt Damon’s latest work, Air

Air is a captivating sports drama directed by the award-winning Ben Affleck, which explores the iconic partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike that transformed the sports and cultural landscape with the Air Jordan brand.

The movie portrays the high-stakes gamble of a nonconformist team, the unwavering determination of a mother who recognizes her son’s exceptional talent, and the rise of a basketball superstar who would ultimately be considered the greatest of all time.

Matt Damon in Air

Air boasts a star-studded cast with several A-list actors in prominent roles, including Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, Ben Affleck as Phil Knight, Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Messina as David Falk, and Chris Tucker as Howard White.

Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in Air

Viola Davis was Jordan’s top choice to play his mother in the film, according to Ben Affleck, who met with the NBA legend before production began.

Jordan insisted, “It has to be Viola Davis,” and Affleck knew that it was their duty to create a role worthy of her.

Davis’ agreement to take part was a lifelong career ambition for Affleck. When she agreed, he felt that he had made it as a director.

Viola Davis in Air

The film premiered at the South by Southwest festival on March 18, 2023, and was later released in theaters across the United States on April 5, 2023, with distribution by Amazon Studios.

Critics have praised the movie for Affleck’s direction, Convery’s script, and the cast’s performances, making it a must-see for audiences who appreciate captivating sports dramas.

How has Matt Damon’s Air fared at the Box Office?

Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, Air, is a touching sports drama that follows the intense Nike campaign to sign Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal in 1984.

Although the film doesn’t showcase on-court action, it recasts the deal as a standard sports drama, with legendary Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro’s attempts to win over the player’s mother, Deloris, at the forefront.

The star-studded cast, including the reunion of lifelong friends Damon and Affleck, is a standout aspect of the film. However, some viewers may find the character of Deloris underdeveloped and a composite of other familiar characters.

Michael Jordan

The film opened strong, earning $3.2 million on its first day, and is projected to make between $10.6 million to $18 million over its first five days of theatrical release.

This is an unusual move for a streaming service, as Air is granted a theatrical run before heading to streaming exclusively on Prime Video.

The film has received positive reviews and outstanding word of mouth, with a 97% positive Rotten Tomatoes score and an A CinemaScore.

Air is likely to appeal to adult moviegoers, who are discerning about the films they choose to watch in theaters post-pandemic.