Which Air Jordan model did Michael Jordan wear during the 1997 'Flu Game'?

Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan 12 during the 1997 “Flu Game.”

The shoes were black-and-red Air Jordan 12s worn in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, when the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in Utah. Jordan played 44 minutes and scored 38 points despite becoming seriously ill before tipoff.

The game’s nickname came from reports that Jordan had the flu, although later accounts, including discussion in The Last Dance, identified food poisoning as the likely cause. Jordan hit a decisive three-pointer with about 25 seconds remaining, helping Chicago win 90–87.

A common mix-up is confusing the Flu Game shoes with other famous Jordan Finals models. The Air Jordan 11 is associated with the Bulls’ 1996 championship season, while the Air Jordan 13 was worn during the 1998 Finals. Jordan’s Flu Game pair was later given to Utah Jazz ball boy Preston Truman and sold at auction for $1.38 million in 2023.