Spike Lee has a sneaker collection that all diehards would kill for. Over the decades, the Highest 2 Lowest director has always had a special relationship with kicks—especially when it comes to Jordan Brand and Nike. After all, this is the guy who immortalized the Jumpman brand through his alter ego Mars Blackmon in the late ’80s. But while most of us have long since worn through our grails, Lee stepped out in a pair that proves his rotation isn’t just deep—it’s also meticulously preserved.
For sneakerheads, there’s something mythical about seeing a two-decades-old pair still looking brand new. Leather usually cracks, midsoles yellow, and glue lines give way. That’s the natural course of a sneaker’s lifespan. Which is why Lee’s flex hits extra hard. It wasn’t just nostalgia, it was a masterclass in care. The Jordan 23 Classic ‘White Maple’ first dropped back in 2006, and while it’s not as hyped-up as other silhouettes like the Air Jordan 1 or Air Jordan 4, it’s still a Michael Jordan-endorsed model with a cult following all its own.
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Crafted from white tumbled leather, everything’s kept nice and simple. You won’t find any oversized Swooshes or heavy graphics here, just a solid sneaker that’s designed to be worn with everything. The 23 Classic line didn’t last very long, so if you didn’t manage to cop back in the day, you didn’t cop at all. That’s what makes the Oscar winner’s squeaky clean pair so impressive. Are they stored in a climate-controlled room? Are they cleaned obsessively every week? Questions, questions, questions.
There’s also something so refreshingly anti-trend about it all. In a plentiful and saturated sneakerverse where a flashy colorway or collab basically gets announced every single week, Lee proves that the GOAT-iest pairs aren’t always the newest pairs. So while most sneaker guys cycle through pairs in months, Spike Lee is out here showing that great sneakers, like great films, can endure decades without losing their luster.
Take care of your kicks, and they’ll take care of you.
This story originally appeared on British GQ.