Michael Jordan undisputedly unlocked something in France since he first played the City of Light in 1985. For over twenty years Quai 54 has been an epicenter of street basketball and street style that rivals the city’s fashion week. Earlier this year Jordan Brand announced The One, inspired by the origins of the Jumpman that saw Michael Jordan battle his brother Larry in the backyard growing up. The 1v1 they played created his unwavering quest for victory, despite matchups that frequently resulted in defeat. Now it’s Our Turn.
From Manila to London, throughout the summer, players from all around the world battled 1v1 for a seat in The One Finals. As they competed on their home courts, qualified players advanced to The One Finals, which took place in the 18th arrondissement, home of the Brand’s global sport and cultural hub, District 23, which combines the area’s rich cultural legacy along with love for the game.
We kicked off game day, in one of the District 23 x Footlocker activation courts where we got to skill our footwork with ground games and drills while experiencing the AJ39 featuring ZoomX foam, the highest-performing foam that exists. We first saw the shoe on Orlando Magic forward and Jordan Brand athlete Paolo Banchero The AJ39 is imbued with inimitable style, easy confidence, and a distinct twist on Jumpman-cool which resonates in Paris and beyond.
We made our way to the historic theater, Le Trianon et L’Élysée Montmartre dating back to 1894. The streets in the 18th are typically bustling, and animated, for the evening that authentic and charming spirit of the neighborhood was brought courtside for The One’s Global Finals where Le Trianon was retrofitted to become a dynamic basketball arena for the night and the AJ39 hit the court on the New Gen.
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Sure to inspire with the motto of the evening Our Turn, American Tatianna Griffin and French Steve Bah took home the titles of the Best Female and Male 1v1 Players in the World. Not only have they earned bragging rights that saw NBA stars Chris Paul and Zion Williamson cheering them on, but they also bagged a year-long partnership with Jordan Brand that includes a role in the upcoming Air Jordan 40 campaign.
In celebration of the competition, and the whole week dedicated to building a legacy of greatness for the next-gen of hoopers, Jordan Brand brought us a surprised performance by hip-hop artists Rema, Fat Joe, Lola Brooke, Guy2Bezbar, and Rapti Sati. District 23, under the Creative Direction of Youssouf Fofana, has interlaced culture and sport throughout its ongoing programming, and continued to show that fashion, music, and especially basketball bring people together from around the world, and brought the world to the 18th arrondissement for a special night.
Check out some photos from the event below:
