Back in April 2023, Ben Affleck played Nike co-founder Phil Knight in Air. With a stacked cast that included Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, and Chris Tucker, the film centred on the American sportswear company's relentless pursuit to sign Michael Jordan, and inadvertently change the athletic sponsorship game forever.
But that wasn't the start of Affleck's sneaker journey. Long before the Air campaign trail, the two-time Oscar winner flexed dozens and dozens of grail sneakers. He's a collector. And like all good hordes, the treasures require some analysis, some adjudication, and some actual pointers as to where one can cop all this very good stuff.
1 | K-Swiss SI-18 Rival ‘Brilliant White’
Affleck loves a hyped sneaker. But sometimes (just sometimes), the guy prefers something a little more anti-hype – and that's what the K-Swiss SI-18 Rival is all about. Sure, it's a shoe that you'll often find on sale racks across the land (it's £60 right now), but it's also a shoe that's inspired by the American label's tennis heritage, and that's pretty cool.
2 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘What the Dunk’
Considering Affleck is probably Hollywood's biggest hypebeast, the fact that he owns the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘What the Dunk’ shouldn't really be that much of a shocker. First released all the way back in October 2007, this grail-y sneaker features a unique design that borrows elements from 31 other legendary Nike SB colourways. Not only are they one of the rarest Dunks of all-time, they're one of the rarest sneakers in the history of man – period.
3 | Allbirds Tree Pipers ‘Natural White’
In a very unexpected turn of events, Affleck was spotted heading to a basketball game in one of the most anti-hype trainers out there: the Allbirds Tree Pipers ‘Natural White.’ And what makes it pretty sick is the fact that it's apparently hella comfy and, compared to the rest of his collection, it's a lot kinder to the environment.
4 | Off-White Out of Office ‘Black White’
In April 2024, Affleck left the sneakerverse shooketh. Not because he stepped out in a never-before-seen Dunk or an Air Jordan collab that nobody else owns, but because he broke his Swoosh streak for the first time in over a year with the Off-White Out of Office. Designed by the late and great Virgil Abloh back in 2020, while this is Affleck's first trainer from the Milanese house, something tells us that it won't be his last.
5 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘De La Soul’
The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘De La Soul’ first dropped in 2015. It's considered to be one of the rarest SB Dunk collabs ever, and unsurprisingly, Affleck has a pair in his collection. Made in partnership with the alt-rap trio, it takes inspo from the group's first album ever. Almost a decade later, these are still reselling for some big, big numbers.
6 | Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Cactus Jack’
Ben Affleck loves a Travis Scott shoe. He's got the ‘Reverse Mocha.’ He's got the ultra-rare Fragment Design collab. And he's even got colourways that aren't released yet. So, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Hollywood's biggest sneakerhead also owns the Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Cactus Jack.’ Introduced in 2020 during the height of the SB Dunk hype, one thing that makes these super special is that the paisley upper actually tears away over time, revealing an even wilder pattern underneath.
7 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Eire’
Every good sneaker collection consists not only of the latest collabs and limited editions, but also some of the older, rarer stuff. Take the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Eire,’ for example. Released back in 2006 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the pro-independence Easter Uprising in Ireland, these are extremely hard to come by. But, of course, Affleck has a pair in his current rotation.
8 | Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG ‘Reverse Mocha’
Affleck's check shirt has an entire Instagram account dedicated to it. But when he was spotted in Los Angeles in February, everyone was too busy focusing on his Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG ‘Reverse Mocha’ sneakers. It's believed to be the Texas-born rapper's best trainer to date, and two years later, it still stands up.
9 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘What The P-Rod’
The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘What The P-Rod’ dropped during a time when the skateboarding silhouette was mega-hyped. Made in collaboration with legendary pro skater Paul Rodriguez, this trainer is the sum of several previous projects with Nike. The result: a masterfully mashed-up trainer.
10 | Air Jordan 4 SE ‘Black Canvas’
Most Air Jordan 4s are made of leather or suede or even nubuck. But sometimes (just sometimes), they're crafted from canvas like Affleck's Air Jordan 4 SE ‘Black Canvas.’ First released two years ago, this is one of the only colourways ever to be made of this material. It's pretty rare, and this is reflected on its ever-increasing StockX price.
11 | Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Chunky Dunky’
The Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Chunky Dunky’ is a shoe that many of us can only dream of owning. But with Affleck being Affleck, of course he has a pair in his collection. Made in collaboration with the Vermont-based ice cream company, it dropped back in 2020 and sold out literally within seconds. Even four years later, it's still one of the biggest (and tastiest) grails in the business.
12 | Parra x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Friends & Family’
Affleck kicked off 2024 strong with the Parra x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Friends & Family.’ Unlike the “normal” pair that was made for commoners like you and I, this one was designed exclusively for the brand's inner circle and is one of the rarest colourways of all-time. Not many have been seen in the wild, but it shouldn't come as too much of a shocker that Affleck has them in his collection.
13 | Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Triple White’
Affleck likes to keep it clean with a white T-shirt and Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘Triple White’ combo. A no-nonsense trainer for no-nonsense people, this is the shoe that you slip on if you're just heading to the corner shop for a pint of milk, or you're meeting up with a mate for some quick brunch (which is almost a religious practice in Los Angeles).
14 | Air Jordan 1 Mid ‘Mystic Navy’
At the end of last year, Affleck started to spice things up a bit with a pair of Air Jordans. While the mid-top version isn't exactly what sneakerheads would call hypey, it's still a pair of Js, nonetheless. The Air Jordan 1 Mid ‘Mystic Navy’ actually dropped around May of last year, so it's taken him about five months to finally take them for a quick spin. Contrasted with ‘Mint Foam’ overlays, it's the sort of low-key colour even a neophyte can flex.
15 | Nike Dunk Low ‘Grey Fog’
Going from one b-ball shoe to another, Affleck added the Nike Dunk Low ‘Grey Fog’ to his autumn rotation. Probably one of the cleanest Dunks out there, this one released as part of the Beaverton sportswear company's 2021 line-up, and it's still pretty popular even after two years. Armed with his usual order of iced coffee in one hand and a solid blue puffer, it's slightly dad-core, slightly LA-incognito (which aren't mutually exclusive things, by the way).
16 | Nike Dunk Low PRM ‘Halloween’
Nike goes hard on a good old themed sneaker, and the Nike Dunk Low PRM ‘Halloween’ is one of the most coveted. Here, Affleck can be seen rocking the kicks just in time for the spooky season. If one zooms in, you can see the trainers are painted in a black, white, and orange colour scheme. And when you turn the lights down, you'll actually be greeted with a series of glow-in-the-dark eyes across the entire upper. Wowee, spooky!
17 | Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Green Toe’
Michael Jordan's low-top AJ1 has got to be one of his most underrated models, and it's proof that Affleck is a sneaker nerd of the highest order. The ‘Green Toe’ colourway is something of an unsung grail. And this particular pair actually dropped two weeks later. So Affleck's either working on the inside, or has a fixer on speed dial. Either way: bravo.
18 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Celadon’
The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Celadon’ is one of the first Affleck has taken public, and this is the sort of silhouette sneakerheads dream of. Outfitted in a full suede construction, the beige, blue, and purple colour combo was actually borrowed directly from a classic Nike ACG hiking boot line from the '90s. And yes, resale prices are continuing to shoot up by the second. Which is cool.
19 | Size x Nike Dunk Low ‘Dark Driftwood’
October 28, 2023 marked the day that Affleck officially entered the wonderful world of collabs, and it rarely gets hype-ier than this. Made in collaboration with the British sneaker retailer of the same name, the Size x Nike Dunk Low ‘Dark Driftwood’ has a multi-material construction and deconstructed detailing throughout.
20 | Sean Cliver x Nike SB Dunk Low Pro ‘Holiday Special’
If you ask any sneakerhead what the most hyped SB Dunk collab is, there's a huge chance that they'd bring up the Sean Cliver x Nike SB Dunk Low Pro ‘Holiday Special.’ Made in collaboration with the contemporary artist, this particular pair initially released in 2020 in extremely limited numbers.
21 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘St Patrick’s Day’
While at a LA Lakers game with his son Samuel, Affleck manifested the luck of the Irish with a pair of the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘St Patrick's Day’. Equipped with metallic gold Swooshes on both sides, each pair is embroidered with a tiny four-leaf clover around the heels for that full St Patrick's Day-inspired vibe. Ádh mór ort!
22 | Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Obsidian Crystal Mint’
Affleck's collection isn't all about the newest and shiniest stuff. The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Obsidian Crystal Mint,’ for example, is a true classic from 2014, and is a serious colourway for serious collectors only. He most likely spent a pretty penny on this pair too, that's why he decided not to add oat milk to his iced coffee this time around. It all adds up, you know.
23 | Air Jordan 3 Winterized ‘Archaeo Brown’
Spotted at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game alongside co-star Chris Tucker, he's got the Air Jordan 3 Winterized ‘Archaeo Brown’ on foot. These have been outfitted in a series of cosy materials to keep you nice and warm. We also need to give Tucker's Air Jordan 2 ‘Chicago’ a special shout out too. Very, very good choice, sir.
24 | Air Jordan 7 ‘Doernbecher’
Originally released in 2016, the Air Jordan 7 ‘Doernbecher’ was designed by 10-year-old Damien Phillips, a haemophilia A patient at Oregon's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. The legendary design features a black and red colourway that's actually inspired by Phillips' love for music, guitars, as well as fiery volcanoes.
25 | Fragment Design x Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Royal’
During the Air press tour, Affleck really turned up the hype by bringing out the big guns. Sitting alongside Matt Damon and Viola Davis, he flexed the Fragment Design x Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Royal’ during a March episode of Good Morning America. A three-way collaboration between Hiroshi Fujiwara, Travis Scott, and Michael Jordan, this is actually one of His Airness' fave collabs of all-time.
26 | Union LA x Air Jordan 4 ‘Guava Ice’
At this point, Affleck is sneaker royalty. Regarded by many as one of the best AJ4s in history, the Jay-Z-adored Union LA x Air Jordan 4 ‘Guava Ice’ dropped back in 2020 and sold out literally within seconds. Known for its folded-over tongue which has been deliberately stitched down for a unique low-top aesthetic, there's never been another pair quite like it.
27 | Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 High OG ‘Chicago’
Wait, what exactly does Affleck have on feet here? From a distance, these look just like Mike Jordan's original Air Jordan 1 from 1985. However, as soon as you take a closer look, you'll spot a reversed Swoosh on both sides, which is a design detail that's unique to Travis Scott's Jordan Brand collabs.
Could this be custom sneaker made especially for him? Or is he rocking a yet-to-be-released shoe that we've never seen before? Well, with Affleck being Affleck, something tells us that we already know the answer. If these do happen to drop, they'll automatically be the best sneaker release of 2024. No questions asked.
