The (Uncertain) Story Behind Michael Jordan's Air Jordan 12 'Flu Game'

Jordan Brand celebrates its 40th anniversary throughout 2025. Although much of its attention has been focused on re-crafting and retelling the story of the Air Jordan 1, the eponymous label has also taken time to commemorate other moments from Michael Jordan's legacy.

On Saturday, March 1, the Nike, Inc. subsidiary will release the Air Jordan 12 'Flu Game' in sizing for the whole family. Although the retro won't be the first time Jordan Brand reissues the iconic 'Black/Varsity Red' style, it'll mark the team's closest effort to the original pair from 1997. Furthermore, March's release promises to arrive with a story-driven rollout not seen for previous retros.

In anticipation of the return of the 'Flu Game' 12, House of Heatº has put together the story behind Jordan's inspiring performance 28 years ago. The official account's validity has been questioned multiple times since '97, but one thing can't be disputed: His Airness persevered through conditions that most couldn't handle to put on a stellar performance on the big stage.

Road to the Finals

The date is Sunday, June 8, 1997. The Utah Jazz led by Karl Malone just tied the against the Chicago Bulls in the 1996-97 NBA Finals. Despite putting up 22 points, Michael Jordan couldn't lead his team to a Game 4 victory in Salt Lake City.

After a tough loss, Jordan and the rest of the Bulls squad had two days off before heading into Game 5 at the EnergySolutions Arena.

Steve Kerr, Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors and part of that Bulls roster, shared on the Bill Simmons Podcast that the team had had to deal with higher altitude than usual given its stay in Park City, UT instead of downtown Salt Lake City. Park City is 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) above sea level, whereas Utah's capital is 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) above sea level.

Kerr has posited, then, that Michael Jordan experienced elevation sickness during Game 5 of the Finals that year. It's important to note, however, that none of the other Bulls came down with the same symptoms as Mike.

A Problematic Pizza

Tim Grover, Michael Jordan's former personal trainer, blames bad pizza for #23's state in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.

"One-hundred percent it was food poisoning," he shared on Pardon My Take podcast in May 2020. "But obviously it just sounds better to be 'the flu game' than 'the food poisoning game.'"

Grover confirms Kerr's story that the Chicago Bulls stayed about 40-minutes outside of Salt Lake City in Park City. Back in the late '90s, the area was a lot less populated than it is today. Mostly everything, according to Grover, closed at 8:30 p.m., making it difficult to come by any late-night cravings. The hotel wasn't offering room service when Jordan got hungry the night before Game 5, putting Grover in a dilemma. He was eventually able to find a "pizza joint" open, placed an order, and received the pizza from not one but five "delivery" people. The folks in Park City had, according to Grover, already caught wind that His Airness was in town and specifically at this hotel.

"I got a bad feeling about this," Grover told Jordan as he handed him the pizza. "Aw man, f*ck you," Jordan allegedly responded.

According to Grover, Mike was the only one to dig in to the pizza – he and about two other guys chose not to join #23 in his late-night craving. Up to this point, no one on the Chicago Bulls squad had shown signs of any flu-like symptoms or physical ailments. At about 3 a.m., Grover received a phone call to his hotel room asking him to head over to M.J.'s room. As Grover tells it on the Pardon My Take podcast, Jordan was curled up in the fetal position on his hotel room floor.

"Just get me well enough so I can get to the [EnergySolutions Arena] floor," Jordan told Grover.

And that he did.

What Happened in Vegas, Couldn't Stay in Vegas

Some people believe Jordan's "Flu Game" was actually his "Hungover Game."

It's no secret that His Airness liked to have a good time at the height of his celebrity. Conspiracy theorists have long believed that Michael Jordan flew out to Las Vegas during the two-day stretch he had between Games 4 and 5 of the Finals. While hard to believe, stranger truths have come to light of the social media-less era.

In the early 2010s, sports analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose commented on the legendary "Flu Game," suggesting that Jordan had likely experienced a mixture of bad food and having had too much to drink.

Jason Hehir, director of ESPN's "The Last Dance" docu-series, has argued against this theory. On the Jalen & Jacoby Aftershow, he shared: "It's not a hangover if you're on the ground, grabbing your stomach and throwing up at two or three in the morning, that's not what hangovers are. And that is documented, that he was doing that, and many people saw that happen – his mom was involved in this process as well."

The "Flu Game"

It's Wednesday, June 11. Jordan and the rest of the Chicago Bulls team arrive to Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena before 7 p.m. for Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.

Paparazzi and commentators alike had learned about #23's "flu-like symptoms" hours before the face-off, leading them to wonder how he could perform during the crucial match.

Jordan was visibly uncomfortable on-the-court. He and the Bulls ended the first quarter with 16 points to the Utah Jazz's 29 points. Donning his two-tone pair of the Air Jordan 12, the four-time NBA Champion headed into the second quarter with a mission.

There's no doubt that M.J. knew the importance of the situation at hand. Some even believe that he used the flu story as a way to con the Jazz into letting its guard down.

Regardless, Mike closed out Game 5 having played 44 minutes. He scored 38 points, dished out 5 assists, and put up 7 rebounds to help the Bulls lead the series 3-2.

Jordan secured his fifth NBA title back in Chicago two days later.

'Flu Game' Retros

Since 1997, the Air Jordan 12 in 'Black/Varsity Red' has been synonymous with the "Flu Game." March's retro isn't any different, but it's not the first time Jordan Brand has highlighted this aspect of Michael Jordan's legacy.

The first reissue arrived in 2003, a time during which new Air Jordan product was scarce. In 2009, a 'Flu Game' retro released with different materials across the upper and a nod to Mike's performance on the lateral heel. The pair seen in 2016 offered a closer build and look to Tinker Hatfield's design. The short-lived Jordan Trainer Prime also revisited the 'Flu Game' colorway in mid-2017, demonstrating just how enduring the lore and aesthetic are.

The next 'Flu Game' 12s, however, promise the near-identical magic that the OGs delivered in the late '90s. So, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 1, to add a piece of history to your sneaker collection.

And to stay up-to-date on all things His Airness, bookmark our expansive Air Jordan Releases Calendar for 2025 and beyond.