See images of Air stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and more.

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Team spirit

The cast of Air photographed by Alex G. Harper for Entertainment Weekly — (Clockwise from top left): 'Air' stars Chris Tucker, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, Ben Affleck, and Jason Bateman. Alex G. Harper for EW

Yes, he's the greatest to ever play the game. But before that ever happened, Nike took a huge chance on Michael Jordan, courting him for an exclusive sneaker deal that could either make or break the company known at the time for its running shoes.

So whose idea was it to create the Air Jordans? And how did they seal the deal? Director Ben Affleck and his costars — Chris Tucker, Jason Bateman, Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Marlon Wayans, and Chris Messina— tell that story in Air, in theaters April 5.

Find out more about the real people behind this story, and check out EW's exclusive portraits of the cast, ahead.

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Ben Affleck

The Oscar-winning screenwriter and director helms Air, where he also plays Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight.

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Matt Damon

The Martian star plays Sonny Vaccaro, Nike's basketball expert, who convinces the company to take a chance on NBA rookie Michael Jordan.

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Viola Davis

The EGOT winner plays Deloris Jordan, Michael Jordan's mother, who was integral in brokering the future basketball GOAT's groundbreaking deal with Nike.

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Julius Tennon

Life imitates art in Air, where Viola Davis' real-life husband, Julius Tennon, plays her onscreen spouse, James Jordan.

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Chris Messina

The Mindy Project alum plays David Falk, Michael Jordan's fiery agent.

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Marlon Wayans

The comedian and actor portrays George Raveling, one of Michael Jordan's coaches at the 1984 Olympics, held the summer after was drafted to play for the Chicago Bulls.

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