Michael Jordan Talked “Ugly” Air Jordans & More With David Letterman In 1986

After nearly 22 years, 4,262 episodes and hundreds of interviews with a generation of celebrities, the Late Show with David Letterman comes to a close tonight.

But from 1982 to 1993, Dave hosted Late Night with David Letterman, the show that helped spark a new era in late night talk. And it was on that program that one of Letterman’s most famous interviews took place in 1986, when a 23-year old Michael Jordan, fresh off his historic 63-point playoff performance against the Boston Celtics, dropped by to chat. They covered quite a bit in the appearance’s two segments – Jordan’s fledgling career, then-lucrative Nike contract, finishing up his degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, his broken right foot, his endorsements and – most importantly – his Black/Red and White/Black-Red Air Jordan 1 (returning 5/30/15) that he calls “ugly.” Classic.

Watch and reminisce with Dave and Mike in his classic red Air Jordan Wings sweatsuit now.

You can catch Letterman’s final Late Show tonight at 11:35pm EST on CBS.