When you think of Michael Jordan, it's hard not to envision him soaring through the air and performing his signature 'Jumpman' dunk. However, the most famous silhouette of 'His Airness' actually didn't take place the way you'd think. In fact, it wasn't even a real dunk at all.
During a photo shoot for LIFE Magazine prior to his appearance at the 1984 Olympic Games, photographers asked Jordan to jump up and spread his legs with the ball.
In an interview with HOOP Magazine in 1997, Jordan recalls the photoshoot, stating that he "wasn't even dunking on that one. People think that I was" he said. Jordan added, "I wasn’t even running. Everyone thought I did that by running and taking off. Actually, it was a ballet move where I jumped up and spread my legs."
The one who actually conceived the idea, was photographer Jacobus Rentmeester,who directed Jordan to perform a 'grand jete,' "a long horizontal jump during which a dancer performs splits in mid-air," according to an ESPN.com article. Rentmeester later sued Nike over rights to the classic image.
He later performed a dunk from the free throw line at the 1988 NBA Dunk Contest, in which he similarly spread his legs, however, many confuse this as the origin of the 'Jumpman' logo. Nonetheless, the image has become Jordan's personal logo and will forever be associated with MJ.