Lex Gillette can identify each pair of Nike Jordans in his collection just by the feel of them.
The shoe that has a hard loop around the heel and a cool tongue? It’s one of his Jordan 6s. The shoe that’s made of crocodile skin with metal accents around the eyelets? One of his special edition 4s.
The 35-year-old, four-time Paralympic medalist can do this with every single pair he has out at the Paralympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. And he kind of has to, considering he is blind.
And with the release of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” docu-series about Michael Jordan, Gillette saw the opportunity to use his collection as a teachable moment for his followers on Twitter.
“How do I get dressed and how do I know what colors my clothes are are the two questions I get the most,” Gillette told Runner’s World. “People are always asking questions, and sometimes they don’t because they don’t want to hurt my feelings. That’s why I encourage people to ask. I’d much rather eliminate someone’s ignorance than have them saying things in public with a misconception about blindness or a person with a disability.”
Gillette’s guide runner since 2007, Wesley Williams, introduced him to Jordans about six years ago, and the long-jumper has been collecting them ever since. Though he can’t see them, Gillette understands the significance of his collection—he has about 40 to 50 pairs—and the community that comes with them.
“I can tell which ones there are by the way they feel when I put them on, or I can touch them and feel the parts of the shoe and recognize them that way,” he said. “Even if I just felt the tread of the shoe, I would get them right 8 out of 10 times because each has distinction.”
“There is so much more to these shoes, and that’s why I challenge people to look at them, and other things, from all angles,” he said. “It sheds a different light on things in your household. When you get the story from the designers and their creation, you realize it’s not just a transaction. It becomes more than a basketball shoe.”
Plus, he loves how his fellow Jordan fans react to them when he’s out in public.
“People comment on your Js everywhere—Aw man, sweet kicks,” Gillette said. “People get super excited about them, and it brings a smile to my face. That lets me know that they get it. They understand.”
Gillette has been tuning in for “The Last Dance” every week, and he’s excited to watch the last two episodes, airing on May 17. He grew up and attended college in North Carolina, like Jordan, so the basketball star has always been a big deal to Gillette. With this docu-series airing, he appreciate the shoes even more.
“I absolutely love to get this behind the scenes and insight,” Gillette said. “Michael Jordan is unparalleled. You see that his mentality is is different. Just the the drive and tenacity and his love for the game, it’s finally evident to people, and I love it.”
Drew covers a variety of subjects for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand. His work has previously been published in Men’s Health.
