10 More Supporting Actors Who Totally Stole The Movie

When Matt Damon and Ben Affleck decided to tell the story of how Nike went about convincing Michael Jordan to sign with the brand - a strategy that would ultimately see the creation of the legendary Air Jordan shoe - the icon himself had two requests.

The first being that he wanted long-time Nike Vice President Howard White to be included in the picture. And the second was that his mother could only be played by the greatest actor working today: Viola Davis.

Upon witnessing the Academy Award-winner's work in the Affleck-directed Air, it's not hard to see why Jordan was so determined to see Davis bring his own mom to life on the big-screen.

Despite being on screen nowhere near as much as Affleck and Damon's Phil Knight and Sonny Vaccaro, respectively, Davis dominates absolutely every moment she's present, confidently and mesmerisingly protecting her son as she plays ball with the suits trying to capitalise on her baby boy's gift.

It's not an explosive turn by any means. But Davis' quiet, unwavering, and effortlessly powerful showing as Deloris Jordan still finds itself at the centre of the moments when Air truly soars.