We’re going to go ahead and say now that Lance Mountain is to Skateboarding what Michael Jordan is to Basketball, but before you roll your eyes in disbelief, check out how.

We didn’t say he’s what Michael Jordan is to the NBA, but basketball — what MJ did for (or to) the NBA, there are very few that can come close to that pure dominance he showcased during his reign. But Lance Mountain, without a doubt, transcended the sport of Skateboarding, similar to Michael Jordan with the game of basketball. Mountain’s combination of skating and artistry will continue to grow — like MJ and his coveted shoes.

If you didn’t know, Mountain is not only a prolific skater, but equally an artist and inventor of things regarding the culture of skating.

This time his catalog adds a very well put together collaboration with Air Jordan and Nike SB. To the naked eye, this seems like another venture to bring the brands together, but it actually solidifies them. Back in the mid-80′s when skating was fresh off of its Dogtown days, many skaters opted to wear basketball sneakers on boards citing their added ankle and forefoot comfort as reasons.

It would be another twenty-something years before Nike officially caught wind and created their SB line that would maximize the comfort and support. Now, we have the combination of both.

The Lance Mountain x Air Jordan x Nike SB (available June 7) not only provides the comfort, but the artistic input from Mountain. There is a special paint that, when scuffed or scraped, reveals another layer of art within the shoe. It’s inspired from Lance’s days of skating in mismatched Jordans.

-Jamaal Fisher (@jamaalfisher)