Air Jordan shoes have been the top selling signature basketball shoe that Nike has ever produced.
In addition to the signature Air Jordans, Jordan Brand has a major presence in the basketball and lifestyle market.
Despite the fact that Michael Jordan retired from basketball in 2003 (for the 3rd time)
Air Jordans are still the top selling models for many sneaker retailers.The legacy of Michael Jordan lives on with the release of new Jordans each year and re-releasing retro Air Jordans either in the colors Mike wore back in the day, or slightly modified to match with current trends.
Beginning in 2005, Jordan Brand has brought back several “hybrid” Jordan shoes,that take individual components from different Air Jordans and form one individual shoe.As part of the 23 year celebration, Jordan Brand started a multi-year campaign “fusing” the Air Force 1 with Air Jordans creating the Air Jordan Fusions.
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The Nike Air Jordan I was the shoe that started it all. It debuted in 1985 and has changed sports forever. Since its release Nike/Jordan Brand has created a different signature model every year.
The Air Jordan 2 debuted in the 1986/1987 season featuring a full length air sole and very supportive midsole. The Air Jordan 2 again stood out from all of the other basketball shoes with a faux lizard skin on the side of the shoe. The Air Jordan 2 also separated itself from all other sneakers since it was made in Italy. The Air Jordan 2 was also the only Jordan shoe to not originally be made in black.
Successful Sneakers - Successful Season
Along with great sneakers came great success on the court. While wearing the Air Jordan 2, Michael Jordan scored an average of 37.1 points per game and took his first of seven consecutive scoring titles. Jordan also scored 40 points in 9 straight games during the season and also put 61 up against Atlanta Hawks.
Along with all the buckets came awards. Next to the Air Jordan 2 in his display case, Jordan can place the slam dunk contest trophy, All-Star Game appearance, and was named to first team All-NBA.
The Air Jordan 3 broke ground for many different aspects of the Nike Air Jordan shoe line. First, the Air Jordan 3 featured the “Jumpman” on the tongue of the shoe. This silhouette of Jordan was to celebrate and commemorate his Slam Dunk Contest victory the year before. Every Jordan after the Air Jordan 3 features this Jumpman as a focal point of the shoe as well as became the new logo for the Air Jordan line. The Air Jordan 3 was also the first to feature a visible air unit. Lastly, the Air Jordan 3 featured elephant print on the upper. Though this material was only used again on 1 other model, it set a standard that the Jordan shoes are as much fashionable as functional.
The Air Jordan 3 also is one of the most famous shoes in the Air Jordan lineup. On many polls, the Air Jordan 3 finishes as the greatest sneaker of all time.
The Air Jordan 4 took the world by storm in 1989. Along with a career season came a career sneaker.
Tinker Hatfield once again designed this shoe. The Air Jordan 4 featured many new design concepts. First, the straps on the side for increased ankle support. It was nearly impossible for MJ to roll his ankle in these shoes. The Air Jordan 4 again featured the air sole heel for dded cushioning and a full length midsole. In the White/Black-Cement, the shoe featured a unique texturing nicknamed “Cookies & Cream” for its striking resemblance. The Air Jordan 4 was another masterpiece to the Jordan lineup.
Mike flies to new heights
While wearing the Air Jordan 4, Michael Jordan reached new points in his career. Taking home another scoring title with 32.5 points per game, Jordan also appeared in the All-Star Game, First Team NBA, and All-Defense. This year was arguably Jordan’s best year despite no championship.
It was in the Air Jordan 4’s that Jordan made “the shot” which was a series winning shot at the buzzer to advance the Bulls to the next round in a do or die situation.
The Air Jordan 5 was released in 1990 and once again featured innovative and creative designs and features.
New Coach, Higher Hopes?
Phil Jackson replaced Doug Collins as head coach of the Bulls in the 1989-90 season. This year was the best record that the Bulls since Jordan joined the team as well as a franchise best record at 55-27. Jordan also hit his personal best when he hit 69 points again Cleveland. Jordan also hit 92 three-pointers compared to only 68 in all of the prior seasons combined! Jordan again took home the scoring title, All-Star, First Team, and All-Defense.
The Air Jordan 6 was released for the 1990-91 season. This season and this shoe was part of a defining moment for Michael Jordan and all of the Air Jordans.
Championship at last!
Every year the Jordan had played was a great one, but this year was just a little sweeter for Mike. The Bulls won the NBA Championship defeating the LA Laker’s in the Finals. Jordan again took home the NBA scoring title and his 2nd of 5 MVP awards.
Rubber tounge
What is there to say else than Hatfield created another classic. This time with a rubber tounge featuring two holes which the bearer could use to easily get the kicks on. He kept the idea with clear rubber soles and lace locks from the Air Jordan 5’s but apart from that this felt like a brand new AJ design for the Air Jordan 6.
The Air Jordan 7 was worn by Mike in the 1991-92 season as well as the gold-medal winning Barcelona Olympic Games.
As Good As It Gets
While wearing the Air Jordan 7’s, Michael Jordan won his third MVP award, second NBA championship, and the NBA scoring title. On top of that, Jordan took home his second Olympic Gold Medal when the Dream Team of ‘92 crushed the international competition including a 116-48 rout over Angola.
Unique Features
The Air Jordan 7 is a very unique shoe in the Jordan line as well as a basketball shoe. The Air Jordan 7 featured Huarache technology which made the shoe really stick to your foot. The shoe was much lighter weight than some of the previous Air Jordans as well. The Air Jordan 7 was also unique in that it did not feature the “Nike Air” logo, a visible air unit, or clear soles.
The Air Jordan 8 was released during the 1992-93 “Three-Peat” Championship season. The Air Jordan 8 was the last Air Jordan shoe that Jordan wore before retiring the first time.
The Bulls and Jordan won their third consecutive NBA title. Jordan himself got his seventh straight scoring title and reached a milestone in his NBA career when scoring his 20,000th point.
The Air Jordan 9 was released in 1993 shortly following the announcement of Jordan retirement.
On October 6th 1993, Jordan gave the basketball world a shock when he announced his retirement from the NBA. This was just one day before training camp and it was not what anyone had expected at this time. The greatest basketball player of all time retiring at the age of 30. A decision probably affected by the fact that his father was murdered in North Carolina in the summer of 1993 just before he won his third championship.
Multilingual
The shoe being released was plain and sturdy and was the first model that Michael did not wear in an NBA seasonal game (due to the retirement). The sole had lots of details and a large 23 was stitched at the back of the shoe.
There were also words in different languages on the soles of the shoes, this is what is said; Right shoe: dédié (french) - dedicated fuerza (spanish) - force intenso (italian) - intense libert¨¦ (french) - freedom anmutig (german) - gracefulLeft shoe: свобода (russian) - sport uhuru (swahili) - independence спорт (russian) - freedom athletisch (german) - athletic
The Air Jordan 10 was released in 1994-95 despite Jordan’s absense from the NBA. The Air Jordan 10 featured a different shape than the previous Jordan shoes did.
Not everyone plays like Mike
Too bad for Mike (but good for all of his followers), baseball went on strike thus leaving Jordan hanging with nothing to do - that is if he didn’t return to the NBA. Sure enough, Jordan shocked everyone when he returned from retirement on March 19, 1995. Since his jersey had been retired, he had to go back onto the court wearing #45 until the technicalities were cleared out of the way.
Surprised Nike?
It seemed as if Nike wasn’t expecting to see Jordan back in the game so soon. Nike started to re-release older model’s of the Air Jordan series (Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 2, Air Jordan 3) and the Air Jordan 10 soles featured an honor or an award from each year Michael had spent in the NBA.
The legendary Air Jordan 11 was first released for for 1995-96 season. The Air Jordan 11 are the most famous and most popular model of the Air Jordan line.
Back With Aggression!
Jordan was back for real and he led the Bulls to yet another NBA victory. He also became the second man to ever win Most Valuable Player awards for the regular season, All-Star Game and NBA Finals in the same season. Jordan averaged 30.4 points per game and scored 40 or more points in nine games while wearing the Air Jordan 11’s. What a come back!
Triple Come Back
If Jordan was back, so was Tinker Hatfield. A terrific design with a new patent leather and the return of the clear rubber sole made the Air Jordan 11 the most appreciated Air Jordan model ever released.
The Air Jordan 12 was released in 1996-97 and were the first Air Jordan shoes in the Jordan Brand line.
In this season, Jordan lost the MVP by the narrowest margin in NBA history to Karl Malone as he helped lead his Jazz to the NBA Finals only to fall to Jordan and the Bulls. Jordan wore the Air Jordan 12 while he took home his fifth NBA title and fifth NBA Finals MVP.
Love for Japan
The Air Jordan 12 featured something very unique in terms of design. The Air Jordan 12 upper was stitched to resemble the Japanese Rising Sun flag. The Air Jordan 12 also was the most durable shoes out of the whole Jordan shoe series. In addition to this, the Air Jordan 12 provides the most ankle support which was great for keeping Jordan on the floor for the whole season.
The Air Jordan 13 was released in 1997-98 which was the last season that Jordan played for the Bulls.
While wearing the Air Jordan 13’s Jordan broke Karemm Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record by scoring double-digits for the 788th consecutive game. Jordan also led the bulls to the franchise’s sixth NBA Championship Title. Jordan took home his sixth ring along with his sixth Final MVP honor.
Panther Paws
Tinker Hatfield was the mastermind behind the genius design of the Air Jordan 13. The Air Jordan 13 is regarded as the best designed Jordan shoe by a large percentage of Jordan sneaker fans. The Air Jordan 13 was the first and only Jordan shoes to feature a hologram. The outsole received inspiration from the paws of a Panther. Jordan’s nickname on the court from fellow NBA players was “Black Cat” for his fast reflexes and speed down the court.
The Air Jordan 14 was released in 1998-99, but one famous pair got on Jordan’s feet just in time before his retirement (Part 2).
On January 13, 1999 Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA for the second and what was supposed to be the final time. The NBA players union started a lockout on June 30, 1998 just a few weeks after Jordan won his sixth championship. Many speculate that the strike was too much for Michael to handle as he was one who just wanted to play basketball and not politics.
Going out with Style
Jordan left the NBA in no better style imaginable. Jordan pours in 45 points as the Bulls earn their second three-peat with an 87-86 Game 6 win over the Jazz. In the last 40 seconds, with the Bulls down four, Jordan: 1) drives for a layup to cut the margin to one; 2) strips Karl Malone on an entry pass; 3) fakes Bryon Russell to his knees and then drains the game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds left.
The Air Jordan 15 was released in 1999-2000 but was never worn by Jordan himself in an NBA game.
This was the first Jordan shoe after Jordan’s retirement. Many wondered whether or not Jordan Brand would continue to release shoes despite Jordan’s absence from the NBA.
Prada x Fighter Jet
The design of the Air Jordan 15 originated from the futuristic X-15 fighter jet developed by NASA during the 1950’s. The tongue of the shoe stuck out parallel to the ground. Many wondered if this was to resemble Jordan’s famous facial expression while soaring through the air?
The Air Jordan 16 was released on February 17, 2001 - Jordan’s 38th birthday. This shoe was the first to not be designed by Tinker Hatfield in over a decade, yet it brought together the best pieces of shoes Tinker designed.
The Air Jordan 16’s hit the shelves following the successful (though ugly) Air Jordan 15. Jordan Brand found that Jordan didn’t need to wear the shoes in the NBA to be on the hot list of every other American teenager.
Hatfield Retires
Ok, well, Hatfield didn’t exactly retire (he was actually promoted), but this was the first shoe since the Air Jordan 2 to not be designed by Tinker Hatfield. The Air Jordan 16’s were designed by Nike’s Senior Footwear Designer Wilson Smith. Smith decided to bring in a few design elements/fabrics from earlier releases. For instance we saw the return of the clear rubber sole (Air Jordan 5, Air Jordan 6, Air Jordan 11) and they also featured patent leather (Air Jordan 11).
The Air Jordan 17 was released February 9, 2002. This was the first shoe released since Jordan’s 2nd return to the NBA playing for the Washington Wizards. The first color to release matched their jersey.
Jordan is BACK!
For a while, those who talked about a 3rd coming of Jordan were thought to be as crazy as the people who think Elvis, Tupac, and Biggie are still alive. Jordan proved all the skeptics wrong on September 25, 2001 when he announced he would return to the NBA and suit up as a Washington Wizard.
Keeping the Cover
The Air Jordan 17 design was said to be inspired by three things; “the fine details from an Aston Martin, the smooth lines and flow of a jazz solo and the long Air Jordan history of innovations in style”
The Air Jordan 18 was released in 2003 and was the shoe for Jordan’s last season (part 3).
Jordan played for the Washington Wizards, but his knees didn’t hold up for all of the games. Jordan returned towards the end of the season and ended his career on April 16, 2003 in a loss against the 76ers. Though many would love to see Jordan back yet again, its pretty safe to say that Jordan has retired…for good.
New head designer
Creator of the design of the Air Jordan 18 was Tate Kuerbis (Jordan Senior Footwear Designer). A person that had been part of the Jordan footwear design team since 1999 and with Nike since 1995. The inspiration of the design is a combination fo a number of things; Sleek racing lines of the auto world, Carbon fiber-based monocoque of F1 race cars, Race car driving shoes (rubber heel wrap) and Fine Italian dress shoes (bold stitching on the soles).
The Air Jordan 19 was released in 2004. The Air Jordan 19 was produced in many Player Exclusive colorways for NBA stars like Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Carmelo Anthony, and Ray Allen. The Air Jordan 19 is the lightest and most supportive Air Jordan shoe to date and features an ultimate combination sport and style.
The Black Mamba
The design of the Air Jordan 19 was inspired by the most dangerous snake on earth, the Black Mamba. Again Tate Kuerbis (Jordan Senior Footwear Designer) was the driving force of the model but he was highly supported by persons such as Jason Mayden, Wilson Smith, Josh Heard and Suzette Henri, so maybe one could say that this was the largest joint effort within Air Jordan design ever.
The Air Jordan 20 was released on February 19, 2005. The Air Jordan 20 celebrated the 20th model and 20th year of Air Jordan shoes as well as Jordan’s legacy on and off the court.
Tinker’s Back!
Tinker Hatfield was brought back to do what he does best - create the BEST Air Jordan shoes. The most noticeable feature of the Jordan 20 is the laser etched design on the lace cover depicting various past achievements of Michael Jordan and Air Jordans.
The Air jordan 21 XXI features a newly engineered durable textile for support and durability in key performance areas. Extended heel counter construction provides enhanced ankle support. New foam-backed quilted collar complements the seamless booty construction to provide maximum comfort. Breathable mesh is brought to the tongue to dissipate heat while the adjustable tongue cover flips up to expose the breathable technology or flips down for a more sophisticated look.
The Air Jordan XX2 (Air Jordan 22) was released on Michael Jordan’s 44th birthday, February 17, 2007. This is the 22nd model in the Air Jordan series which dates back to Michael Jordan’s rookie season in 1985.
The Air Jordan 22 is cutting edge from all angles. The Air Jordan XX2 features an innovative design, unbelievable comfort, and powerful performance.
Style and Inspiration:
Like prior Air Jordans, the design of the Air Jordan 22 was inspired by a work of art off of the court. Previous models were designed after such things as Michael’s own Ferrari, the X-15 fighter jet, and even the P-51 Mustang. The Air Jordan XX2 took inspiration from one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world - the F-22 Raptor.
The Air Jordan XX3 (Jordan 23) is said to be the last model of the Air Jordan series by many individuals high in Jordan Brand including the head of footwear marketing, Gentry Humphrey. While there was alot of celebration for the 20th year anniversary of Air Jordans , there is much anticipation for the 23.
Performance wise, the Jordan XX3 is said to be above and beyond that of any other Air Jordan. For the third straight year, the Jordan 23 uses IPS (Independent Podular Suspension) Cushioning. For support, a carbon fiber plate extends along the bottom the of sole that modeled of Michael Jordan’s thumb print.
Nike Sportswear and Kanye West present the Nike Air Yeezy.
The shoe, which takes West’s nickname Yeezy, draws upon the innovations from Nike’s rich sporting history and fuses them with original lines, materials, and design elements that reflect West’s unique style.
“Whether you are on the court, in the street, in the club, at school, Nike represents excellence, the standard in design.
Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player that ever laced up a pair of sneakers, and during his time in the NBA he won 6 championship titles with the Chicago Bulls. The Jordan 6 Rings model commemorates that achievement by including elements of all 6 Air Jordan models that Jordan wore while winning his rings. This Jordan “hybrid” style has also been seen in the popular Spi’zike and Dub Zero models.
Initially nicknamed the “Retro Frankenstein”, the Air Jordan Spizikes (Spiz’ikes) had as many haters as lovers initially and probably a few more. Many anticipated that this was going to be a bust, but when word got out that the first colorway of the Air Jordan Spizikes would only be available along I-95 (as per Spike Lee’s request), the hype for these shoes boomed!
Initially, the Air Jordan Spizikes were going to be released in only the first two colorways, but after the more than warm reception to the first colorway, Jordan Brand fast tracked 5 new colorways including one that is themed after another hot Spike Lee joint, “Do The Right Thing.”
Surprisingly, there will be more colors of the Air Jordan Spizikes released than of the recent Air Jordan 3 retro re-release. Speaking of, the Air Jordan Spizikes take pieces from the following Air Jordans:
Air Jordan 3 - sole, midsole, and “Spike”/elephant print Air Jordan 4 - “wings” on the sides of the shoes that hold lace loops Air Jordan 5 - main silhouette of the shoes as well as netting on the side Air Jordan 6 - tongue of shoes and lace locks Air Jordan 9 - back tab Air Jordan 20 - Lasered graphics on sockliner
The Air Jordan 2010 (aka AJXXV) is expected to carry on the long legacy of Jordan Brand with it’s release scheduled for sometime next year. The release celebrates Jordan Brand’s 25th anniversary, marking 25 years of supplying some the most sought after sneakers of our time.
The Air Jordan 2009 is not just another innovative sneaker with clean lines from the Jordan Brand; it’s the first sneaker in a new chapter. After the release of the Jordan XX3 in 2008, Jordan Brand decided that their signature model would now be named after the year it was created. This reinforces the importance of Jordan’s “23”
It only takes one glance to see that the Air Jordan True Flight mimics the design of the Air Jordan VII. But after closer inspection you’ll find out that the Jordan Brand has taken the Air Jordan VII to a whole new level.
Michael Jordan (aka “Air Jordan” / “His Airness”) is arguable the greatest basketball player of all time. Over his 14 years in the league, Jordan displayed unmatchable skills & abilities such as top notch defense, mind-boggling athleticism, prolific scoring, and more much.
In honor of his outstanding scoring achievements, Jordan has release this hybrid sneaker that’s comprised of each shoe Jordan wore while scoring 60+ points; the Jordan I (1), Jordan II (2), Jordan (V), and Jordan VII (7). The Jordan 60+ features the outer sole of the AJ5, elements taken from AJ2 are represented on the heel & tongue, and smalls details of the AJ1 & AJ7 are placed throughout the upper.
The Jordan Flight 45 is being widely accepted as one of the new models that got it right and in trying to keep the foothold the shoe has it seems as if Jordan Brand is dropping new colorways daily. Jordan Brand is running with the concept of hybrids and fusions, The model shown here is known as the Air Jordan Flight 45, and although we don’t completely know all of the sources of inspiration, some are noticeable. For example, elements from the Air Jordan 3 (III) are prominent.
The Air Jordan Element is a new design that takes obvious inspiration from the Air Jordan XI and the Air Jordan XVI. This high-performance basketball sneaker features a combination leather and patent leather upper, translucent outsole, and durable mesh. Several Jordan Brand Team Members wore them during the 2009 NBA Playoffs. If you’re looking for comfort and performance on the court, they’re a perfect choice.
The Air Jordan Dub-Zero is a tribute and a celebration of Michael Jordan, his career, and his shoes. Fans of Jordan shoes will recognize design elements from various Jordan models, and the intricate laser etching adds a lot of style to this new Jordan release.
In honor of New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul, the Jordan Brand has created the Jordan CP3. Paul is one of the best up-and-coming players in the NBA today. Chris Paul is presumably one of the best guards playing in the NBA and has accomplished what many guards fall short in.
The Air Jordan Hallowed Ground is another new shoe from Jordan Brand, The Air Jordan Hallowed Ground bears an obvious resemblance to the Air Jordan (10) X. With this latest release, one could argue they’re taking on some of the Nike Air Max 95 vibe as well.
After the fanfare surrounding the first Air Jordan Ol’ School, Jordan Brand decided to release a second edition of the Air Jordan Ol’ School. It has been thoroughly redesigned, and obviously takes inspiration from the Air Jordan XVI and the Zoom Lebron II. This basketball sneaker features a clean design and the classic Air Jordan “winged basketball” logo on the back panel. As Jordan heads know, this logo was first seen on the Air Jordan 1.
Air Jordan and Air Force I. The ultimate collaboration! A rare opportunity to see these two titans as "the best of both worlds," unite as one. The Jordan Brand is celebrating year 23 just as the Air Force I is coming off its 25th anniversary. As these two franchises join forces for the first time, the new visual expression is destined to become the ultimate statement for sneaker aficionados around the world.
