Despite not stepping foot on the court in nearly two decades, Michael Jordan has maintained a massive presence in the NBA thanks to his successful “Air Jordan” shoe line. The Jordan brand was born in 1984 when Michael teamed up with Nike to create his own signature shoe. After wearing the Air Jordan I throughout his rookie year, the shoes were made available for public purchase in April, 1985. 36 years, 34 Air Jordan editions and numerous colorways later, the Jordan brand is one of the most recognizable shoe brands in the world. I decided to limit the list to one colorway per edition, creating the widest range of shoe editions available. With that caveat in place, here are the top 10 Air Jordans ever made.
10. Air Jordan 31 ‘Banned’
In 1984, Michael Jordan’s original Air Jordan I was prohibited by David Stern due to the color scheme not having 51% white on the shoe. Ever since, the black and varsity red colorway has become affectionately known as the ‘Banned’ colorway. With the Jordan brand making a resurgence in the mid 2010’s, the Air Jordan 31 was a perfect mix of Jordan’s classic designs and a modernized basketball shoe construction. The ‘Banned’ colorway pays homage to the first Air Jordan by fading the Nike swoosh into the heel, while the signature Jumpman logo stands out on the black, canvas background; encompassing every major aspect of the Jordan brand.
9. Air Jordan 17 ‘College Blue’
2001 saw both Michael Jordan and his signature shoe return to the court as a member of the Washington Wizards. The Air Jordan 17 was a far cry from the much-maligned Air Jordan 15 and the unremarkable Air Jordan 16, as the futuristic, design caught the eye of many sneakerheads. The shoe not only came with several technological advances like a “Tuned-Air System” for ventilation and a heel stabilizer, but it was also packaged in a metal briefcase with a CD-rom instead of just a regular shoebox. The ‘College Blue’ colorway complimented the futuristic design of the shoe and introduced the blue tint that defined Jordan’s stint with the Wizards.
8. ‘Carmine’ Air Jordan 6
The 1990’s were the start of the Chicago Bulls dynasty that captured six championships in eight years. The first of these championships came in a highly contested NBA FInals against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, and Michael Jordan donned the ‘Carmine’ colorway throughout the series. The Jordan 6 was bulkier than its five predecessors (a sign of things to come for 1990’s basketball shoes) but perforations throughout the shoe gave it some much needed ventilation. Just like Jordan’s game on the court, the ‘Carmine’ red gives the shoe some added flair, and provided one of the flashiest colorways that the brand has ever made.
7. Air Jordan V ‘Grape’ (aka “Grape Fives”)
While Michael Jordan may not have worn this colorway on the court, the “Grape Fives” are a favorite among “sneakerheads.” The purple and teal colors give off 1990’s vibes which harken back to the peak of Jordan’s superstardom, and they also represent the primary colors of the Charlotte Hornets; the NBA team that Jordan purchased in 2010. There are black and alternate purple versions of the Grape Five, but the original white shoe is the most iconic of the bunch.
6. Air Jordan 12 ‘Black/Varsity Red’ (aka “Flu Game”)
Although the 12th edition of Air Jordan’s isn’t as popular among sneakerheads as others, this shoe is still iconic due to its historical significance. In Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Jordan donned the black and varsity red colorway of this shoe as he battled flu-like symptoms all game long. Finishing with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals on the night, the image of Jordan collapsing into teammate Scottie Pippen’s arms is one of the most iconic moments in NBA history, and the “Flu Game 12’s” earn their rightful place in Air Jordan history.
5. Air Jordan XIV ‘Black/Varsity Red’ (aka “Last Shot”)
The Air Jordan XIV with its Ferrari-based design was on Jordan’s feet during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals; the highest rated NBA game ever broadcast. With just seconds left in the game, Jordan hit a stepback jumper over Utah’s Bryon Russell to win the game and clinch Chicago’s third straight NBA Championship. This was Jordan’s final game for the Bulls, and these shoes are remembered for their on-court significance than their popularity among sneakerheads.
4. Air Jordan XI ‘Space Jam’
During Michael Jordan’s first retirement, he not only had a brief stint playing minor league baseball, but he also released the biggest crossover movie of the 1990’s: Space Jam. The combination of Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes was a huge success, and one of the most coveted pieces of “Tune Squad” merchandise was the Air Jordan’s that Michael wore in the film. With its sleek design and distinctive purple Jumpman logo, this shoe has become one of the Jordan brand’s biggest sellers, and they have been re-released several times in the past decade due to the film’s popularity.
3. Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan IV ‘Black Chrome’
In 2015, Jordan collaborated with Carhartt to release a signature Air Jordan IV for rapper Eminem. Originally, they were made for Slim Shady’s “friends and family,” but 10 additional pairs were auctioned off for charity on eBay. These 10 pairs are the only ones ever released to the public; making them the rarest and most coveted shoes ever made. With chrome eyelets, black leather, an official Carhartt tag on the tongue and Slim Shady’s official logo on the heel, these shoes retail for a cool $28,000, so they aren’t really meant to be worn often. That being said, NBA star and noted sneakerhead Jimmy Butler did wear a pair during a game once…
Cool flex bro…
2. Air Jordan III ‘White Cement’
The Air Jordan III’s are the most controversial shoes ever produced by Jordan in more ways than one. The distinctive “elephant print” was either loved or loathed, but many sneakerheads still love this shoe. However, these were also the shoes that Michael Jordan wore during the controversial 1988 Dunk Contest. In front of a rowdy Chicago crowd, Jordan squared off against Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins in a showcase of the two best dunkers in the NBA. Jordan only scored a 47 on his second dunk of the finals, but despite an impressive two handed windmill, Wilkins could only manage a 45 on his final dunk. Jordan needed a 49 or 50 to win the contest, and after missing his first attempt, things looked bleak. However, Jordan ran the length of the court, jumped from the free throw line, and slammed home his signature “Air Jordan” dunk for a perfect 50, giving him the Dunk Contest title in controversial fashion. Thanks to its historical significance and divisive design, the White Cement III’s are one of the most famous pairs of Air Jordan’s ever made.
1. Air Jordan 1 ‘Chicago’
Quite possibly the most recognizable shoe ever produced, these were the first shoes that Michael Jordan ever wore on an NBA court. However, these shoes weren’t the first design that Jordan had in mind. As I mentioned in the Jordan 31 entry, Michael wanted to use the ‘Banned’ colorway, but NBA Commissioner David Stern prohibited them due to a rule that said all shoes needed to have at least 51% white in them. Nike went back to the drawing board and came up with the “Chicago” colorway. Featuring a white base with red and black accents from the Chicago Bulls’ color scheme, this new design were accepted by Stern, and Jordan wore these throughout his rookie season. To this day, the Chicago colorway is one of the most coveted pairs of Air Jordan’s due to its history and beautiful design.
(All shoe photos courtesy of Flight Club)
The B List 