First released back in 1985, Air Jordans have become a sensation in the sneaker community, and continue to be must-haves for sneaker collectors. Previously a running shoe company, Nike’s reputation was elevated when the legend himself, Michael Jordan signed on with Nike to create his own shoe line. Despite being under the Nike label, Air Jordans’ tremendous success makes it stand out as a brand of its own.
Image Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TICW8iRv_RY
But which Air Jordan is actually the greatest of all time? Here’s the top 5:
The Air Jordan 4 Retro OG ‘Cement’ 2016 was one of the original four colourways that was released in 1989. Complete with never-before-seen ‘wings’ that act as lace locks, these are one of the only models that feature the ‘Nike Air’ branding on the heel, just like the 1989 OG models. The shoe appeared in Spike Lee’s film Do The Right Thing, transcending the game of basketball to make an impact in pop culture.
Released during the 2016 NBA All-Star weekend in Toronto. Retailed at US$235, resells at an average of US$450.
Michael Jordan’s habit of lofting game-winning shots started when the 19-year old nailed a slam dunk to put North Carolina’s own Tar Heels up for good during the 1982 NCAA Championship game.
The Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Win Like’ 82’ celebrates the beginning of MJ’s victorious matches, featuring the UNC team colours on a traditional Air Jordan 11 build.
Released in 2017. Retailed at US$220, resells at an average of US$300.
The Air Jordan ‘Hall Of Fame’ is imbued with history and meaning. It was once exclusively auctioned in 2006 to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and made a comeback this year to honour MJ’s humanitarian efforts.
This was the first sneaker to sport the famed Jumpman logo, and the Jordan brand might not today without it. Today, the origins of the 5’8” height of the shoe, Jumpman logo and the elephant print remain a mystery; according to Nike, the latter was designed at the behest of MJ himself.
Released in May 2018. Retailed at US$160, resells at an average of US$230.
The Air Jordan 11 Retro ‘Space Jam’ 2016 commemorates the 20th Anniversary of the movie ‘Space Jam’. It was worn by Michael Jordan himself as a Player Exclusive in both the movie and the 1995 NBA Playoffs. The 2016 retro was Nike’s largest and the most successful shoe launch ever.
The sneaker was the first to swap the traditional #23 to MJ’s comeback #45 on the heel – the first for an Air Jordan 11 release.
Released in 2016. Retailed at US$220, resells at an average of US$330.
The original. The icon. When you say “Air Jordan”, this is the first that comes to mind.
It all started with Michael Jordan, who was fined US$5,000 per game for wearing a pair of red-and-black Nike basketball shoes which violated NBA’s “uniformity of uniform rule”. That was how the “Banned” colourway came about – aka ‘Bred’ or Black and Red.
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Bred Toe’ features a Chicago Bull-inspired colourway that combines the elements of the ‘Bred’ and ‘Black Toe’ editions of the Air Jordan 1, remaining faithful to its OG 1985 roots.
Released in Feb 2018. Retailed at US$160, resells at an average of US$440.
Why are Air Jordans expensive?
Nike wanted to keep the Jordan icons coveted and special; that’s why Jordans will become rare among the sneaker community. The production of Air Jordans are kept limited, and with the high demand, it drives up the market price. That’s when you’ll see people start to resell their Jordans.
But a true sneaker collector will do whatever it takes to own a pair of Jordans because they believe in the brand. It’s hard to imagine the popularity of Air Jordans fading anytime soon.
Republished from December 2018 (page 8)
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