Release Guide: Air Jordan 13 'Playoff'

Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan 13 ‘Playoff’ during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game and continued wearing the shoes through the season’s playoffs—where the Chicago Bulls would go on to win their third straight championship in a row and sixth in eight seasons—giving rise to one of the most iconic stories in the entire Jordan roster. Last retroed in 2011, ‘Playoff’ returns for only the second time ever, marking the colorway’s 25th anniversary as part of Air Jordan’s Spring 2023 collection.

Silhouette History 

Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 13 OG ‘Playoff’ for Michael Jordan’s 1997-98 NBA season. The basketball shoe was released to the public in 1997 as a followup to the Air Jordan 12, becoming the last shoe MJ wore for a complete season while playing with the Chicago Bulls.

Seven colorways of the AJ13 were released from 1997 through 1998, including ‘White/Red/Black,’ ‘Black/Red’ and ‘Black/Chutney.’ Beyond the silhouette’s legacy on the court, the AJ13 was immortalized in cinema history when Denzel Washington’s Jake Shuttlesworth character wore the shoes in Spike Lee’s 1998 movie He Got Game. To celebrate this moment’s 20th anniversary, Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 13 Retro ‘He Got Game’ in 2018.

Jordan 13 'Playoff' Design Inspiration

Inspired by MJ’s “Black Cat” persona, the Air Jordan 13 ‘Playoff’ features a dimple-punctuated tumbled leather upper supplemented with layers of nubuck and an iridescent cat-eye jewel at the heel. The feline theme is amplified by an outsole equipped with traction pods and panther paw-inspired detailing. Dressed primarily in black, the colorway is accented with hits of white and red, while the Jumpman logo on the tongue is enshrined in a golden yellow circle.

Jordan 13 'Playoff' Product Features

At the time of release, the Air Jordan 13 was one of the most advanced performance basketball sneakers ever created. The shoe remains a design marvel today, packed with Zoom Air cushioning in the heel and forefoot, and supported by a carbon fiber midfoot shank. The aggressive, panther paw-inspired outsole is both an aesthetic and practical design cue, incorporated to provide additional grip on the court. The full-grain leather, suede and reflective-backed mesh upper supports the speed-lacing system.

‘Playoff’ 2023 Official Images

Jordan 13 'Playoff' FAQs