14 Moments That Define the History of Air Jordan Sneakers
From the silhouette that started it all to the inspiration of Ferrari, brush up on the models, colorways and prints that changed the trajectory of sneakers.
Air Jordans are not simply sneakers. They’re airborne icons that capture sport, innovation and art at their highest heights. Lacing up a pair of Air Jordans in an OG colorway is more than putting on shoes. It's armoring yourself in one of the most accomplished and rebellious relics ever to transform the industry.
From the groundbreaking Air Jordan 1 to the grand closing Air Jordan 14, brush up on the defining characteristics, colorways and moments tied to the models worn by Michael Jordan as a Chicago Bull.
Air Jordan 1
Designer: Peter Moore
The Air Jordan 1 challenged sportswear’s status quo while simultaneously creating a new one. Prior to Nike making Michael Jordan the face of their empire, basketball players were not global icons nor leading men for corporations. Going against the grain, the NBA and perceived consumer behavior, Nike made a 21-year-old African-American athlete the torchbearer for a whole new world. In the fall of 1984, the Air Jordan legacy was born.
Originally priced at $65 and designed by the great Peter Moore, the Air Jordan 1 defied dress code and created a marketing frenzy. Backed by 'Banned' buzz and Jordan’s All-Star play as only a rookie, 'Chicago' and metallic colorways moved at a rate the world had never seen.
Worn by Mike his first two seasons and sold for years to come, the Air Jordan 1 not only changed the game, it invented a new one.
Air Jordan 2
Designer: Peter Moore & Bruce Kilgore
How do you top an instant icon? Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore headed for Italy to compose the high fashion follow-up to the Air Jordan 1.
The Air Jordan 2, as it’s now known, raised the bar and dropped the Swoosh for a regal sophomore signature. Dressed in Italian leather, faux lizard skin and priced at $100, the second Air Jordan abided league dress code in quieter colorways while positioning young MJ in a more luxurious sphere. Worn in Chicago’s 1986-87 season opener against the Knicks, Jordan introduced the world to luxury flight by dropping 50 points in the Garden as he debuted his sequel silhouette.
Air Jordan 3
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Despite storybook success, Michael Jordan considered jumping ship early on. Needing new blood, Nike tasked young designer Tinker Hatfield with designing a shoe so good it’d keep MJ as a brand ambassador.
Mission accomplished.
The Air Jordan 3 was unlike anything MJ or the world had ever seen. Introducing visible Air cushioning, exotic elephant print and the famous Jumpman logo, a new engine ignited the most powerful partnership in sportswear history.
In the Air Jordan 3, Michael Jordan would win All-Star MVP and Dunk Contest hardware in front of a Chicago crowd. Both White/Cement and Black/Cement colorways would be worn in MJ’s iconic ‘88 season that saw MVP and Defensive MVP honors. At $100, the price of the Air Jordan sneaker had stayed the same, but everything else had changed.
Air Jordan 4
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
With Tinker Hatfield back at the helm, the intent of the Air Jordan 4 was innovation. Serving as the line’s first global release, the Air Jordan 4 set to leave its footprint on both basketball and Pop culture.
Worn in Black/Red when MJ sunk “The Shot” against Cleveland, the man and the shoes both elevated as the stage grew. Crossing over to the big screen, the White/Cement colorway starred in a pivotal moment of Spike Lee’s monumental film, Do The Right Thing.
Air Jordan 5
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Meaner and leaner, the Air Jordan 5 stretched the tech ethos of its predecessors with an even more agile edge. By adding a reflective tongue, translucent outsole and fighter jet inspiration, the lethal weapon loaded by Hatfield added even more firepower to Mike’s game.
In the 'Fire Red' colorway, Jordan dropped a career-high 69 points against the Cavs. The 'Metallic' makeup outfitted an epic playoff battle with the Pistons while the 'Grape' iteration paid homage to Mike’s hometown Hornets.
Air Jordan 6
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
The Air Jordan 6 was built for battle. Worn by Michael Jordan for his first NBA title and retooled for Michael Keaton in Batman Returns, Mike’s sixth signature provided plenty of heroics.
Redefining Chicago shades, White/Infrared and Black/Infrared pairs carried MJ to his first title while the 'Carmine' colorway ignited his repeat campaign.
Air Jordan 7
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Winning back-to-back NBA Finals and gold in Barcelona, Michael Jordan reached new global highs in the Air Jordan 7. The Hatfield creation introduced Huarache construction and dropped visible Air tooling for a light, locked-down fit.
Aesthetically inspired by Afrocentric art, the Air Jordan 7 pushed palettes like never before by rolling out 'Bordeaux' and 'Hare' styles far removed from traditional hoops. Even court colorways like 'Raptor' and 'Cardinal' stretched the Bulls theme by adding off-color contrast.
Air Jordan 8
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
In the Air Jordan 8, Michael Jordan did what Magic and Larry couldn’t: he achieved the threepeat. Strapped yet unleashed, Mike’s eighth model showed love to the Looney Tunes while shading rivals the Phoenix Suns.
From the All-Star 'Aqua' to the all-business 'Playoff' pair, the Air Jordan 8 relished in range, rocking Bugs Bunny fur on the branding.
Air Jordan 9
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Mourning the loss of his father and burnt out on basketball, Michael Jordan shocked the world when he retired from the Chicago Bulls in the fall of 1993. Venturing on a soul-searching baseball sabbatical, the Air Jordan 9 never saw the NBA hardwood with Mike on the Bulls.
Instead, the Air Jordan 9 was worn by rising NBA talent, Jordan’s statue at the United Center and in cleated form by MJ on the diamond. Jordan’s footprint on the global market was a literal one thanks to multilingual shoutouts on the outsole.
Air Jordan 10
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
He’s back! Returning to basketball after a lockout in baseball, MJ rejoined the Bulls in the Air Jordan 10.
Rocking the 'Chicago' colorway for his famous 55-point performance in Madison Square Garden and the 'Shadow' style for playoff play, the AJ10 was also worn across the league in 'City Series' makeups paying homage to Orlando, Seattle and more.
Air Jordan 11
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
According to execs, the Air Jordan 11 should’ve never happened. Despite murmurings that MJ was forever retired, Tinker Hatfield trusted his gut that the GOAT was not finished.
He was right. Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan 11 in the 1995 NBA Playoffs without telling Hatfield or anyone at Nike. The league fined Jordan’s 'Concord' colorway, only adding excitement months before the shoe hit the market. Following the fines, the Air Jordan 11 carried MJ to a 72-10 record, his fifth ring and his first feature film, Space Jam.
Air Jordan 12
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Class and toughness defined the Air Jordan 12 in design and play. Inspired by Japan’s Rising Sun flag, rich panelled leather and a rounded rubber mudguard proved durable and ornate.
In the 1997 Finals, the AJ12’s grit and grace was epitomized by MJ in 'Flu Game' and 'Playoff' pairs. Winning his fifth ring despite dire health and seasoned competition, Jordan proved unbreakable and unparalleled all at once.
Air Jordan 13
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
In contrast with the class and flash of its two predecessors, the Air Jordan 13 saw smooth lines and lush materials bolstered by contemporary hologram branding.
On the court, MJ would fight for his sixth title in 'Playoff' and Black/Red colorways. In the movies, Spike Lee’s court classic He Got Game would immortalize the model culturally.
Air Jordan 14
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Would this be it? Battling it out with the Utah Jazz in the 1998 Finals, Jordan went rogue once more and debuted a shoe the world had never seen: the Air Jordan 14.
Inspired by Ferrari tooling and branding, the Air Jordan 14 proved the catalyst for the ultimate curtain call as Jordan sunk the Jazz in the shoe’s Black/Red rendition—now known as the 'Last Shot' in moment and nickname. This play would cement MJ’s place in history and give him his bar-setting sixth ring.