5. Jordan 11 (1995)
Reportedly both Jordan and Hatfield’s favorite shoe ever, these released at the height of his fame and athletic prowess. Jordan liked this shoe so much he broke them out early during the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic and only wore one colorway for the entire 1995-96 season: the Concord black and white colorway. The sleek shoes feature a shiny patent leather upper, an aesthetic inspired by a convertible and a lawn-mower (no one does it like Tinker!) that set it apart from all the other Jordan models. There’s more to this than meets the eye: the patent leather is, in fact, lighter and less flexible than full grain leather, enabling a secure grip for the GOAT to move explosively. The padded collar and tongue, translucent outsole, and full length Air sole unit gave the shoe an overall formal look that Jordan desired. He was quoted as saying that someone would wear the 11 with a tuxedo and sure enough, all four members of Boyz II Men showed up rocking the Jordan 11 Concord at the 1996 Grammy Awards ceremony. The shoes are best known for being worn during Jordan’s fourth NBA championship (capping off an emotional rollercoaster where Jordan led the team to a historic 72-10 season and the first time he clinched a championship without his beloved father James Jordan Sr. who was murdered three years prior), and in the movie Space Jam, where he teams up with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck from Looney Tunes to defeat the invading alien Monstars, thus influencing an entire generation of kids who would grow up idolizing Mike. A sequel titled Space Jam 2, starring LeBron James, is scheduled for release in 2021.
4. Jordan 5 (1990)
Right away, the shark tooth design on the lateral midsole recalls Jordan’s aggressive nature on the court, and that is exactly what Tinker Hatfield intended since he drew inspiration from World War II-era fighter plane P-51 Mustang. Additionally, the 3M reflective tongue with Jumpman embroidery, the clear rubber sole, the molded foam upper, lace lock toggles, and the offset ankle collar drew a lot of attention along with MJ’s play in 1990, including when he achieved a career high in points scored in a game, 69 against the Cavs on March 28. The visible Air bubble and mesh panels carried over from the previous Jordan 3 and 4. The Detroit Pistons stopped the Bulls from progressing any further in the conference finals, but the shoes went on to be featured frequently on actor Will Smith’s feet on primetime TV in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
3. Air Jordan 3 (1988)
Tinker Hatfield, the legendary architect turned shoe designer, created this sophisticated and stylish shoe to keep Jordan with Nike because his contract was almost up and he was itching for an endorsement with adidas or new company Sports Inc. that former Nike marketing VP Rob Strasser and Peter Moore had joined. After missing most of his sophomore season due to a broken foot and a disappointing Jordan 2, Jordan was ready to leave the Swoosh but Hatfield pulled off a masterpiece that may have saved the company itself, according to co-founder Phil Knight. The gray elephant print on the upper, the visible Air bubble, and the Jumpman logo on the tongue forever set a new golden standard in footwear. The removal of the Nike Swoosh carried over from the Jordan 2. What sets this shoe apart was the personal approach Tinker took with Jordan to discuss inspirations for the shoe, and Tinker took note of Jordan’s luxurious taste in Italian wares to incorporate new leather materials in the shoe. 1988 was the year Jordan earned his first league MVP award and famously won the Slam Dunk Contest by taking flight from the free throw line while wearing the Jordan 3. Even though it debuted more than 30 years ago, it is a timeless classic that launched a dynasty — Jordan’s supreme reign with the Chicago Bulls, and Hatfield designing more than two dozen Jordan shoes and countless other Nike icons.
2. Jordan 4 (1989)
May 7, 1989, was the day that Michael Jordan sunk “The Shot,” a buzzer beater in the last three seconds of Game 5 over Craig Ehlo, eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers from the first round series of the NBA playoffs. Of course, Jordan did it while wearing the black and red utilitarian successor to the elegant Jordan 3. Even if he hadn’t made the last shot, Jordan had a pretty solid season all while wearing the Jordan 4, which had the first global release for an Air Jordan model. The visible Air sole unit, the sculpted midsole, the branded heel pull tab, the nubuck upper, the mesh paneling, and multiport lace locks made the shoe more breathable and allowed for different lace patterns for Jordan. He wore this shoe to his fifth consecutive All-Star Game and also won the league scoring title for the third straight year. An underappreciated silhouette when it first released, the Jordan 4 now receives all the attention it rightfully deserves.
1. Air Jordan 1 (1984)
Designed by Peter Moore in 1984 and worn by Jordan on the court the same year, the iconic winged Air Jordan logo and silhouette draped in Chicago Bulls colors black and red started it all. It was a huge gamble for the budding American company to invest so much in an untested player, but it turned out well for both sides. Nike’s brilliant “Banned” marketing campaign only raised the profile of this shoe. The oft-repeated story of the NBA fining him $5,000 every time he stepped onto the court in the shoes is a myth: one that Nike blew up into a huge promotion. Although Michael Jordan himself called the first iteration ugly (“clown shoes”), it is the sneaker that propelled Jordan to infamy and has become beloved worldwide, embraced by hip-hop artists, skateboarders, and fashionistas. It took some time for the rest of the world to catch up with this shoe because when it released in 1994 it sat on discount racks, but, thankfully, Nike brought it back again in 2001, and it has been an anchor of the entire brand ever since. The perfect tag team of the best basketball sneaker and the best basketball player make this shoe a must-have in any collection.
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