While there is now a glut of publications breaking down the best releases annually, the line's early years weren't subject to such rankings. And so, we've gone all the way back to to break down the best Air Jordans of every year. Read below for our selections. The one that started it all. Nike introduced the Air Jordan i n , giving it bold colors the likes of which had never been seen on the NBA hardwood before.
The Air Jordan 1, as it would later come to be called, came out of the gate with a ton of colorways, but this one remains the most memorable thanks to Nike's myth around the "Banned" colorway. Even in the infancy of the Air Jordan line, Nike was already thinking up ways to spin off the shoes.
The first takedown to ever arrive was the Air Jordan KO, which replaced the standard Air Jordan 1's leather with canvas. The sneakers also used a different outsole, further separating them from the originals. The colors used were very much the same though, as evidenced by the "Chicago" one here. The second Air Jordan was a departure from the first one in a lot of ways. Rather than rely on standard Nike design cues, the sneaker ditched everything, including the branding, and started from scratch.
It also ditched the busy colorway program of the Jordan 1, and had just two colorways when it debuted. While both were pretty similar, this one with the extra black wins out thanks to its spot in the Slam Dunk Contest. Its present-day ubiquity is a testament to the influence of the combo of Tinker, Nike, and Mike that would go on to dominate the game for decades.
This Air Jordan 4 colorway picked up where the Air Jordan 3 left off in terms of patterns, introducing a cement speckling to the body of the shoe. Must-cop colorways, store exclusives, a robust aftermarket with jaw-dropping prices… it all started here, with this sneaker silhouette.
The Air Jordan 1 also set up the foundation that the Air Jordan line would build itself upon for decades to come. Despite not being his team colors, Jordan wore this blue and black colorway in an early ad campaign shot by famed sports photographer Chuck Kuhn. Though hardly worn by Jordan himself on the court, it was the Black Toe that MJ was rocking during the photoshoot that would inspire the now iconic Jumpman logo.
He did it anyway and Nike gladly foot the bill or… so the story goes. Not quite as rare as some of the other first-year colorways, the UNC remains one of the prettiest pairs of Air Jordan 1s. To correct the controversy surrounding the BRED, Nike released this league-approved red, white, and black colorway which quickly became emblematic of the AJ-1 itself.
While it sounds like peanuts compared to the monstrous paychecks athletes receive now, it bears reminding that this was and the player in question had yet to play a game, let alone prove his worth.
But this was no ordinary rookie. The first Jordan shoes, aptly named the Air Jordan 1 was as visually stunning as they were ground-breaking. And to this day, they remain one of the most popular Jordans ever.
The first in the series to feature the familiar Nike Swoosh logo. Nike recognised the unique marketing opportunity, opting to pay the fine for each time Michael Jordan wore the shoes in-game. Thus, the bad boy, a rule-breaking ethos of the Air Jordans was born. Following the unprecedented success of the first shoe, Nike was faced with a challenge to back it up.
The best Air Jordans all share common design elements, most of which come from long-time collaborator and designer Tinker Hatfield. Which pair do you need in your collection?
Jump on these quickly before they sell out. Last released in , this iconic silhouette has become the staple for street ballers and basketball fans. Since premiering on The Last Dance, the Chicago colourway has skyrocketed in popularity, but you can still get your hands on some. Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here Back in , the infamous Jordan 3 Retro OG ushered in a new era for the brand. Without a doubt, one of the best looking jordans money can buy. Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here This variation is essentially identical to the OG pair from , featuring smooth white leather construction on the upper and a fierce black midsole with Fire Red shark teeth.
They say a classic never dies, and the Air Jordan 4 is one example of true longevity. Way back in , Michael Jordan stepped onto the court and into sneaker history with this now iconic pair of Air Jordan XIs.
At the time, the never-before-seen silhouette was groundbreaking, with its patent leather upper and translucent sole. More than 30 years on, the Concord XI is still referred to as one of the best Air Jordan shoes ever and thanks to the number 45 at the heel, also one of the biggest collector items. The upper of this Jordan 1 Retro High is constructed from white tumbled leather. A black leather Swoosh, sail midsole, and pine green outsole complete this design.
Buy it here Buy it here However, in recent years, the colourway has been opened to the public. This variation is the edition, which marked the first release for the style in seven years. Buy it here. Having only hit shelves three times in the brands year history, the OG Shadow is a must-have for collectors and one of the best Air Jordans of all time. Buy it here Buy it here Buy it here Inspired by the orange and black jersey that Michael Jordan wore when he shattered a backboard in an Italian exhibition game in , these Air Jordans are brutal.
Sell your reflective Boosts now , while the resale prices are still high. This was the first Nike basketball sneaker to incorporate Air technology, which consists of a pressurized air bag within the sole. This provides cushioning and allows for a considerably lighter shoe. It took a trio of Baltimore sneaker shops, who petitioned Nike to bring the sneaker back due to high demand, to convince the brand that it was worth keeping.
Other highlights include interchangeable velcro swooshes, a removable chenille Cactus Jack patch over the laces and a set of bejeweled grills lace dubrae or lace tags. The Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 sneakers have had three years to increase in value, which accounts for their high resale value now.
The resale price of these sneakers is bound to go up… as long as there is no Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 restock or re-release. It should include a size range sizes , for example , as opposed to a single size. The Nike Dunk is more or less the underrated cousin of the Air Jordan 1, and really had its moment when it was redesigned for skateboarding hence the SB.
Initially, it was taboo for skateboarders to skate in Nikes, and Nike VP of Special Projects Sandy Bodecker took a grassroots approach to pitching the SBs to the skateboarding community. These sneakers are from a time before sneakers were mainstream. Nike SBs taught Nike the importance of well-executed storytelling through design and the power of limiting stock, a strategy that has propelled Nike to global footwear domination.
The demand for SB Dunks has also increased demand for Nike Dunks, and vintage pairs are still wearable and highly sought-after.
0コメント