 |  |
|  |  | |||||||||||||
| Tweet | |
By the end of the 1988-89 NBA Season, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had reached their closest point to an NBA Championship despite not reaching the NBA Finals. Sparked by an astounding series-winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, the Bulls blew past the New York Knicks in the second round and lost in six games to the eventual champions Detroit Pistons. Although coming short of total victory, Michael Jordan was still riding high on the Air Jordan IV as his celebrity reached an enormous peak near the level of movie-stars and musicians. Fresh for the 1989-90 NBA Season, Michael Jordan was once again ready for battle, but with a new general at the helm, as legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson began his tenure with the Chicago Bulls. Despite finishing the season one game short of the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan experienced his winningest season as a Chicago Bull and gained valuable experience to piece together a Championship team.
After wearing the Air Jordan IV for the first half of the ’89-’90 season, Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan V in February of 1990 during the All-Star Game. The Air Jordan V featured a few carry-over design elements from the Air Jordan IV but utilized an all new architectural muse. Likening Michael Jordan’s gameplay to a World War II Mustang Fighter Jet for his sneak attacks and aerial assaults, repeat designer Tinker Hatfield transferred the design of the plane onto the shoe, marked by the ‘shark’s teeth’ on the midsole and the over-sized padded tongue with 3M-reflective material to match the shiny panels of the Mustang’s body. Tinker Hatfield also introduced the translucent sole to the Air Jordan, creating even more of a dazzling appearance, and used that same material on the upper netting, which reduced the weight of the shoe. Combined with the visible Air cushioning, the Air Jordan V is considered to be one of the most comfortable Air Jordans ever created.
Four original colorways of the Air Jordan V were created; the Black/Metallic Silver, which Jordan wore during the All-Star Game and Playoffs, a White/Black/Red colorway that he used throughout the remainder of the ’89-’90 season (including the infamous #12 jersey game), the ‘Fire Red’, which Jordan wore for the first half of the ’90-’91 NBA Season, and the ‘Grape’ colorway, arguably the most popular of the bunch and one of the greatest Air Jordans of all time. The Air Jordan V was re-issued a decade later in a number of new colorways, like the ‘Laney’ that paid tribute to Jordan’s high-school, and a clean White/Metallic Silver pair, followed by a much larger Retro release in 2006-2007, which introduced a number of great new color-ups rarely seen in the Air Jordan Legacy. In 2009, a special two-pack of the Air Jordan V called the ‘Toro Bravo’ Pack was released, one in a passionate red suede, which highlighted Jordan’s tenacity for the game, and another in a full-3M upper, which emphasized the marquee feature of the Air Jordan V. Five signature shoes and a closet full of personal accomplishments. What else would be left for Michael Jordan? Continue reading for the entire Michael Jordan Through The Years: Air Jordan V feature and stay tuned for the next installment.
36 Responses to “Michael Jordan Through The Years: Air Jordan V”
December 9th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
greatest air jordan ever.
December 9th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
The Jordan 5 is my least favorite Jordan that I've owned. I find them uncomfortable. That being said, it's nice to see Magic's playin days again.
December 9th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Michael Jordan was a legendary player! and also the most legenday shoe series ever.
I own a pair of 4's and 5's they were the best 2 of the lot……..Thank u michael.and NIKE
December 9th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
It waz interesting to read how Tinker Hatfield used a metaphor to a WWII Mustang Fighter Jet for his sneak attacks and aerial assaults. Now, that'z what I call PASSION & LUV for the GAME! M. Jordan and Magic Johnson and a few others had sick moves. Can't wait for the next installment of M. Jordan. RESPECT 23.
December 9th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Man F wat u talkin bout this the best. Yeah i said it this my favorite out of all .
December 9th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Love the grape V's. Anyone know if its true that thesend the laney V's are releasing 2011 . ? There was a post sayinq that it was a possible release.
December 9th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Damn i need that blank 12 jersey …….the quality of the metallic V is serious………
December 10th, 2010 at 12:00 am
did anybody notice the number 12 he's wearing on the 2nd page
December 10th, 2010 at 12:25 am
they just dont make em like they used to
December 10th, 2010 at 12:26 am
iv's are better
December 10th, 2010 at 12:31 am
That's one famous piece of Michael Jordan trivia. His jersey was stolen so he wore a name-less #12 for that game.
December 10th, 2010 at 12:46 am
the story behind the #12 jersey is on 23isback.com
December 10th, 2010 at 2:49 am
GOD DAMN jordans wearing like atleast 6 pairs of socks in most of the pics
December 10th, 2010 at 5:28 am
This brings back some memories. The V was my first J back in 1990!! (wiping a tear from my eye)
Thankful for seeing Jordan and Magic playing against eachother! Good ol days!!
Bring on the Laney/Grape pack!!!!!
December 10th, 2010 at 6:22 am
LOVE THOSE BLACK METALLIC 5 WITH WHITE LACES….GO HARD!!!! I THINK I WOULD DO THAT ON MINE…TO ROCK THEM…THIS WEEKEND..
December 10th, 2010 at 6:48 am
I need to own a pair of those Grapes at least once!!! #4 on my holy grail list
December 10th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Failed to mention that Tinker created the shoe for back to the future and that is where the translucent sole came from. He transfered the idea to the air jordan v.
December 10th, 2010 at 8:38 am
ivs are the greatest but these are still GREAT…man i no alot about mike but id never seen the pics with the white laces
December 10th, 2010 at 9:38 am
5's sit quite comfortably at the apex of the brand. The 4's were ok….but EVERYONE had to have a pair of 5's in 90-91…everyone. This shoe made the brand.
December 10th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Scottie Pippen rocking Avia.
December 10th, 2010 at 9:51 am
No, nobody noticed those 2 big ass pictures of jordan wearing #12. Thanks for pointing that out, Capt. Obvious.
December 10th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Mike adding the white laces to the blk V's……….Classic! I popped my cherry with V's, & they are my favorite till this day…….
December 10th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I love the grapes, def one of my fave jodans and super comfortable…check the blog http://www.freshandsavvy.com
December 10th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I love the V's and they are one of my favorites but the unstoppable force that is yellowing of the bottoms and netting sucks balls. Lol.
December 10th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
here is another jordan that the af1 destroyed
December 10th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
that grape outfit is too sick
December 10th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Stfu
December 10th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Make me, you can't. Moron.
December 10th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
i always wondered why,he wore so many socks…does anybody know?
December 12th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
did u have an OG pair? those were comfey. however the 5/18 pack, the 5s were uncomforable. made a lil different.
December 13th, 2010 at 10:54 am
agreed. the 7s are my favorite jays though, OGs are hella comfy omg
December 13th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Im also hoping for a pair of grapes, not tryna buy any now, but when the grape and laney packs comes out, that will be something special
December 14th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Yeah i think this is 1a and the IVs were 1b and the XIs gotta be 1c and IIIs gotta be 1d. LOL
December 14th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I think i might need to ring up the INS.
May 15th, 2011 at 2:37 am
Thnx Was wondering WTF? it didn't quite look right.
May 15th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
The 5's were my first J's back then.