This Early Sketch Of The Air Jordan 9 Reveals Something Much Different

Going inside the mind of Tinker Hatfield, particularly during Michael Jordan’s playing days, is a rare treat. Together, they pioneered the designer/athlete bond, which is why the shoe architects spend so much time and energy getting to know their muses before putting pen to paper. For the Air Jordan 9, Tinker wanted to amplify Michael Jordan’s global popularity by telling an international story on the soles of the shoes, so he called on Mark Smith, master of the minute details, to bring it to life.

The Air Jordan 9 is, of course, set for a return this December 3rd on Nike SNKRS and select Jordan retailers worldwide. Enjoy a look at some of the original sketch concepts of the shoes below and see the full feature on SNKRS.