Air Jordan 9

The Air Jordan 9 (IX), is a basketball sneaker from NIKE, Inc. It’s the ninth shoe in Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan signature sneaker line.

Designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the shoe debuted in 1993 during Jordan’s first retirement from the NBA to play in a single season of minor league baseball. Although production of the shoe had begun prior to his Airness’ announcement on October 6th, 1993, questions regarding the future of the Air Jordan series arose. Instead of relying on MJ’s dominance on the hardwood, the Swoosh viewed the new sneaker as an opportunity to tap into the then-30-year-old’s global influence. Everybody wanted to be like Mike, and Hatfield knew this, which is why he incorporated different languages – from Japanese to Swahili – on the outsoles. Words inspired by Jordan (like “dedicated,” “intense” and “sport”) offered consumers all over the world a piece of the Jumpman formula; globe logos on the heels completed the Jordan 9’s worldwide theme.

Tech-wise, the shoe didn’t revolutionize the performance-basketball space like some of the Jordans before it. Enclosed Air cushioning in the heel joined a Nike Huarache-like inner bootie. The only innovation to debut on the model was “one pull” lacing system made possible by the thin laces and the plastic eyelets they passed through.

Although #23 never wore the shoes during an official NBA game, he donned them in practices and promotional material shot in the mid-’90s. Yet, the Swoosh thought it was imperative for Hatfield’s Jordan 8-successor to have some presence during the 1993-94 NBA season, which is why it offered Player-Exclusive (PE) versions to six players: Penny Hardaway, Latrell Sprewell, BJ Armstrong, Mitch Richmond, Kendall Gill and Harold Miner. Every athlete had his number stitched on the heel, and while this run wasn’t the first batch of PEs, it cemented the program’s importance. By the end of that NBA season, the AJ9 made headlines because it was the shoe Hatfield chose for the Jordan statue (officially called “The Spirit”) erected in front of the Chicago Bulls’ United Center on November 1st, 1994.

The Jordan 9’s original colorways are as follows: “White/Black/True Red,” “Powder Blue,” “Olive” and “Charcoal”. Their debut price was $125 USD, with their first style code being 130182-100. The Jordan 9 Low was introduced in 2002 with the design’s first retro run. Since then, limited and special editions of the ninth Air Jordan sneaker have included Doernbecher, Quai54, “Countdown” Pack (CDP) and other versions, as well as PEs for Mike Bibby and the late Kobe Bryant.

Pricing for the shoes in adult sizing arrives at $210 USD, with kids’ sizes landing at $160 (Grade School), $100 USD (Pre-School) and $85 USD (Toddler).

2024 is expected to be a great year for the Air Jordan 9, previously somewhat sidelined in favor of other retros. The Powder Blue Jordan 9 will kick things off on March 27th, but a true collector’s edition returns this Fall with the Jordan 9 Olive.

Shopping Links

Air Jordan 9

AVAILABLE NOW: Air Jordan 9 Golf “Cool Grey”

Updated March 15th, 2024: The Air Jordan 9 Golf “Cool Grey” is available now from nike.com for $230. See official purchase links below to secure...

By Matt Varga March 4, 2024
1180

The Air Jordan 9 Begins Its Comeback As A Golf Shoe

Before the Air Jordan 9 Retro rush begins in march with the Powder Blue Jordan 9s, Jordan Brand has plans of slowly reintroducing the model...

By Sneaker News February 13, 2024
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The Air Jordan 9 “Olive” Is Releasing On October 25th

]In 1993, Nike, Inc. was sent scrambling by Michael Jordan’s abrupt retirement from the NBA. The momentum built from three straight championships came to a...

By Sneaker News December 29, 2023
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Official Images Of The Air Jordan 9 “Powder Blue”

Updated March 8th, 2024: Official images of the Air Jordan 9 “Powder Blue” have been uploaded. Full family sizes are currently expected to release on...

By Jared Ebanks March 8, 2023
56822

Official Images Of The Air Jordan 9 “Light Olive”

Jordan Brand has spared very little attention for the Air Jordan 9, offering up only a few colorways this past year. 2023 may see a...

By Michael Le December 20, 2022
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Where To Buy The Air Jordan 9 “Fire Red”

Grey and red hues have each separately adorned their own iterations of Jordan’s ninth signature silhouette throughout 2022, but its the collection of the two...

By Jared Ebanks December 12, 2022
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Air Jordan 9 “Fire Red” Set For 2023 Release

Notorious for being the silhouette associated with Jordan’s first retirement in 1993, the Air Jordan 9 has been tapped as one of 2022’s revitalized offerings...

By Jared Ebanks October 16, 2022
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The Air Jordan 9 “Light Olive” Appears For 30th Anniversary

As a sneaker in which Michael Jordan never played an official NBA game, the Air Jordan 9 has historically been one of the most overlooked...

By Jovani Hernandez September 21, 2022
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The Air Jordan 9 Boot NRG Returns In “Beef And Broccoli” Colorway

Back in November of 2021, Jordan Brand reintroduced the Air Jordan 9 Boot NRG in a “Black/Gum” colorway. Fast forward almost an entire year and...

By Michael Le August 24, 2022
17375