Zack Schlemmer 
On October 6th, 1993, Michael Jordan shocked the sports world by announcing that he’d be retiring from the game of basketball. The greatest player in the game retiring at what seemed to be the peak of his career, and only 30 years old? How could this be? His retirement raised many questions, including one big one for Nike: should his signature Air Jordan line continue without him? The Air Jordan IX was already in production and ready to release by the time of Michael’s announcement, so it would be when the time came to design the Air Jordan X that Nike really had to ponder that decision. But MJ’s absence from the NBA still left Nike wondering exactly what to do with the IX without his Airness repping them on the court.
Infamous for being the only “early” Air Jordan model Michael would never wear in the NBA, the Air Jordan IX would make appearances during the 1993-94 season anyway, and was even forever forged in monument outside the Chicago Bulls’ home arena. Oh, and the game of baseball also has some serious significance to the Air Jordan IX, as well. To get the full story on the idiosyncratic history of the globally-minded Air Jordan IX, study up with this latest edition of Jordan 101.
The Basics
The Air Jordan IX released in 1993 and 1994 at a retail price of $125. The ninth Air Jordan model was made in only four original colorways, including the most popular black and white edition along with the “Powder Blue”, “Olive”, and “Charcoal” iterations. There were originally no low-tops of the Air Jordan IX, a version of the shoe that didn’t release until it was retroed in 2002.
International Inspiration
Designed by Tinker Hatfield before Michael decided to retire, the Air Jordan IX’s design was intended to reflect how the Air Jordan brand had at that point achieved global recognition. By 1993, Michael Jordan was one of the most famous people on Earth. Everybody wanted to be like Mike—and wear his shoes. The international aspect was reflected on the outsoles of the Jordan IX, which featured texts (different on the left and right shoes) in various languages including Japanese, Russian, German, Spanish, French, and Swahili that translated to words inspired by Michael like “Dedicated”, “Intense”, and “Sport”. Topping off the theme, the heel’s Jumpman logo featured the world behind it.
Minimal Tech
With one of the most minimal designs of the entire Air Jordan line, the IX’s only newly introduced technology was the “one pull” speed lacing system that featured thin rope laces held within plastic lace eyelets for smooth tightening and loosening. Other than that, the only notable tech aspects were the Air cushioning in the heel and forefoot and a comfortable Huarache-like inner bootie.
The Birth of Air Jordan PE’s
Because of his brief retirement, the Air Jordan IX was the only Air Jordan model until the XV that Michael would not wear in the NBA. However, the shoe would be found elsewhere on the professional hardwood that 1993-94 season. Perhaps as a strategy to make the IX appealing to consumers without Michael wearing them, Nike hooked up a few pros with their own PE colorways of the shoe. Six players got exclusive editions of the IX accented with their team colors and number stitched on the heel instead of #23, and they are as follows: Penny Hardaway, Latrell Sprewell, BJ Armstrong, Mitch Richmond, Kendall Gill, and Harold Miner. Only Mitch Richmond had a colorway that varied from either the original black/white or “Charcoal” color block, with his version being the black/white block but with a fully black midsole and outsole. While not the first PE sneakers ever, these customized Air Jordan IX’s set the tone for the player exclusive sneaker as we know it today.
The Air Jordan IX, Forever Monumentalized
After Michael retired, the Chicago Bulls wasted no time erecting a statue memorializing the greatest player in franchise history. Unveiled in November of 1994 outside their new arena, the United Center, “The Spirit” as it is officially called features one notable quirk: MJ is wearing the Air Jordan IX, which as we know, he never wore with the Bulls. The shoes he’d be wearing on the statue were actually chosen by Tinker Hatfield, who selected the IX because he thought they had the most interesting sole, and also their illustration of Michael being a global superstar. The Air Jordan IX’s appearance in the statue is the inspiration for a bronze-accented retro colorway that releases this weekend, August 22nd.
Baseball Cleats
As you probably know, during Michael’s first retirement from basketball, he switched sports to play baseball. His skills on the diamond were definitely questionable as he played minor league baseball (Would he have even made a team if he wasn’t Michael Jordan? Probably not.), but at least his footwear was top par. Nike created special baseball cleat editions of the Air Jordan IX just for Michael in black leather with white accents. Now the cleat-ified Air Jordan is a common occurrence in both the MLB and NFL, but of course, MJ had them first.
Johnny Kilroy, or Michael Jordan?
Nike had some fun with Jordan’s retirement, creating the “Johnny Kilroy” ad campaign that suggested he hadn’t retired from the game after all. In 2012 Jordan Brand created a retro Air Jordan 9 pack referencing each of the suspicious characters from the commercial series, including Kilroy, Slim Jenkins, Motorboat Jones, Fontay Montana, and Calvin Bailey. Watch the full commercial series above.
Bring It All Back Home
Since the “Powder Blue” colorway was an homage to Michael’s North Carolina Tarheels, Nike featured MJ in a print ad campaign for their Team Sports category with him wearing his a UNC uniform and the IX’s. One of the coolest Nike ads ever? Yes indeed.
