Air Jordan

Air Jordan is a yearly set of sneakers released by Brand Jordan, a NIKE, Inc. subsidiary. Created for six-time NBA Champion Michael Jordan in 1984, the Air Jordan line debuted at retail in 1985 with the Jordan 1. Currently releasing the Jordan 38 with eyes towards the successor Jordan 39, the sub-label is the most popular athlete-specific sneaker line ever created. Designers have included Peter Moore, Bruce Kilgore, Wilson Smith III, Tate Kuerbis, and Tinker Hatfield, who’s credited for 21 of 38 models.

While rooted in performance basketball, Jordans – in particular models between the Jordan 1 and Jordan 14 – have enjoyed widespread adoption in the lifestyle and casual wear spaces. Brand Jordan reissued the set’s first sneaker in 1994 during Jordan’s first retirement from the NBA. Subsequent years have seen hundreds of old and new retros, be they individual releases or as larger collections or sets (i.e. “Defining Moments Pack,” “Countdown Pack,” “Bin 23”). Retros of the Jordan 3, Jordan 4, Jordan 5, and Jordan 6 typically stir controversy depending on whether they feature “NIKE”/”NIKE AIR” branding like their “OG” counterparts or modernized “JORDAN” and Jumpman logos. Nevertheless, the retro line is alive and well all the same, having helped its parent company achieve its first $1 billion revenue quarter in the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year. (The brand’s best-selling release of all-time was 2019’s Jordan 11 “Bred”.)

Outside of general release pairs, Air Jordan collabs remain a major, major driver of hype in the footwear space year in and year out. Beginning with the UNDEFEATED Jordan 4, enlisting outside creatives has resulted in some of the most sought-after sneakers in the history of the hobby. Since that 2006 pair, Jordan Brand’s roster has swelled tremendously to include the likes of  Supreme, OFF-WHITE, Travis Scott, UNION LA, and J BALVIN. Furthermore, athletes the likes of Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook have received special Friends & Family and Player Exclusive (PE) pairs, which have only contributed to Air Jordan’s legend.

Air Jordan

Detailed Look At Blake Griffin’s Air Jordan 10 PE

Blake Griffin, like many Jordan Brand athletes, has received several Player Exclusives over the course of his career, from Superbad-inspired Air Jordan 35s to Clippers-themed...

By Michael Le January 30, 2023
25892

Jordan Brand’s Air Jordan PE Cleat Collection For The 2020 Season

Despite no preseason warm-up games, the NFL season was thrust into Week 1 action – and every bit of the action and drama that typically...

By Sneaker News September 17, 2020
11991

A Detailed Look At Russell Westbrook’s Unreleased Air Jordan 10 PE From 2014

Before donning his own Jordan Why Not Zer0.3 or any of its predecessors, Russell Westbrook laced up many Air Jordan Player Exclusives on court. Among...

By Jovani Hernandez April 13, 2020
83972

The Florida Gators Unveil An Air Jordan PE Collection In Orange And Blue

Before, after, and during this year’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, Jordan Brand sponsored schools the likes of the University of Michigan and Georgetown University were given...

By Ben Felderstein July 18, 2018
12796

First look At The Air Jordan 10 “Jordan Brand Classic” PE

Today, 26 of the best high school basketball players in the country will take the court at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Jordan...

By Ben Felderstein April 8, 2018
9124

The NBA All-Star Game Breaks Ground For Sneaker Collaborations On The Court

NBA All-Star Weekend is a chance for some of the world’s top hoopers to show their stuff on a world stage, and flaunt their absolute...

By Ben Felderstein February 19, 2018
20823

PSNY Creates Special Jordan Footwear And Apparel For Michigan

Just before kickoff in the much-anticipated showdown between college football rivals Michigan and Ohio State, Jordan Brand has unveiled a special Air Jordan 12 PE...

By Sneaker News November 25, 2017
6719

Dexter Fowler Receives Air Jordan 11/12 “Championship Pack”

While the Houston Astros are still celebrating their franchise’s first ever World Series title, Jordan Brand still doesn’t want you to forget that the Chicago...

By Ben Felderstein November 6, 2017
17532

Jordan Brand Has Air Jordan 12 Cleats For MLB Opening Day

Major League Baseball is back! The days of Spring Training are over as the 2017 season kicked off last night with a matchup between the...

By Patrick Johnson April 3, 2017
4967