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.

For an update to date list of what’s dropping check out Jordan Releases 2025.

Air Jordan

Jordan 6 Rings “Bred” – 2013 Retro

We’ve seen Jordan retros release on cycles ranging from several years to never, and never before has one of the hybrid designs spun from multiple...

By Aaron Hope August 12, 2013
13354

Air Jordan 1 ’89 – OG-Inspired Colorways

Following up on the ‘Toro’ colorway that borrowed its all-red upper from the recently released Fours, the Air Jordan 1 ’89 reaches back into the...

By Aaron Hope July 31, 2013
3512

Jordan Son of Mars Low “True Blue” – Arriving at Retailers

Starting with June’s Elephant-accented Air Jordan 1 Mids, True Blue has made a big impact for the Jumpman this summer. The AJ1 Low and AJ...

By Aaron Hope July 24, 2013
5656

Breaking Down the Jordan Son of Mars Low “White/Cement”

The Jordan Son of Mars Low is a sneaker tied up in the history of the Michael Jordan/Spike Lee relationship. You’ll recall that the first...

By Sneaker News June 19, 2013
40900

Jordan Son of Mars Low “White/Cement” – Arriving at Retailers

It came out of the gate with some colorful fare and has perhaps its boldest yet in the ‘DTRT’ edition to close out June, but...

By Aaron Hope June 18, 2013
4075

Air Jordan 1 Retro ’93 “Playoffs” – Arriving at Retailers

Just as was the case with the ‘Suns’ makeups, the Air Jordan 1 Retro ’93 will precede the ‘Playoffs’ Jordan VIII Retro by two weeks.  Coming up...

By Aaron Hope May 20, 2013
5971

Air Jordan 1 Retro ’89 “Green Glow”

Remember the Air Jordan 1 Retro ’89, that hybrid style that blends the Air Jordan 1 and the Air Jordan IV? A new colorway has...

By Brendan Dunne May 15, 2013
8096

Jordan Spiz’ike “University Gold” Unreleased 2012 Sample

After a flurry of activity to start the year, the Jordan Spiz’ike last issued a new colorway back in March.  The handful that hit during the first...

By Aaron Hope May 9, 2013
2521

Jordan Son of Mars Low “Tour Yellow” – Arriving at Retailers

Mars Blackmon had dropped out of Air Jordan advertising by the time Michael won his first NBA title against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991.  Here we...

By Aaron Hope April 4, 2013
9460