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The Jordan brand has grown further than just a basketball shoe. It has its own characteristic athletes, including the current NBA stars Luka Dončić and Jayson Tatum. The brand has been crossed to multiple sports and is becoming a fashion bile.
Does a suit dress when it is tailored to a new pair of Jordans? Maybe thirty years ago. Not anymore.
Travis Kelce is wearing a custom Thom Browne suit, including a camel hair designed 4-bar classic sports jacket (sold out) with a 4-bar striped Docker Hat (sold out) and Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro Sneakers arrived in Arrowhead Stadium pic.twitter.com/ifqtoynh6d
– Style by Kelce (@stylebykelce) January 26, 2025
I prefer the shoes that Jordan wore during his career, but that does not reject all the versions released since 1985. I also worn many of his shoes that were not part of his play career.
That said, while we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan, here are my top 10 iterations, who work from the bottom to my favorite of all time:
Spike Lee helped the world to get acquainted with this shoe as Mars Blackmon in the Nike commercials. It also received love on prime time television every week as the shoe Will Smith was wearing the intro scene For the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Legendary shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, who designed the iterations of the Jordan 3 to the Jordan 15, was Inspired by a fighter plane from the Second World WarUsing the Shark-Tooth design of the plane to create a similar design for the mid-soles of the shoe.
Barcelona’s Olympic shoe from 1992! The Dream Team Edition! This is the shoe that Jordan wore to help Team USA to run an easy Olympic league, covered with a convincing gold medal victory over Croatia.
In the men’s basketball of 1992 Olympic gold medal game, Jordan, who wore his Jordan 7 shoes, saw Croatia guard Drazen Petrovic. (Richard Mackson / USA Today)
This shoe also did not contain Nike or the Swoosh on the outside of the shoe. It contained the Jumpman logo. This was definitely a “Jordan” shoe.
It is also the shoe that Jordan wore when he appeared in the music video “jam” – And got some dance lessons from Michael Jackson.
This version was different in several ways than in several ways. The criss -cross belts and Velcro gave the shoe a different look. The paint-style design on the side was fun and the Chenille Jordan logo on the tongue was a daring change.
Jordan won his third championship in this shoe and beat the Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley-Wiens Air Max-Shoe from that 1992-93 season is also one of the better shoes of the time.
7. Jordan 1
The OG of the line is gracefully outdated. It is simple, but in 1985 there was nothing on the market.
No sneaker collection is complete without a few, given the simplicity and versatility. Wear a pack? Jeans and a blazer? Sweatsuit? These shoes work with everything.
This was designed to celebrate Jordan’s career, as it was released during the 1994-95 season (Jordan returned to the NBA after a stint in baseball in March 1995). The sole of every shoe has 10 separate performance from the career of Jordan.
The style feels like a deliberate precursor of Jordan 11, even if that is not the case. In the meantime, Jordan returned after a short retirement on March 18 and scored 55 against the New York Knicks 10 days later with the shoe.
5. Jordan 13
The shoe was released and worn during the last season of Jordan. The hologram on the ankle was done to look like a leopard and was a unique addition to the line.
The outsole is meant to look like a Panther on the leg. Jordan Make his last shot like a bull In this shoe contributes to its meaning.
This style gave us the reputable “Flu game” shoe. What many don’t know was that the shoe pulled inspiration from the Japanese flag.
It is also a shoe that led to a number of beautiful models for player edition. Gary Payton wore wore versions of this with the Lakers They were popular with those who didn’t want a few with the classic colorway.
This shoe was a large part of 1989. Bulls fans will remember (and Cleveland Cavaliers -fans choose to forget) Jordan “The shot” get into these shoes on May 7, 1989.
The shoe also brings nostalgia back from Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”. It was the shoe that Buggin ‘Uit (played by Giancarlo Esposito) when they bore a Brownstone tenant who was wearing a Larry Bird sweater called Clifton (played by John Savage), who recently moved to Brooklyn.
This shoe was the second designed by Hatfield. It was also the first of the characteristic line to be released worldwide.
2. Jordan 3
This was the First shoe designed by Hatfield. This is also the shoe that Jordan used to shut Dominique Wilkins in the NBA Slam Dunk match of 1988 in Chicago, a competition that produced Multiple highlights and various future wall posters.
The shoe also increased the game in the field of marketing. The Jumpman logo first appeared on Jordan 3 in 1988. The elephant print on the shoe Is still a subject of discussion among sneakerheads. Jordan once said that the Jordan 3 shoe is his second favorite.
His favorite, as mine is?
If there is a Mount Rushmore from Sneakers, this shoe gets up.
What is the best Air Jordan 11 that has fallen in the past four years? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gsyym0blr7
– House of Hitte ° (@houseofheat) April 3, 2025
The Concord, a version with a white base with black patent leather, is One of the most iconic shoes ever. Jordan wore this shoe during the historic 72-10 regular season of the Bulls that culminated in the 1996 NBA championship.
There is also the Space Jam version of the shoe Jordan wore in the movie “Space Jam”. That shoe is completely black with blue accents, just as worshiped as the Concord. The Cool Gray is also a very popular colorway With sneakerheads.
Both are luxurious enough to wear with a suit or even a tuxedo that many people have done since their release. There is really no colorway from the Jordan 11 who has no must.
(Top photo: Matt Jelonek / Getty images)