Air Jordan I (1985)
Designer: Peter Moore
Original Price: $65
The sneaker that started it all, the Air Jordan one, was released in 1985 by Nike. After becoming an NCAA Champion in 1982 and winning Olympic gold in 1984, The Nike brand signed an endorsement deal with Michael Jordan for $2.5 million, an enormous amount for an athlete who had not proven himself on the professional level.
The NBA initially banned the Air Jordan 1 for not meeting the league's policy on uniform and colours, resulting in MJ facing a $5000 per game fine. However, MJ rocked them anyways on his way to becoming NBA rookie of the year, with Nike covering his fines. The Air Jordan 1 is the only sneaker in the Jordan collection to feature the Nike swoosh. Along with the Jumpman logo, the original shoes feature a wings logo, a basketball with wings stretching from both sides and "Air Jordan" printed above the ball, trademarked by Nike on May 7, 1985.
The Air Jordan 1 continues to be one of the hottest shoes around, now released under the Jordan brand, they continuously release retro versions of previous models. With every release selling out, the Air Jordan is and continues to be the most iconic shoe of all time.
Air Jordan II (1986)
Designer: Bruce Kilgore
Original Price: $100
The unprecedented success of the Air Jordan 1 made it difficult to follow up, as Michael Jordan's popularity became global. The only shoe to ever be produced in Italy, the Air Jordan 2 released in 1986 features a NIKE spell out across the heel counter, with a wing's logo from the original AJ1 on the tongue.
The AJ2 featured a full-length air sole unit to add extra cushioning for MJ's sore feet, though he only got to wear the shoes for 18 games due to a broken foot. With select sought-after models, the AJ2 is widely considered to be the least desirable Air Jordan among the core models.
Air Jordan III (1988)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $100
Released in 1988, the Air Jordan III famously featured in TV spots, specifically actor/director Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, from his 1986 film "She's Gotta Have It." The Air Jordan 3 was designed by Jordan's Brands most infamous architect turned designer, Tinker Hatfield. A trailblazer of his time, he introduced elephant print overlays that have continued to be trendy today and reused on other Jordan Models.
Previously Air Jordan's were just known as basketball shoes, though Hatfield designed the Air Jordan three using luxury components, such as the Italian construction.
Jordan averaged 35 points a game wearing this shoe, permitting him to make his fourth straight all-star game. There, among the game's elite, MJ earned MVP and a second straight slam dunk title, this time by flying from the free-throw line. The AJ IIII was retro'd for the first time in 1994.
Air Jordan IV (1989)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $110
After the enormous success of the Air Jordan 3, Tinker Hatfield followed it up with perhaps the most comfortable Air Jordan of all time. The Air Jordan 4 featured the Jumpman logo in its second appearance, with the word flight added below it. The sneaker featured mesh for the first-time increasing breathability, along with multiple areas covered in plastic included over the heel tab, which read the iconic Nike air.
Voted into his fifth consecutive all-star game and won the scoring title for a third straight year. This shoe was worn during Michael Jordans infamous series-clinching game-winner over Craig Ehlo in the first round of the playoffs, otherwise known as "the shot."
Air Jordan V (1990)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $125
A shoe designed to reflect Michael Jordan's aggressiveness on the court, the Air Jordan 5 featured a shark tooth design on the midsole, drawing inspiration from a World War I P-51 Mustang fighter plane. This iteration of the Jordan series also introduced the concept of "iced soles," which are outsoles made of translucent rubber.
The shoe featured an embroidered Jumpman logo on the tongue, 3m reflectivity in certain colourways, and an offset ankle collar designed to boost support and flexibility for players.
Michael Jordan earned his sixth straight All-Star Game appearance, won his fourth straight league scoring title, and was named the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team. He also made his first NBA Finals appearance, though he fell short after losing to the bad boy pistons.
Air Jordan Vl (1991)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $125
The shoe that Jordan wore for the Chicago Bulls first championship, the Air Jordan 6, had every sneaker fan trying to get glimpses of what was on his feet. The shoe was famous for its leather overlays, revealing a 2 and 3 representing MJ's uniform number.
The shoe also received widespread notoriety outside of Jordan himself, as Ray Allen and Vin Baker wore the White/Navy/Red colorway at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The shoes' popularity ranged beyond the hardwood as comedian Jerry Seinfeld wore it on early episodes of his eponymous sitcom, "Seinfeld."
MJ had perhaps the best season of his career in these shoes, averaging 31.5 points per game for a fifth straight scoring title. Additionally, he earned first-team All-NBA, first-team All-Defence, and a seventh straight All-Star appearance, along with the league MVP honour. However, none of these accolades are comparable to him hoisting his first Larry O'Brien trophy.
Air Jordan VII (1992)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $125
With Jordan fresh off winning an NBA title and the success of Tinker Hatfield's previous Jordan Models, the sneaker world had high expectations for the Air Jordan 7. The shoe drew inspiration from West Africa tribal art, with bold lines on the midsole.
The AJ7 incorporated Nike's Huarache technology, which helped eliminate extra weight, making it one of the lightest basketball shoes of all time. A special USA colourway was released to commemorate Jordan's leading the dream team, where team USA dominated international competition. A strong marketing campaign saw MJ teaming up with looney toons to feature bugs bunny in which they were both wearing the AJ VIl, beating another team in a game of hoops.
Jordan also had impressive accolades while wearing this shoe, including a gold medal at the 1992 summer games in Barcelona with the dream team. Additionally, he won his sixth straight scoring title, earned first-team All-NBA and All-Defence honours, and made his seventh consecutive All-Star team. Most notably, he won his MVP for a second straight year and secured his second Championship, joined by Finals MVP.
Air Jordan VIll (1993)
Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Original Price: $125
With Jordan just accomplishing the infamous 3-peat, designer Tinker Hatfield made the heaviest ever sneaker in the Jordan line, featuring splashes of colour along the heel and on the midsole and outsole.
Again, the brand used Huarache technology to add a padded collar in the sneaker, with bugs bunny being the central component of the shoe marketing campaign. A unique aesthetical aspect of the shoe was a carpeted circular Jumpman logo on the tongue. Also, there were anti-inversion straps to lock down the foot.
The Aqua colorway remains the model's most sought-after colorway, reiterating the shoe selling out immediately. Averaging 32.6 points per game, Jordan netted first-team All-NBA, first-team All-Defense, made his eighth consecutive All-Star Game, and won finals MVP.
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