Image via Complex Original
On October 6th, 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA. It was one day before training camp, and no one saw it coming from the 30 year old superstar. The Air Jordan IX had already been designed by Tinker Hatfield and was ready to go, so when MJ announced that he was going to give baseball a shot, the Jordan
team cleated up the Air Jordan IX for the diamond. The IX is a great shoe, and Tinker cited Japanese design and the globalization of the Air Jordan name as its key influences. Just because it didn't debut on court doesn't mean it doesn't have its fans, and celebrities from Will Smith to Tupac to Chris Paul have rocked it throughout the years. Click on to see the celebrities who have been spotted wearing the Air Jordan IX.
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Where: Promo shoot
What: Air Jordan IX (White/Black-True Red)
When: 1993
Dwyane Wade
Dwayne Wade
Where: Jordan Brand Breakfast Club, Rucker Park, Harlem NYC
What: Air Jordan IX (White/Black-True Red)
When: August 13, 2010
Fabolous
<font size="3"><strong>Fabolous</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Heineken Inspire event, Los Angeles
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX (Black/Charcoal-Red)
<b>When</b>: August 28, 2010
Will Smith
<font size="3"><strong>Will Smith</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: 1993
Drake
<font size="3"><strong>Drake</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Home & Home Tour, Yankee Stadium
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (Black/Charcoal-Red)
<b>When</b>: Septermber 13, 2010
Eminem
<font size="3"><strong>Eminem</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro Low (White/White-Chrome)
<b>When</b>: August 29, 2002
DJ Jazzy Jeff
<font size="3"><strong>DJ Jazzy Jeff</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX (White/Black-Dark Powder Blue)
<b>When</b>: 1993
Chris Brown
<font size="3"><strong>Chris Brown</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Streets of NYC
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: October 11, 2010
Krayzie Bone
<font size="3"><strong>Krayzie Bone</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Promo shoot
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/French Blue-Flint Grey)
<b>When</b>: 2002
Darrelle Revis
<font size="3"><strong>Darrelle Revis</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: So Kodak launch event
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (Black/Citrus-White)
<b>When</b>: October 6, 2010
LeBron James
<font size="3"><strong>LeBron James</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: University of Kentucky
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro P.E.
<b>When</b>: July 2009
Morris Chestnut
<font size="3"><strong>Morris Chestnut</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: The film Like Mike
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: July 2002
Wiz Khalifa
<font size="3"><strong>Wiz Khalifa</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: In concert
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: 2010
Bow Wow
<font size="3"><strong>Bow Wow</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Foot Locker Herald Square, NYC
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (Black/Citrus-White)
<b>When</b>: August 16, 2010
Jaleel White
<font size="3"><strong>Jaleel White</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: University of Arizona practice
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX (Black/Charcoal-Red)
<b>When</b>: 1994
Chris Paul
<font size="3"><strong>Chris Paul</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: LAVO, Las Vegas
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (Black/Citrus-White)
<b>When</b>: July 23, 2010
Nelly
<font size="3"><strong>Nelly</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: 2010 VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro Premio (White/Metallic Gold)
<b>When</b>: July 7, 2010
Ludacris
<font size="3"><strong>Ludacris</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Gotham Magazine's Annual Gala at Escape, NYC
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (Black/Light Olive-True Red)
<b>When</b>: November 18, 2008
Pusha T
<font size="3"><strong>Pusha T</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: In Studio
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: September 2010
Devin Hester
<font size="3"><strong>Devin Hester</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Arriving to training camp
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
Matt Kemp
<font size="3"><strong>Matt Kemp</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Paris, France
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: November 11, 2010
The Game
The Game
Where: Charity basketball game
What: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
Shannon Brown
<font size="3"><strong>Shannon Brown</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Event at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: December 13, 2010
Paul Wall
<font size="3"><strong>Paul Wall</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: In concert
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX Retro (White/Black-True Red)
<b>When</b>: December 2010
Michael Jordan
<font size="3"><strong>Michael Jordan</strong></font></strong>
<b>Where</b>: Nike ad
<b>What</b>: Air Jordan IX (White/Black-Dark Powder Blue)
<b>When</b>: 1993
