Today in Performance Sneaker History: Jordan Takes Home '88 All-Star MVP in AJ III

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Complex Original

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Yesterday, Jordan Brand commemorated MJ's 1988 Dunk Contest win with a special release of the Air Jordan 3 "White/Cement" featuring original Nike Air branding. But the colorway of the AJ III which has grown to be arguably the most iconic Jordan ever, the "Black/Cement" makeup, had yet to appear on NBA hardwood. It was February 7, 1988, in the All-Star Game when Michael would lace up the black colorway for the very first time.

The 1988 NBA All-Star Game was a showcase for legendary superstars like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwan, and a host of others. Despite the endless amount of talent on the court, the '88 contest foreshadowed what would take place in the years to come: Michael Jordan would dominate the league like a bull unchained.

Jordan put up a game-high 40 points, shooting 74% from the field. Rounding out his stat sheet with eight rebounds, three assists, four steals, and four blocks, a young Mike put the rest of the NBA on notice. As mentioned, his footwear of choice for this big game was the "Black/Cement" Air Jordan 3, a model which has seen numerous retro releases throughout the years and will be dropping in some brand new looks just in time for this year's All-Star Game.

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