Ranking the Best Air Jordan VIs of 2014

The Best Air Jordan VIs of 2014

Release date: June 14, 2014

Michael Jordan won his first championship wearing the “Black/Infrared” VI in 1991 against the Lakers. Many remember The G.O.A.T. hanging in the air with his tongue out and switching the ball mid-air from right hand to left. But it’s the image of Jordan with a celebratory cigar and champagne, an image that we saw 5 more times, that’s just as iconic. As part of the two-sneaker “Celebration” pack, the commemorative VI was decked out in a smooth brown leather upper with red accents. Complete with a championship ring lace lock, Jordan Brand made it clear that this was a sneaker for winners only.

Release date: June 21, 2014

World Cup-themed sneakers were EVERYWHERE this year. And when you’re dealing with what many consider is the biggest sporting spectacle in the world, why not? Jordan Brand got involved with a $500 two-sneaker pack themed after Brazil, the host of this past summer’s World Cup. The Brazilian national team was also aiming for its sixth title at the global soccer tournament, so a commemorative Air Jordan VI sneaker was only right. Done up in black leather and full-grain nubuck paneling, the “Brazil” VI featured vibrant hints of green and yellow accents throughout. The color scheme was an obvious one, but simple, clean, and striking. Sure, the Brazilian squad didn’t get the job done, but they still got their own signature sneaker, essentially.

Release date: June 14, 2014

A championship celebration isn’t complete without some bubbly. The “Champagne” Air Jordan VI dropped alongside the “Cigar” pair, and made for an appropriate theme to honor the 23rd anniversary of the Air Jordan VI. Unlike its counterpart, which sported a more low key combination of colors, the “Champagne” took the VI to another level. Instead of the usual composite of black or white tumbled leather and suede, Jordan Brand went in an entirely different direction. Complete with glow-in-the-dark detailing on the tongue, heel tab, and outsole, the championship caliber Vs went all-out with its shiny green patent leather upper.

Release date: February 15, 2014

Oh, look, here’s something you don’t see everyday: An all-red shoe.

Sarcasm aside, the “Infrared 23” is actually an amazing sneaker, and its bold colorway is one that especially makes sense for the Air Jordan VI. When sneakerheads think of Michael Jordan’s sixth signature sneaker and all the different iterations it has gone through in the last 23 years, there’s always one color that reigns supreme: Infrared. Jordan Brand upped the ante and shined the light bright on a color that’s typically a mere accent to a white or black base. Hypebeast colorway or not, you can’t be mad at that.

Release date: February 15, 2014

The “White/Infrared” colorway is a staple to the Air Jordan VI lineup. Like many other Js that don a predominantly white base with black and red accents, it’s a coveted colorway almost by default. The last crack ‘heads had at this exact sneaker was four years ago when Jordan Brand paired the colorway with—of course—its “Black/Infrared” counterpart. While we sure wouldn’t mind seeing another one of those “Infrared” packs put together if it means being able to cop both iconic colorways in one fell swoop, our wallets definitely appreciate that Jordan Brand chose to separate the two VIs this time around.

Release date: November 1, 2014

The “Slam Dunk” VI wasn’t your typical all-red sneaker. It was the result of a creative partnership between Jordan Brand and the Japanese manga artist who created the wildly successful Slam Dunk anime series, Takehiko Inoue. More than just a fictional tale of a high school basketball star, the manga represented Michael Jordan’s global reach and the widespread popularity of the game of basketball overseas. Jordan Brand sneaker collaborations rarely happen. But this was bigger than just a pair of sneakers with 3M illustrations. It was an opportunity to acknowledge an important work in Japanese culture that helped develop the growth of basketball in Asian markets.

Release date: August 9, 2014

The release of the “Varsity Red” VI coincided with the first retro launch of the original Spizike colorway. Complete with a red tumbled leather upper and green accents, the all-red VI, like the Spizike, was a nod to Spike Lee and his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule. While the “Varsity Red” nickname merely originates from the actual colorway of the sneaker, the retro also earned the label “History of Jordan” based on the printed graphics on the collar lining that highlight MJ’s career. The subtle, yet intricate detail comes directly from the Air Jordan XX and was a design that was also borrowed by the O.G. Spizike.

Release date: August 30, 2014

This was the first-ever retro release of the “Sport Blue” VI since debuting back in 1991. The decision to bring back the colorway came at the perfect time with the 23rd anniversary of MJ’s sixth signature sneaker. Not to mention Jordan Brand has been going H.A.M. this entire year with the “Sport Blue” color schemes a la the III, XIV, and Future. Complete with a crisp white leather upper and striking blue accent colors, the “Sport Blue” VI was the ideal sneaker to stunt in during the tail end of the summer. As happy as we are that these joints finally retroed, it would have been nice to see these come back sooner. Like, 13 years sooner. How dope would it have been to see MJ bust these out on the hardwood with the Wizards?

Release date: May 24, 2014

The “Carmine” colorway of the Air Jordan VI is one that should always be in production year-in, year-out. Prior to this past spring’s retro release, ‘heads last saw the coveted colorway in 2008 as part of a two-sneaker Countdown Package with the XVII. If you didn’t have the funds to shell out $310 back then, or simply had no interest in its counterpart in the pack, which was a black XVII, chances are you probably passed. This year, Jordan Brand made it so that sneakerheads didn’t have an excuse. Complete with striking red panels against a white base, it’s as O.G. as it gets. And nevermind the difference in the color of the outsole. Icy blue in this day and age of retro Js should be expected like the Jumpman logo.

Release date: November 28, 2014

Sneakerheads can be a fickle group, especially when it comes to Air Jordan retro releases. For this year’s Black Friday drop, Jordan Brand reissued the “Black/Infrared” VI and did O.G. ‘heads proud. You see, this year’s pair returns with a subtle detail that some ‘heads probably didn’t even know existed, and that’s the 3M reflective hit underneath the side panel perforations. It’s something we’ve only seen on the initial pair from 1991. This year’s “Black/Infrared” iteration could very well be the most accurate retro of this coveted Air Jordan VI colorway, and considering the amount of times Jordan Brand retroed this colorway in the last 23 years, that’s saying something.