Since '85: The Best Air Jordan of Every Year

The one that started it all. Nike introduced the Air Jordan in 1985, giving it bold colors the likes of which had never been seen on the NBA hardwood before. The Air Jordan 1, as it would later come to be called, came out of the gate with a ton of colorways, but this one remains the most memorable thanks to Nike's myth around the "Banned" colorway.

Even in the infancy of the Air Jordan line, Nike was already thinking up ways to spin off the shoes. The first takedown to ever arrive was the Air Jordan KO, which replaced the standard Air Jordan 1's leather with canvas. The sneakers also used a different outsole, further separating them from the originals. The colors used were very much the same though, as evidenced by the "Chicago" one here.

The second Air Jordan was a departure from the first one in a lot of ways. Rather than rely on standard Nike design cues, the sneaker ditched everything, including the branding, and started from scratch. It also ditched the busy colorway program of the Jordan 1, and had just two colorways when it debuted. While both were pretty similar, this one with the extra black wins out thanks to its spot in the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest.

The Air Jordan 3 began the Tinker Hatfield era of Jordan designs, which forever altered the course of MJ's line. The "Black/Cement" version has been celebrated as one of the most wearable Air Jordans of all time, and continues to be a hit with every bring back. Its present-day ubiquity is a testament to the influence of the combo of Tinker, Nike, and Mike that would go on to dominate the game for decades.

This Air Jordan 4 colorway picked up where the Air Jordan 3 left off in terms of patterns, introducing a cement speckling to the body of the shoe. The "White/Cement" may not have been as present on-court for MJ as the other Bulls flavors, but the sneaker still stands out. Don't forget about its cameo in the classic Spike Lee Joint Do the Right Thing.

Save for the Jordan 2, every Jordan before this one had a blue colorway available. The Air Jordan 5 managed to break the mold while creating one of the line's most memorable colorways in the process. The Air Jordan 5 "Grape" played off the purple/teal palette of the Charlotte Hornets, taking advantage of the 1990s fervor around the young team's look.

In 1991, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their first of three consecutive NBA championships. On his feet was the “Infrared” Air Jordan 6, which is iconic both on and off the court. Infrared has since become a staple as one of the most popular accent colors in the world of sneakers.

In the summer of 1992, the greatest basketball roster of all-time, the “Dream Team,” was assembled. En route to a gold medal at the Barcelona games, MJ laced up the “Olympic” edition of the Air Jordan 7. It donned a USA-themed colorway, complete with Jordan’s USAB uniform number 9 on the back heel replacing the traditional 23.

A departure from the usual colorways, the “Aqua” Air Jordan 8 was the only non-Bulls themed pair to release in 1993. Decked in black, aqua, and teal, and fastened with “bunny ear” cross-straps, the shoe was worn by Michael Jordan in the 1993 All-Star Game and is easily the model’s most popular style. 

The Air Jordan line didn't stop when Michael left the NBA. Tinker Hatfield debuted the Air Jordan 10 in 1994, which Jordan would later go on to wear when he returned to the NBA in 1995. The “Steel” colorway was inspired by the Barons/White Sox colors and was the only pair released with the added leather toecap—something Jordan personally hated and requested the removal of.

Considered the greatest Air Jordan of all-time by many, the “Concord” Air Jordan 11 hit stores in the fall of 1995. Its sleek white upper and black patent leather detailing made it stand out in both competitive and casual settings. His Airness was even fined for wearing them because they went against the NBA's footwear regulations at the time.

Despite having to follow the ultra-popular Air Jordan 11, the Air Jordan 12 was well-received by Jordan enthusiasts. While these were predominantly white and black, the “Taxi” nickname for this pair is derived from the yellow accent hits on the pull-tab and outsole. Worn by Michael Jordan during the Bulls’ fifth championship season, the “Taxi” 12 may be best remembered for its appearance in the “Frozen Moment”commercial.

This black and red Air Jordan 12 is one of those sneakers forever linked to an epic moment in Jordan's career. There are few shoes in the entire line that carry as much on-court significance as these, which MJ wore while battling the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.

Designed after Michael Jordan's "Black Cat" nickname, the Air Jordan 13 remains one of the more popular models in the line. Jordan laced up up the "Bred" colorway during the 1998 playoffs leading up to his sixth and final NBA championship.

MJ’s actual last shot may have come in 2003 while playing for the Wizards in a pair of Air Jordan 18s. But say the words “last game” to any self-respecting Jordan fan and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about: MJ’s final shot as a Chicago Bull, which clinched his 6th and final NBA title.

While the "Space Jam" colorway was one familiar to fans from the Space Jam movie, it didn’t actually release during the 11’s initial mid-'90s run. The Space Jam 11 released for the first time in the year 2000 as a retro, and remains one of the most sought-after of all Air Jordan 11s.

Sneaker collectors tend to stick with original colorways when it comes to retro Air Jordans, but the "Cool Grey" 11 was able to break that trend. While not as highly coveted as some 11s, it was able to eclipse 2001 retros like the "Black Cement" 3s based on the frenzy its release caused. The Niketown Chicago launch was documented on a program called Buy-ology that aired nationally on TLC.

In recent times, retro Air Jordans have created far more buzz than the current game shoes. One of the last new models to create real conversation however was the Air Jordan 17. Not only was it packaged in a metal briefcase, it retailed for a then-unheard-of price of $200.

Jordan retros were ahead of their time in 1994, so 2003 marked the first time that the “White/Cement” Air Jordan 3 was reintroduced to the retro-hungry market. The limited release went on to become one of the most sought-after sneakers in the line until it was retroed again in 2011.

If the events that took place in Barcelona 12 years earlier weren’t enough of a reason to be excited about the first “Olympic” Air Jordan 7 retro, Fat Joe took the shoe’s popularity to new heights when he licked the sole of the original in a 2004 episode of MTV Cribs. He wasn’t lying when he said that they were fetching huge money on “the eBay,” so sneakerheads jumped at the opportunity to get wearable pairs for retail.

First spotted in the now-defunct Jordan Brand Magazine, the “Altitude” Air Jordan 13 was initially believed to be a Terrell Owens player exclusive. However, the shoe hit select Jordan accounts in limited quantities in 2005 and sold out instantly.

The first and biggest Air Jordan pack to release, “Defining Moments” paired the Air Jordan 6 with the Air Jordan 11 in celebration of Michael Jordan's first-ever NBA championship and his first championship back from retirement. Both shoes, gold-accented versions of original colorways, were packaged in a two-tiered box with dog tags and a booklet for $295.

As finding original pairs in wearable condition became increasingly difficult, the “Aqua” Air Jordan 8 was re-released for the first time in 2007. The shoes weren’t particularly limited, but anticipation caused commotion.

The popularity of retros has eclipsed current game shoes since Michael Jordan retired, but the XX3 was able to recapture some of the energy around new designs. One of the reasons for that was a clever release strategy that saw colorways like the “Titanium” released in extremely limited quantities at select locations worldwide. Only 1,058 pairs of these exist.

Understanding that Air Jordan 11 releases were a special part of its legacy, Jordan Brand began the tradition of an annual Christmas launch with the “Space Jam” colorway in 2009. This Jordan 11 was set apart from other retros by the special pull-out box with a plastic cover and plastic shoe trees. Anyone who lined up for these in 2009 remembers the chaos.

Before the recent remastering campaign, Jordan Brand released a series of Air Jordans constructed with premium materials dubbed the Bin23 line. One of the high points was this gold-accent Air Jordan 9, which came packaged in a new box with dust bags and wooden shoe trees. And don't forget—they were still cheaper in price than a standard 2017 retro.

Though we’ve debunked the myth that this was the shoe originally banned by the NBA, the story was pushed by Jordan Brand for this unique 2011 release. The perfect storm of the return of Nike Air branding, high quality leather, banned detailing, OG-style packaging, and an unprecedented outlet-exclusive launch made the “Banned” 1 one of the most unforgettable Jordan releases in recent memory.

Despite just a four-year break from the previous retro and the lack of a special box, “Bred” 11s had no problem flying off shelves again for the holiday season. At this point, the holiday Jordan 11 release had become an event that collectors and casual buyers looked forward to every December.

After sneakerheads pleaded for the return of “Nike Air” branding for years, Jordan Brand obliged with the Air Jordan 3 ’88. Pegged to All-Star Weekend, the release was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s performance in the 1988 Dunk Contest. Even the exact time of day for its release coincided with that of Jordan's legendary dunk.

Using the existing “Black Toe” blocking, Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment imprint introduced royal blue into the equation for an easy win. The shoe also marked the first in Jordan Brand's efforts to remaster the way it does its retro sneakers. Years later, this remains one of the most expensive Jordan 1s on the resell market.

The original "Chicago" Air Jordan 1 is always welcomed back by collectors. 2015's release was particularly good, using a remastered shape and the all-important "Nike Air" branding on the tongue. While that year had plenty of other high-profile releases like the Supreme x Air Jordan 5 and "Shattered Backboard" Jordan 1s, nothing beats an original.

Yes, Space Jams have released before, but never like this. For the 2016 return of the shoe, Jordan Brand put the rare #45 detail on the heel, remastered the shape with a chunkier patent leather cut, and delivered the shoes as part of an ongoing campaign around the 20th anniversary of Space Jam. There were other great releases in 2016—"Bred" Jordan 1s and Jordan 3s and 4s with Nike Air on the back—but this one was the biggest deal on a pop culture level.