The Best Air Jordan 6 Retros Out Right Now

In 1991, Michael Jordan unveiled the Air Jordan 6 at the annual NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte. Taking place in his home state of North Carolina, the midseason classic set the stage for Jordan to take over the league, winning his first championship months later in those same sneakers.

Since making its debut 30 years ago, the Air Jordan 6 has crossed over as a pop culture staple, receiving retro makeovers from the likes of Travis Scott and Aleali May, among others. Whether celebrating sport or style, the Air Jordan 6 Retro relishes in its ability to take on a variety of color stories both classic and contemporary.

The latest addition to the Tinker Hatfield design’s revival is the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Bordeaux.” Inspired by the shoe’s launch, we’ve picked out the best Air Jordan 6 Retro releases available right now on GOAT.

When the Air Jordan 6 arrived in 1991, Michael Jordan was regarded as the best individual player in the NBA, yet the ultimate team accolade still evaded him. Months after the Black/Infrared original first graced his feet, that narrative quickly changed.

Defeating his high school hero, Magic Johnson, in the Air Jordan 6 for his first NBA title, MJ helped make the Black/Infrared rendition an instant part of sneaker history. In 2019, the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Infrared” returned with revered Nike Air branding on the heel, rich black nubuck on the upper, and scorching Infrared accents on the midsole, giving fans the chance to rewear history.

By the year 2000, Michael Jordan was in the midst of his transition from NBA icon to business magnate. When the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Olympic” was released it garnered national fanfare, but it was Ray Allen and Vin Baker wearing them on court as Team USA made their run for the gold in Sydney that forever immortalized them.

After a dozen years in the vault, the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Olympic” returned for the first time in 2012. The launch correlated with the Summer Games in London, giving fans another chance to get their hands on the sneakers that the original members of Team Jordan played in while carrying the torch for Team USA.

The Doernbecher Freestyle Program has proven one of the most heartfelt initiatives in the footwear industry. Over the years, employees at Nike and Jordan Brand have teamed up with patients at the OHSU Children’s Hospital in Portland to raise money for pediatric medicine and health-stricken youth.

Designed by patient Jordan Dark, the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Doernbecher” debuted in 2009 and was so popular that it was released again in 2019. Crafted while a young Dark was fighting cancer, this courageous colorway called out the dates he started and ended chemo treatment while redressing the court classic in Midnight Navy suede and Varsity Red accents.

Travis Scott has hits on Billboard charts and hot-sellers at sneaker boutiques. Since first collaborating with Jordan Brand in 2017, the Houston-raised rapper has revised a variety of iconic Air Jordan Retros with the same energy he puts into his electric stage presence.

2021’s Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 Retro “British Khaki” serves as a sequel to Travis’s 2019 take on the same silhouette, adding ankle stash pockets and glow-in-the-dark detailing to the shoe Jordan won his first championship in. Suede and canvas construction provide a premium feel on this coveted collaboration, with Bright Crimson accents illuminating La Flame’s footwear of choice.

International fashion stylist Aleali May uses clothing as a canvas for expression. A common collaborator with Jordan Brand, May has told stories of her youth, family, and career journey through the models made famous by Michael on court.

The Aleali May x Air Jordan 6 Retro “Millennial Pink” from 2019 speaks to a new generation of trailblazers inspired by the Air Jordan legacy. Amplified by sharp yet subtle contrast by way of Bright Crimson branding and midsole hits, the shoes offered a unique take that appealed to the tastes and style of female sneakerheads.

In 2006, Jordan Brand completely changed the game by releasing the Defining Moment Pack. By combining the Air Jordan 6 and Air Jordan 11 Retro releases in one big box, the two shoes, which were tied to the origin of Michael’s memorable three-peats, arrived in championship gold.

For years, fans chased this tandem launch that fetched top dollar in all corners of the world. Thankfully, in 2020, Jordan Brand brought out the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Defining Moments” in solo fashion for the first time. Celebratory gold accents restored the feeling of 1991’s title run and 2006’s juggernaut drop, putting a bow on two titanic moments in sneaker culture.

When it came time to receive his first NBA Championship ring in front of a packed Chicago Stadium, Michael Jordan hit the court with something familiar yet new on his feet. That of course was the Air Jordan 6 in its brand-new “Carmine” colorway. This powerful palette enhanced the model Michael wore during his inaugural title run and elevated it with a bolder aesthetic.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Air Jordan 6 Retro OG “Carmine” returned in 2021 complete with Nike Air heel branding. Featuring a combination of Carmine nubuck and white leather, the shoes were a callback to Michael’s first ring night and offered fans the chance to capture that same energy with their footwear.

The Air Jordan 6 is often considered the shoe of superheroes. Not only was it worn by Michael Jordan on the hardwood as he won his first title, but also by Bruce Wayne in boot form as he fought crime in 1992’s Batman Returns.

In 2014, the shoe of the stars took on a cartoon crossover by way of the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Slam Dunk” drop. Inspired by the Japanese manga/anime series of the same name, this powerful pair celebrated series hero Hanamichi Sakuragi. No. 10 tagging and graphic red uppers tell the story of Hanamichi, and adds yet another layer to the illustrious Air Jordan 6 narrative.

A year after the Air Jordan 6 debuted at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, Michael Jordan took center stage in Orlando to lead the Eastern Conference in his new shoe, the Air Jordan 7. Unveiling his latest model in a mature “Bordeaux” color palette, Michael offered a new direction for the most celebrated series in performance footwear by leaning into the Afropop art inspiration and adding a Huarache sockliner.

Combining classics from 1991 and 1992, 2021’s Air Jordan 6 Retro “Bordeaux” swaps the styling seen on Michael’s midseason models from each All-Star showcase, applying the Air Jordan 7’s two-tone grey nubuck to the iconic upper of the Air Jordan 6. Bordeaux accents on the tongue speak to the robust flavor of this hybrid homage, tying two favorites together in one spirited release.

Shop all of these Air Jordan 6 Retro releases on GOAT.