The Best Air Jordans of 2021 (So Far)

Release Date: May 20

Price: $175

The NBA did its best to preserve its All-Star festivities in the midst of the pandemic, but the resulting single-day event that featured a blowout victory by Team LeBron, a forgettable halftime Slam Dunk Contest, and criticism from players for it even taking place, won’t go down in the books as one of the best in league history. Jordan Brand managed to provide one of the few memorable footwear moments of the event thanks to this player exclusive Air Jordan 35 Low debuted by Luka Doncic. The “Cosmic Deception” 35 Low, unlike so many Air Jordan player exclusives, went on to actually release, launching this May—just days before Doncic helped the Mavericks jump to an early 2-0 against the favored Clippers. It’s rare these days for an on-court Air Jordan to sell out immediately and flip for a profit on the resale market (albeit a small one), but this one proved that the right player, right colorway, and right timing, combined with a shoe already proven for top-tier performance, could still stand out. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: March 6

Price: $170

This sneaker is on the list because everyone on TikTok and Instagram who loves it would get mad if it didn’t make the cut. Jordan 1s are more popular now than they’ve ever been during any point in the sneaker’s 36-year history. It’s become the go-to sneaker for a lot of people dipping their toes into collectible shoes. It’s easy to wear, Jordan Brand makes it in a million colorways, it’s a recognizable signal to show people, “Hey, I’m into sneakers.” The University Blue pair that released this year became a favorite amongst some, although it’s hard to pinpoint why. It comes in a colorway reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s time at the University of North Carolina, although it’s not quite spot on. But it is a Jordan 1 and it resells for around $400. We’ve all seen memes of this shoe, and its popularity is undeniable. Whether we individually agree with something being great or not, we always need to be cognizant of what’s going on. —Matt Welty

Release Date: February 20

Price: $190

The “Cool Grey” colorway may have minimal relevance to Michael Jordan’s playing days with the Chicago Bulls, but it’s become a staple style of modern Air Jordan retros. The look dates back to 2001’s “Cool Grey” Air Jordan 11, and has been found on many models since, most notably the Air Jordan 9, Air Jordan 4, and this Air Jordan 3. The “Cool Grey” 3s originally dropped in 2007 as part of Jordan Brand’s “LS,” or “Lifestyle” line, and released alongside a matching set of apparel. The sneaker (but most definitely not the apparel) quickly became a coveted addition to the Air Jordan 3’s legacy, and has long been viewed by collectors as one of the model’s better non-OGs. 2021 marked the first time it’s been back, and while it didn’t set the resale world on fire, it had no trouble selling out. Interestingly, just as with the original, the 2021 release doesn’t actually include “Cool Grey” in its colorway, despite the nickname. Both boxes list the shade as “Light Graphite.” —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: February 10

Price: $200

Given the seemingly never-ending stream of Air Jordan 1 releases, it’s hard to believe there were still some original pairs that had never gotten the retro treatment since debuting in 1985. The “Neutral Grey” 1 was one of those mythical pairs that many Air Jordan enthusiasts were eager to see return, and it finally happened this past February. The shoe was even given the “85” designation, which means that the cut of the high-top more closely resembles what you would have seen on shelves back in the ‘80s. The colorway itself—a white leather upper with grey suede accents—is nothing particularly flashy, but its wearability instantly made it a must-have for plenty of people.

The shoe sold out, but it was met with some criticism from purists. The shape, while intended to more closely resemble the original, feels a bit off. The shade of grey is wrong, too. To most people, this isn’t a huge issue. But it definitely docks this release a few spots. If you ask me, this colorway also just looks better in its distressed and yellowed form. Maybe the 2021 retros will age just as gracefully. But as things stand now, these sit firmly in the bottom half of our rankings. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: February 13

Price: $200

The perfect retro of the “Carmine” Air Jordan 6 remains elusive. This year’s version was supposed to be it—it marks the first time the original colorway has returned with the important Nike Air branding on the back—but it was marred to some extent by production issues. A portion of the sneakers were affected by a bad batch of midsole paint, meaning they arrived with pink sections toward the sole where there was meant to be white. The blemishes didn’t totally spoil this release, but they did keep what could have been a celebrated and important retro from being truly great.

Cosmetic flaws aside, this is still the best version of the red and white “Carmine” Air Jordan 6 since 1991. When the shoe first came back, in 2008, it arrived in a “Countdown Pack” release packaged with a Jordan 17 and bearing the anachronistic Jumpman logo on the heel. The improved 2014 pair was sold solo but still wore the Jumpman where Nike Air branding should have been. 2021’s “Carmine” Air Jordan 6 fixes that, but falls short of getting everything right. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: April 28

Price: $200

For many hardcore Air Jordan collectors, there is nothing more coveted than player exclusives. These pairs are noted for their extremely limited nature and special markings that nod to certain players or schools. While most people will never get to acquire a PE of their own, Jordan Brand has decided to start giving fans the next best thing by releasing colorways mimicking PEs for universities like Oregon, Michigan, and more, sans their official team logos, in recent years.

One of the most popular iterations thus far has been the “University Blue” Air Jordan 4 released this past April, which was modeled after a pair made for the Tar Heels football team in 2019. Some owners even decided to customize theirs by chopping the jersey-inspired tongue tag off so that it more closely resembled the 4’s usual look. Like most colorways inspired by Michael Jordan’s alma mater, these flew off the shelves. Some might refer to them as “poverty PEs,” but if the flip is any indication, plenty of people view these blue suede 4s as a formidable alternative. In a sneaker climate dominated by big-name collaborations, these are proof that not everything needs to be attached to a marquee name to be a hit. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: April 10

Price: $190

Back on its own for the first time, the red suede version from the Air Jordan 5 “Raging Bull” pack is one of the boldest renditions of MJ’s fifth signature sneaker. Like its predecessor, this Air Jordan 5 comes housed in special packaging meant to resemble a crate reserved for housing a bull, and serves as an homage to Jordan’s playing days in Chicago. Unlike its predecessors, this one doesn’t come packaged with another pair for one of those two-sneaker combo sets of old. Red suede Jordans are not always the easiest look to pull off, which certainly impacts the wearability of this retro, but the excitement surrounding the return of a beloved drop from ‘09 earns this pair a spot in the top 5 of our mid-year list. —Ben Felderstein

Release Date: April 30

Price: $250

If these were the first Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6s to release, I think people would like the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6 in general a lot more. It’s not a bad model, but its hype didn’t live up to the expectations set by predecessors like the Cactus Jack take on the Jordan 1. This was something you’d kind of expect from Travis Scott. Earth tones, slight design cue flips. On the 6, it’s adding a utility-esque bag on the ankle collar. Travis putting tan suede on an “Infrared” Jordan 6 base makes a lot of sense for the latest version of the shoe. Its materials are also plush and it’s just a solid shoe, regardless of whether Travis Scott is the man pushing it. —Matt Welty

Release Date: February 10

Price: $190

Yes, you are still upset about this sneaker. Yes, it was impossible to get. Yes, there were credible allegations that a good portion of them were backdoored, sold early to resellers for way above the suggested retail price. Yes, the whole thing reeked of nepotism. Still, the circumstances around it aside, the Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 is a great sneaker.

The shoe, created in collaboration with Michael Jordan’s son Marcus for his Trophy Room sneaker store in Orlando, is the best execution yet of a real Jordan family story line. It elevates and ices out the original “Chicago” Air Jordan 1, a classic sneaker that gained new status in the past year after ESPN’s The Last Dance reminded viewers of its allure. The design inspiration ties back to the 1985 NBA All-Star Game, an event the elder Jordan was said to be frozen out of—hence the frozen sparkle treatment on its upper. Super limited and coveted sneakers like these are increasingly judged based on whether the spots selling them actually dropped them in a fair and fluid way. And, to be honest, that’s a criteria we’re still grappling with. But even with the weight of all its drama, the Trophy Room x Air Jordan 1 manages to fly. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: April 28

Price: $200

Collaborative sneakers frequently fall victim to two major trappings: they either do so much that they become hard to wear or they are so subtle they don’t feel different enough from in-line styles. James Whitner’s A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 managed to thread the needle with a design that was intricate yet wearable—a low-key look that was still instantly recognizable as something special. Elevated materials, like suede replacing the standard elephant print and a quilted lining, gave the shoe a true premium feel. Subdued shades of purple and cream felt vintage without the need for overt distressing.

And then there’s the storytelling, which is another area where collabs often go wrong, sacrificing aesthetics for abstract tales only relevant to the creators. Whitner’s design was a winner before the theme was even revealed, and was only enhanced when the story of the women that raised him was presented. This is a rare example of a collaboration that does everything right, including even the launch’s prioritization of women’s access. This might only be a mid-year award, but it’s hard to think of a sneaker that’s gotten more things right in recent memory. —Zac Dubasik