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Team Jordan shoes appeared back in the mid-90s. Jordan Brand was preparing to separate from Nike. MJ’s brand would remain under Nike’s umbrella, but it would become its own entity. This meant creating a fully-fledged product line. As part of this expansion, the idea of launching “team shoes” came up.
The Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull aka Toro Bravo was originally released in 2009 as part of a Jordan Brand pack that included an all black reflective version. Along with the Jordan Defining Moments pack, it was one of the more coveted packs in Jordan’s history.
The 1998 Jordan team model made for Vin Baker returns in 2021. The Jordan Pro Strong is back for the first time since 2018. And it’s sporting a better colorway this time too. How does it compare to the original? As usual, our comprehensive review will provide you all the information you need. Press play above to watch Chris break
Is the Air Jordan 11 CMFT Low a more comfortable version of the classic Air Jordan 11? Well, yes and no. Chris answers that question, and many more you didn’t even know you had, in the video above. Click play to watch and learn.
The Air Jordan 1 High OG Patina, also known as Light Army, and originally slated for a March release, is still coming in spring 2021. Pandemic-related logistics delays are wrecking havoc on release dates for all brands and the Light Army AJ 1 is one of the many shoes affected. We’re not really sure when these will actually release but figured
The Jordan MA2 is a new lifestyle-focused Jordan Brand model. And it may just be one of the best casual shoes Jordan has released in a long time. In the video above, Chris discusses the shoe’s heritage and everything else you’ve come to expect from his detailed reviews. Click play to watch now. Jordan MA2 $ 125 Release Date March
The Jordan Jumpman 2021, the team or takedown version of the flagship Air Jordan 35, is a well-rounded performance basketball shoe that several NBA players have worn on court this year.
The Jordan Why Not Zer0.4 is Russell Westbrook’s 4th signature shoe with a completely new design team inside Jordan Brand. Does the shoe live up to expectations? That’s what we’re here to find out. Keep reading for all the details.
The Air Jordan 4 Starfish, sporting Starfish orange from the Jordan 1 Shattered Backboard series, is actually inspired by space exploration. Yeah, we don’t understand it either. Shrugs shoulders.
The Jordan One Take 2, the follow up to last year’s Jordan Westbrook One Take, is a more budget friendly Russell Westbrook signature model. At $30 less than Westbrook’s actual signature shoe, the Jordan Why Not Zer0.4, the One Take 2 is worth considering as an on court option. Even more so when you hear the tech specs of shoe,
The Air Jordan 13 Starfish uses Chicago-style color blocking to create a Shattered Backboard Jordan 13 that could also be a Phoenix Suns-era QRich PE or a Little Nemo collaboration. Obviously, Michael Jordan never wore this colorway, but if you’re a big fan of orange, these may be for you. Click play above to get Chris’ comprehensive opinions and a
Team Jordan shoes appeared back in the mid-90s. Jordan Brand was preparing to separate from Nike. MJ’s brand would remain under Nike’s umbrella, but it would become its own entity. This meant creating a fully-fledged product line. As part of this expansion, the idea of launching “team shoes” came up. Jordan Brand intended to offer more generally accessible, top-notch performance
The Air Jordan 9 University Blue is a new colorway featuring OG style colorblocking that invokes all the nostalgia from rewatching Space Jam again and again on the family VCR. Releasing on December 5, 2020, the Jordan 9 University Blue also features glitter embedded into the black rand that snakes down the heel and along both sides of the shoe.
It’s crazy to think that the Jordan Brand almost didn’t happen. Can you imagine Michel Jordan rocking Adidas? If had been up to MJ at the time, that’s what would have happened.
When the GOAT was entering the league and fielding sponsorship offers, Nike was pretty low on his list. At the time, Nike was a struggling running shoe brand on the mend, concentrated on reinventing itself as a company for sports superstars.
Jordan really wanted to sign with Adidas, but the German sneaker brand wasn’t able to put together an offer as the company was undergoing a leadership shift at the time.
Converse also tried to bring MJ on board. Mike had rocked Converse in college playing for UNC (University of North Carolina) and was already familiar with the brand and what it brought to the table. But Converse already had several NBA superstars signed and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the faces of the brand. Converse made an offer, but apparently Michel wasn’t impressed and felt he would be just another basketball player on their already stellar roster of sponsored athletes.
Still, Michel wasn’t sure about signing with Nike. Even after Nike offered MJ $500,000 a year for five years, Jordan took the offer to Adidas and to see if the brand could get “anywhere close” to the offer. But Adidas turned him down. Hindsight is 20/20, but it’s still crazy to think Adidas passed on Mike.
Nike became Jordan’s best option by default and it ended up being a match made in heaven. Nike wanted to build an entire “brand inside the brand” around Jordan and his superhuman ability to dunk.
The Air Jordan I was released in April of 1985 and they were an instant hit. By May, Nike had sold $70 million worth of the shoes. INSANE. By the end of the year, Air Jordan had made Nike more than $100 million. Phil Knight, Nike’s co-founder, summed up the success of the Air Jordan 1’s as “the perfect combination of quality product, marketing, and athlete endorsement.”
