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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 4 White Oreo is not a collaboration with another brand, but the internet has its ways. This, for many, is a classic colorway, even though it isn’t an original one. It can be looked at as an alternate colorway of an earlier Retro Plus release of the same Air Jordan model. Whatever the case may be, these
The Air Jordan 3 Rust Pink is a new play on colors for a timeless classic. The shoe is quite straightforward and needs little to no introduction. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that this shoe isn’t for everyone. With so much pink and that block of crimson, these may throw people off or have them pulling out their wallets
The Air Jordan 1 High Light Fusion Red is an interesting one to say the least. Some people associate this with a certain fast food chain, but neither Jordan Brand nor SNKRS has confirmed any collaborations. But the leather, though. That alone may have made these worth your money. Whatever the case may be, this might be one of those
The Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT Stadium Green is a new iteration of a true classic. It looks like an Air Jordan 1, which originally released in 1985, but its tech and materials shout 21st century. If you like Michael Jordan’s first shoe, but don’t feel that they’re comfortable enough for you, then these might be the shoe you want.
The Air Jordan 1 High Metallic Purple 2021 is back for the first time since 2016. That version wasn’t beloved by OG sneakerheads, so Jordan Brand is bringing them back five years later. With a more-than-nice leather upper and a familiar shape, these definitely have higher chances of satisfying people and their Air Jordan 1 cravings. Well, mostly the ladies,
The Jordan AJKO Chicago 2021 comes back for the first time in quite a long time. These have always been a weird one for sneakerheads and Jordan fans alike. Whatever we think of them, though, we can’t deny that it’s an important part of the Air Jordan line’s history. With a mostly canvas upper, one of the first “budget” models
The Air Jordan 4 White Oreo is not a collaboration with another brand, but the internet has its ways. This, for many, is a classic colorway, even though it isn’t an original one. It can be looked at as an alternate colorway of an earlier Retro Plus release of the same Air Jordan model. Whatever the case may be, these
The Jordan AJKO Chicago 2021 comes back for the first time in quite a long time. These have always been a weird one for sneakerheads and Jordan fans alike. Whatever we think of them, though, we can’t deny that it’s an important part of the Air Jordan line’s history. With a mostly canvas upper, one of the first “budget” models
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
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.”
