Your sneaker collection would be incomplete without an Air Jordan, isn’t it? Where’s the lie? Jordans are iconic. They are the foundation of sneaker culture.
SoleSeriouss, the best online sneaker store, takes you on a roller-coaster journey from the initial Air Jordan 1s to the final Air Jordan 14s worn by Michael Jordan for his NBA Championship. Let’s jumpstart the JUMPMAN journey now.
Ah, the shoes that started it all! The Air Jordan 1s or simply Air Jordans (as it was called back then) are arguably the top-selling sneakers online. No matter how far we go in sneaker innovation, the Air Jordan 1 sneakers will be hailed as the greatest by all. The Nike Air Jordan 1 design can be credited to Peter C. Moore.
The first Air Jordan 1 was black and red or the ‘Bred’ or the ‘Banned’ colorway. The AJ 1s remain the simplest in design to date and that sets them apart from the rest. The other popular colorways in AJ 1 include ‘UNC University Blue’ and Varsity Red or Chicago. Buy Air Jordan 1 at SoleSeriouss, the best online sneaker store.
The Air Jordan 2s were supposed to add hype to the Jordan brand. These made their debut in 1986 and were sophisticated in design and construction. The highlight was that they didn’t have the Nike Swoosh on the ankle which was dominant in the AJ 1s. Michael Jordan wore them for the NBA and so did Bill Murray in the classic film, Space Jam.
The popular AJ 2 colorway includes the original Red/White as in Air Jordan 2 Retro Low SP ‘Varsity Red’. The Jordan brand has also collaborated with James Whitner’s Atlanta-based boutique A Ma Maniére to present a luxury-inspired take on AJ 2 which is the Air Jordan 2 Retro SP x A Ma Maniére ‘Airness’.
The first Jordans designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 3s signified the arrival of the Air Jordan brand. Debuted in 1988, its design with elephant print accents on the toe-cap and heel can be taken as a transition between the retro and the modern. The design showcased the exposed Nike Air Unit. They were the first Jordans that did away with the Swoosh logo on the side and opted for a Nike Air logo on the heel and a Jumpman logo on the tongue.
The popular Air Jordan 3 colorways include ‘Fire Red’ and Cement as in Air Jordan 3 WMNS Retro ‘Black Cement Gold’. The sophistication and the color balance in the AJ 3s make them the top-selling sneakers online at SoleSeriouss.
The Air Jordan 4 released in 1989 was much of a departure from its predecessor. But it was the first shoe in the Air Jordan franchise to go global outside the USA. It also featured in a memorable scene in the American director Spike Lee’s film Do The Right Thing. Michael Jordan wore it during the 1989 Playoffs and hit the most memorable shot of his career that simply became famous as “The Shot”.
In design, the AJ 4 was the first shoe to introduce the nubuck material. The mesh components were added for increased breathability. Buy Air Jordan 4 Golf ‘Military Blue’ to see how the Jordan brand is innovating AJ 4. The ‘Metallic Court Purple’ is an AJ 4 classic colorway and so is ‘Midnight Navy’.
The start of the ‘90s saw the debut of Air Jordan 5. Inspired by a WW2 Mustang fighter jet, it featured a reflective 3M tongue and mesh on the tongue and side panels.
The Air Jordan 5 Retro ‘Raging Bull’ in Varsity Red colorway is our favorite pick in trending sneakers online.
Michael Jordan won his first NBA title in 1991 while wearing the Air Jordan 6 sneakers. The AJ 6 had a clean toe and rubber sole. It had two holes on the top of the tongue and one loop on the heel to easily wear them. The clear rubber sole was for added grip. The last touch on it was the number “23” on the shoe design.
We count Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘UNC University Blue’ and ‘Red Oreo’ among the top-selling Air Jordan sneakers for men.
The Air Jordan 7 was released in 1992 with an elevated set of expectations from MJ who had won his first title the previous season. The Air Jordan 7 silhouette had no visible Nike insignia on the outside and this was a significant step for viewing the Jordan brand as a separate entity. Similarly, the visible Nike Air units in the midsole disappeared and instead, it had an exposed phylon. The Air Unit was shifted to the heel and forefoot to create a lighter and more flexible feel.
The Air Jordan 7 Retro SP x Trophy Room ‘New Sheriff In Town / Olympic’ is Jordan Brand’s collab with Marcus Jordan’s sneaker boutique Trophy Room. The ‘Flint Grey’ is also a great opportunity for you to buy Retro Air Jordan online.
It was the first time Air Jordan went solo without any Nike trademark on it. The design features going for the Air Jordan 8 were the Durabuck uppers, Air sole, Huarache inner sleeve, and anti-inversion cross-straps or the bunny ears. The look was bulkier with extra padding and criss-cross straps.
Over the years, the AJ 8 has had its own sneaker fan club and has remained an integral part of the Jordan brand’s retro roster. Go for Retro ‘Cool Grey’ and ‘South Beach’ if you are planning to buy Retro Air Jordan online.
In 1993 Michael Jordan announced his basketball retirement and opted for baseball. No one saw this coming. Nevertheless, the Air Jordan 9 was released and Jordan fans went on to embrace it. MJ never wore the AJ 9 on the basketball court. But he did wear its baseball version. His statue which sits outside the Bulls arena has the AJ 9 on its feet.
The focus of the Air Jordan 9 design was MJ becoming an international star. Its outsole has texts in Japanese, Russian, German, and other languages. The heel has the Jumpman logo with the globe or the world placed behind it.
The top-selling sneakers online for the Air Jordan 9 have been the Retro ‘Dark Charcoal / University Gold’ and ‘Chile Red’.
With MJ still firm in baseball, Tinker Hatfield decided to dedicate the Air Jordan 10 to MJ’s basketball achievements. The outsole featured some of MJ’s career highlights inscribed on them as a tribute. But MJ returned to play basketball in 1995 and he wore the Air Jordan 10 in the Chicago colorway complete with his new number “45” stitched at the ankles.
Some of the trending sneakers online in Air Jordan 10s include the ‘Chicago Bulls’ and ‘Stealth’ colorways.
This one is Michael Jordan’s favorite. Yes, we are talking about the Air Jordan 11 first dropped in 1995 which officially marked his return to basketball. The AJ 11 matched perfectly with even suits and tuxedos inspiring to wear it beyond the basketball court. MJ wore the ‘Concord’ colorway during the Chicago Bulls’ historic season and its win of the 1996 NBA Championship.
The Air Jordan 12 had a Zoom Air unit, the first of its kind on a Jordan sneaker. A modified herringbone pattern and an improved carbon fiber shank plate enhanced the traction. The AJ 12 is the most durable among the Air Jordans. Michael Jordan wore them during the iconic Flu Game giving Chicago Bulls its fifth title in 1997.
If we were to pick our favorite Air Jordan 12s, it has to be the ‘Playoffs’ and ‘Twist’ colorways.
The Air Jordan 13 was the last of the sneakers MJ wore for a complete season with the Chicago Bulls. The sole of the AJ 13 resembled a panther’s paw. A circle hologram at the lateral side of the heel represented a panther’s eye. Denzel Washington wore them in Spike Lee’s He Got Game.
Buy Air Jordan 13 Retro ‘Hornets/ Obsidian’ or the ‘Red Flint’ at SoleSeriouss, the best online sneaker store.
Modeled on the Ferrari 550, the Air Jordan 14 was the last Air Jordan worn on the court by Michael Jordan. Tinker Hatfield had just designed a prototype and advised MJ not to wear them for the match. But MJ couldn’t resist wearing them and he famously laced the Air Jordan 14s for his sixth and final NBA Championship.
Check out the Air Jordan 14 Retro ‘Hyper Royal’ in its full glory at SoleSeriouss.
That was one hell of an exciting Air Jordan journey, isn’t it? You can look at our extensive Air Jordan collection at SoleSeriouss, the best online sneaker store.
Hail the JUMPMAN!
