Below is a look at each and every pair of Nike Air Jordan sneakers, a total of 35 in total (not counting the many colorways and retro variations). Next to each pair is Nike's shoe slogan (if any) and the year they were released. Many of these slogans can be found printed on current Nike products around the time of their release.
The original white-and-red Nike Air Jordan 1 has long been considered one of the best basketball shoes ever made. It debuted in 1989 and was immediately popular with fans and players alike. The shoe was such a success that it has never gone out of production, making it one of the longest running sports brands in history.
Today, you can find many different colors available for this sneaker, but we'll just focus on the black model here. It is believed that this particular colorway of the shoe was first sold during the 1990-91 season.
They are made from leather with rubber soles and heels. No word yet on what materials the other models are made from.
It is estimated that more than 10 million pairs of Jordans have been sold since their launch in 1989. That makes them by far the most popular brand of basketball shoe today.
However, they aren't the first basketball shoes available on the market.
The shoes are so popular that even other NBA stars don the shoes regularly. To date, there are 26 different signature pairs of Air Jordan shoes to hit the market, with each one drawing more hype than the next. The shoes revolutionized athletic footwear, and we can only wait and see what's next on the list.
There are currently two pairs of Air Jordan sneakers in production, along with a third that was announced but never released to the public. In addition, there are seven previously released models that have been re-released with improved technology or updated designs. Overall, this makes for at least 23 different pairs of Jordan shoes available today!
Even though Michael Jordan retired from playing basketball in 2003, he continues to be involved with the company through a marketing alliance with Nike. As part of his contract with Nike, Jordan has the right to release new products every year. He also gets to choose his own timing for retirement and return.
In total, there have been at least 28 different pairs of Michael Jordan sneakers released to the public over the years.
The sneakers are so popular that other NBA players wear them on a daily basis. There have been 26 distinct signature pairs of Air Jordan sneakers released to date, with each one garnering greater attention than the last.
There are two main types of Jordans: the "Original" and the "Bait". The Original was created by Nike designer Bruce Kilgore in response to fans' requests for a more affordable shoe. It became such a success that Nike continued to make them for several years after Bruce Kilgore's death in 1994. In 2001, a new version of the Original Jordan came out with some minor changes including a new color scheme and updated materials. Today, the Original Jordan is available in several different colors and designs.
The Bait model was introduced in 2004 by Nike as a cheaper alternative to the Original. They are almost identical to the Original except for their lack of trademark logo on the bottom of the shoe. Some players and fans claim that they can tell which player has worn a pair of Jordans by looking at the bottom of the shoe; if it has the original red-white-blue design, then it is most likely an original pair of shoes. Other players prefer using bait models since they are less expensive.
In addition to being named after Michael Jordan's initials, these models also feature a unique color combination that is based on the Chicago Bulls' uniform colors.
The first pair of Jordans was released in December 1989 and featured black and red colors with a white patent leather shoe body, red stitching, and a red logo on the heel. They were followed by another version of the same model two months later with all-black colors and a translucent green sole. In 1991, another pair of Jordans made from synthetic materials was released: "Space Jam" featuring yellow, blue, and purple colors with a clear plastic shoe body, yellow stitching, and a black and yellow logo on the heel. In 1992, yet another model called the "Sportswear Line" was released; it was designed for outdoor use and included features such as rubber soles and handprints on the shoes' sides.
In 1993, Michael Jordan himself came out with a line of clothing called "MJX", which included T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, and caps. That same year, Nike introduced its first color-changing shoe called the "Lightning McQueen" set to promote its film franchise character.
Throughout his storied career, the iconic American athlete launched no fewer than 34 pairs of Air Jordans, not to mention the numerous hues and modifications of each. The world's first-ever pair of trademark sneakers, the coveted Air Jordan 1 from 1985, will be auctioned off at Sotheby's. The sale is expected to generate $100,000-$300,000.
In total, Michael Jordan is believed to have owned between one-third and one-half of all pairs sold worldwide under the Air Jordan brand. By 2016, that number was estimated to be around 10,000 pairs. In January 2017, a report by Business Insider noted that with his death in March 2019, Michael Jordan has more than just played himself out as an athlete; he's also played himself out as a business opportunity.
The report went on to note that while there are still several major basketball games left to be played this year, it's extremely unlikely that any other shoes will ever be as popular as Air Jordans were during Michael Jordan's career. In fact, since his death, Nike has reportedly seen sales drop by nearly 10 percent.
So, how many pairs of Air Jordans does Michael Jordan own? It's actually difficult to say for sure, but based on estimates from various sources, we can make an educated guess. In 2005, Footwear News reported that Michael Jordan had around 6,000 pairs of shoes collected from throughout his career.
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