Finding Michael Jordan Shoes

Michael Jordan's unique nexus with the Nike shoe company spurred an entire industry of sports wear patronage.  Jordan inked his Nike deal the year after his rookie season, 1984.  Nike expected a modest return on its brand investment--after all, Jordan was already a notable star (despite his less than superior performance in the 1983 finals).  However, due to both Jordan's tenacity on the court and Nike's marketing finesse, the Michael Jordan shoes became uber-potent marketing vehicles.

All told, Nike put out 21 versions of the Air Jordan. The Originals, often abbreviated as OGs, can retail to collectors for hefty sums of money.  You can also find Retro Jordans, Samples, and modified shoes.  Please be aware that given the exceptional popularity of Jordan shoes, many less than scrupulous individuals have attempted to hawk rip off footwear apparel as official Jordan shoes.

The Air Jordan I model was engineered by a man named Peter Moore but was disallowed by the NBA for its unorthodox design.  Ironically, the NBA's decision to ban Air Jordans helped stoke sales.  You can find special "color way" shoes, such as red/black, neutral gray/silver, and white/metallic red.

The innovative AJ IIs were engineered by a man named Bruce Kilgore to celebrate Jordan's unbelievable 1986-1987 season.  During this time, he smashed through Wilt Chamberlain's season point record, made the All-Star game, and scored 61 points in a single game versus the Hawks. The third version was dreamed up by Tinker Hatfield in 1988.  Hatfield also designed the fourth version of the shoe one year later.