The enjoyable half about rating one of the best Air Jordan signature shoe of all time is there is no such thing as a proper or mistaken listing.
However who am I kidding? Loads of individuals can have one thing to say.
This 12 months marks the fortieth anniversary of the Air Jordan signature shoe. The fortieth version of the shoe is predicted to be launched later this 12 months.
The Jordan Model has grown past only a basketball shoe. It has its personal signature athletes, together with present NBA stars Luka Dončić and Jayson Tatum. The model has crossed over into a number of sports activities and change into a vogue staple.
Does a swimsuit seem dressed down if it’s matched with a recent pair of Jordans? Thirty years in the past, possibly. Not anymore.
Travis Kelce wears a customized Thom Browne swimsuit, together with a Camel Hair Engineered 4-Bar Traditional Sport Coat (bought out) with a 4-Bar Striped Docker Hat (bought out) and Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro Sneakers arriving at Arrowhead Stadium pic.twitter.com/IfQTOYNh6D
— Model by Kelce (@StyleByKelce) January 26, 2025
I are inclined to favor the footwear Jordan wore throughout his profession, however that doesn’t dismiss all of the variations which have been launched since 1985. I’ve additionally worn loads of of his footwear that weren’t part of his taking part in profession.
With that stated, as we commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Air Jordan, listed here are my prime 10 iterations, working from the underside to my all-time favourite:
Spike Lee helped introduce the world to this shoe as Mars Blackmon within the Nike commercials. It additionally acquired love on prime time tv weekly because the shoe Will Smith wore for the intro scene for the sitcom “The Recent Prince of Bel Air.” Legendary shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, who designed the iterations from the Jordan 3 to the Jordan 15, was impressed by a World Warfare II fighter aircraft, utilizing the aircraft’s shark-tooth design to create an identical design for the shoe’s midsoles.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics shoe! The Dream Staff version! That is the shoe Jordan wore to assist lead Staff USA to a simple run by way of Olympic competitors, capped with a convincing gold-medal win over Croatia.
The 1992 males’s basketball Olympic gold-medal recreation noticed Jordan, carrying his Jordan 7 footwear, in opposition to Croatia guard Drazen Petrovic. (Richard Mackson / USA Right this moment)
This shoe additionally didn’t function Nike or the Swoosh on the outside of the shoe. It did function the Jumpman emblem. This was positively a “Jordan” shoe.
It’s additionally the shoe Jordan wore when he appeared within the “Jam” music video — and received some dance classes from Michael Jackson.
This model was in contrast to another so far in a number of methods. The crisscrossed straps and velcro gave the shoe a unique look. The paint-style design on the facet was good, and the chenille Jordan emblem on the tongue was a daring change.
Jordan gained his third championship on this shoe, beating the Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley — whose Air Max shoe from that 1992-93 season additionally is likely one of the higher footwear of the period.
7. Jordan 1
The OG of the road has aged gracefully. It’s easy, however in 1985, there was nothing fairly prefer it available on the market.
No sneaker assortment is full with out a pair, given its simplicity and flexibility. Carrying a swimsuit? Denims and a blazer? Sweatsuit? These footwear work with all the pieces.
This was designed to rejoice Jordan’s profession, because it was launched in the course of the 1994-95 season (Jordan returned to the NBA after a stint in baseball on March 1995). The only real of every shoe has 10 separate accomplishments from Jordan’s profession.
The type looks like an intentional precursor to the Jordan 11, even when it’s not. In the meantime, Jordan returned following a quick retirement on March 18 and scored 55 in opposition to the New York Knicks 10 days later carrying the shoe.
5. Jordan 13
The shoe was launched and worn throughout Jordan’s closing season. The hologram on the ankle was accomplished to resemble the attention of a panther and was a novel addition to the road.
The outsole is supposed to resemble a panther’s paw. Jordan making his closing shot as a Bull on this shoe provides to its significance.
This type gave us the famend “flu recreation” shoe. What many don’t know was that the shoe drew inspiration from the Japanese flag.
It’s additionally a shoe that led to some good player-edition fashions. Gary Payton wore wore variations of those with the Lakers that had been standard with those that didn’t desire a pair with the traditional colorway.
This shoe was a giant a part of 1989. Bulls followers will keep in mind (and Cleveland Cavaliers followers select to neglect) Jordan hitting “The Shot” in these footwear on Could 7, 1989.
The shoe additionally brings again nostalgia from Spike Lee’s “Do The Proper Factor.” It was the shoe that Buggin’ Out (performed by Giancarlo Esposito) wore after they had been scuffed a brownstone tenant carrying a Larry Hen jersey named Clifton (performed by John Savage), who had not too long ago moved to Brooklyn.
This shoe was the second designed by Hatfield. It was additionally the primary of the signature line that was globally launched.
2. Jordan 3
This was the primary shoe designed by Hatfield. This is also the shoe Jordan used to edge Dominique Wilkins within the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago, a contest that produced a number of highlights and several other future wall posters.
The shoe additionally elevated the sport by way of advertising. The Jumpman emblem first appeared on the Jordan 3 in 1988. The elephant print on the shoe remains to be a subject of debate amongst sneakerheads. Jordan as soon as stated the Jordan 3 shoe is his second favourite.
His favourite, as is mine?
If there’s a Mount Rushmore of sneakers, this shoe is on it.
What’s one of the best Air Jordan 11 to drop within the final 4 years? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gSYyM0blr7
— Home of Warmth° (@houseofheat) April 3, 2025
The Harmony, a model with a white base that includes black patent leather-based, is likely one of the most iconic footwear ever. Jordan wore this shoe in the course of the Bulls’ historic 72-10 common season that culminated with the 1996 NBA Championship.
There’s additionally the House Jam model of the shoe Jordan wore within the “House Jam” film. That shoe is all black with accents of blue, simply as revered because the Harmony. The Cool Gray is also a highly regarded colorway with sneakerheads.
Each are fancy sufficient to put on with a swimsuit or perhaps a tuxedo, which many individuals have accomplished since their launch. There actually isn’t a colorway of the Jordan 11 that isn’t a will need to have.
(Prime picture: Matt Jelonek / Getty Pictures)