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Air Jordan III

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Original Release: 1988

The Jordan I is hard to top, yes, but the Air Jordan III certainly comes close. It was the first design of Tinker Hatfield, who took the reins from Peter Moore. And boy did he start out with a bang. Not only did Hatfield continue with the Swoosh-free design introduced with the AJII, promoting Air Jordans as a category unto themselves, he also added eye-catching elephant print panels to the black or white uppers. It was architectural. It enlarged the scope of sneaker design. But what really puts the shoe in the pantheon of greats is the introduction of Jordan’s gravity-defying silhouette as the logo, now known as the Jumpman.

Air Jordan XI

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Original Release: 1995

The year was 1995, and Michael Jordan was the biggest star on the planet. There is simply no way around that statement. After a two-season stint in the MLB, Jordan returned to the basketball court true to form: He won his fourth NBA championship title, and was named MVP. What’s more, Jordan solidified his standing in pop culture, starring in the phenomenon that is Space Jam. And the sneakers he wore in the flick, the Air Jordan XI, were every bit as cinematic as we would expect. The shoe featured black patent leather mudguards, webbing lace loops, and a translucent outsole. It made all us would-be ballers believe that we, too, could fly.

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Air Jordan IV

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Original Release: 1989

The Air Jordan XI may have had a starring role in Space Jam, but the first sneaker in the collection to grace the silver screen was the Air Jordan IV. It appeared in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing following its global release—the first Jordan to be available in all markets. Building upon the forward-thinking design elements of its predecessor, the IV featured a new lacing support system, called “wings,” and mesh netting on the tongue and side panels. It was also made to be much lighter to simulate the feeling of flight. Indeed, with these bad boys on, to paraphrase the film, no one should be stepping up to you.

Air Jordan II

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Original Release: 1986

It’s not fun being the middle child, especially when you’re sandwiched between the groundbreaking Jordan I and the fan-favorite Jordan III, two of the best sneakers in history. Lately, however, the Air Jordan II has been gaining traction among fans who are newly appreciative of the design elements that the sophomore shoe put forward. It was the first Jordan to utilize luxury details, including made-in-Italy construction and faux-lizard skin. In addition, the shoe lost the Swoosh, paving the way for the boundary-pushing III.

Air Jordan V

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Original Release: 1990

When Michael Jordan soared through the air, he did so with bite. He attacked the hoop. This vibe was the basis of the Air Jordan V, which was heavily inspired by WWII-era fighter planes. From the interplay of smooth leather and nubuck to the mesh side panels to the shark-teeth design along the midsole, the V takes no prisoners. It was also the first Jordan to have a translucent sole, which would become a staple for future models.

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Air Jordan XII

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Original Release: 1996

Come hell or high water, Michael Jordan always conquered the court. Evidence: In 1997, during the “Flu Game,” he scored 38 points in Game 5 of the finals, all while sick as hell (it's now surmised that it might have been food poisoning, not the flu). It’s a testament to his perseverance—a quality that also applies to the XII, which he wore during the infamous game. The XII was the first sneaker to officially launch under the newly separate Air Jordan banner; everything before was technically a Nike shoe. And to reflect this new dawn, the shoe featured quilted bursts throughout the upper, which was inspired by the rising sun on the Japanese flag.

Air Jordan VI

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Original Release: 1991

Performance was put into overdrive with the release of the Air Jordan VI. The rubber tongue features two grip holes that allows wearers to easily slip into the sneaker. Just glide right in there. In fact, the design— with all its angles and neoprene sleeve lining—was inspired by Michael Jordan’s favorite sports car. And to drive the point of performance even further, Michael Jordan won his first championship ring in the shoes.

Air Jordan X

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Original Release: 1994

The Air Jordan X served as tribute to Michael Jordan in more ways than one. When the sneaker was released, it celebrated a decade of MJ’s partnership with Nike, along with commemorating his premature retirement from basketball to join the MLB; he returned a year later. Still, the shoe serves as a lasting reminder of his first 10 years, which are represented with marks on the sole.

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Air Jordan XIV

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Original Release: 1998

Michael Jordan likes fast cars (see the VI). He also likes to retire prematurely (see the X). Melding both these thoughts is the Air Jordan XIV, which riffs off the design elements of his Ferrari 550M, and was released right before MJ’s second fond farewell from basketball and the Bulls (he made another comeback a year later, but with the Wizards). To honor 14 years in the biz, the Jumpman logo is placed on the shoes 14 times, seven on the left shoe and seven on the right.

Air Jordan XIII

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Original release: 1997

By 1997, Michael Jordan was a fat cat; not only was he one of the highest paid players in the NBA, but the endorsement deals he amassed were record-breaking. And the Air Jordan he wore most often that year, the penultimate one as a Chicago Bull, definitely reflected both his prowess on the court and his wealth off it. The XIII features a rich textured surface, a holographic eye, and an outsole modeled after a panther’s paw. Of all the sneakers that Jordan wore, this is one of the most luxurious.

Air Jordan VII

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Original release: 1992

In terms of design, the Air Jordan VI and the VII are practically twins; both are marked for their sharp angles and grip holes. The major difference is that the latter is completely devoid of Nike branding. Goodbye, Swooshes and Air bubbles. It was an effort to differentiate Jordan, the brand, as its own entity. The VII is also distinguished for being the sneaker that His Airness wore during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where he won the first of his two gold medals.

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Air Jordan XV

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Original release: 1999

A year after retiring from the NBA for a second time, Jordan released the XV—a design that, at best, could be described as Brutalist; at worst, bizarre. The upper, for instance, often features a textured surface that resembles bricks, and the tongue is raised and protrudes toward the eyelets. In actuality, the XV is inspired by X-15 fighter jets, because, like MJ, few could soar through the air faster. It’s a style that paved the way for more unique offerings from Jordan in subsequent years. (It's also a favorite of Billie Eilish, who partnered with Jordan to release her own take on the XV in 2021.)

Air Jordan XVIII

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Original release: 2003

There are a number of sneakers that have commemorated Jordan’s retirements (see above), but the XVIII is the last. For the third and final time, the GOAT bid adieu to the NBA, closing out his basketball career at 40 with the Washington Wizards. The sneaker was also the third and last one to be designed by Wilson Smith III, who, like Hatfield before him, riffed off Jordan’s love of sleek racing cars. To wit: the XVIII is as close to a driving shoe as an Air Jordan is going to get.

Air Jordan XVII

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Original release: 2002

Jordan’s return to the NBA, this time with Washington Wizards, was headline-making news. This meant that the sneakers to commemorate his comeback had to make a statement. The XVII not only featured a unique design, which was inspired by jazz music, and came in a Jumpman-branded metal briefcase (complete with a CD-ROM), but it also was priced at $200—a steep price at the time. It polarized critics when it debuted, but over the years, the XVII has moved up in the ranks.