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Air Jordan 1 Mid Black Size 14 Near 19802

Since '85: The Best Air Jordan of Every Year

These are the greatest Air Jordans of all time.

In 1985, everything changed. That year, a young Michael Jordan debuted his signature line of Nike sneakers. The Air Jordans, as they were called, would go on to become massively important to the history of Nike, the NBA, and pop culture. Over 30 years later, the line is still going strong, with Jordan now in control of his own brand under Nike that pumps out retro pairs and new designs alike.

The first pair of Air Jordans were a success, although Nike reacted to early sellouts by flooding the market, causing the model to hit sales racks. After the Air Jordan 2 failed to live up to the first, Jordan considered leaving Nike in 1988. However, a fairly new designer with a background in architecture by the name of Tinker Hatfield persuaded him to stick around with another game-changer: the Air Jordan 3. Jordan and Hatfield formed a bond beyond design and collaborated on the line's most iconic designs.It's moves like this that helped the brand generate buzz to keep our site focused on keeping up withAir Jordan release dates daily.

Now its own brand, Jordan is a multi-billion dollar business that controls a sizeable portion of the basketball sneaker market. The vast retro line has allowed the brand to only strengthen its position with basketball's most marketable star (and its namesake) now wearing a suit and tie full-time. That's no surprise to the people who line up every Saturday to buy the newest pair of Air Jordans, some of them too young to have ever watched Jordan play a game live. There's a nostalgia element in play, but the sneakers are also a modern fashion statement and have been since the beginning.

Which are the Jordans that dominated each calendar year? While there is now a glut of publications breaking down the best releases annually, the line's early years weren't subject to such rankings. And so, we've gone all the way back to 1985 to break down the best Air Jordans of every year. Read below for our selections.

  • 1985: Air Jordan 1 "Banned"

    The one that started it all. Nike introduced the Air Jordan i n 1985 , giving it bold colors the likes of which had never been seen on the NBA hardwood before. The Air Jordan 1, as it would later come to be called, came out of the gate with a ton of colorways, but this one remains the most memorable thanks to Nike's myth around the "Banned" colorway.

  • 1986: Air Jordan 1 KO "Chicago"

    Even in the infancy of the Air Jordan line, Nike was already thinking up ways to spin off the shoes. The first takedown to ever arrive was the Air Jordan KO, which replaced the standard Air Jordan 1's leather with canvas. The sneakers also used a different outsole, further separating them from the originals. The colors used were very much the same though, as evidenced by the "Chicago" one here.

  • 1987: Air Jordan 2 White/Black

    The second Air Jordan was a departure from the first one in a lot of ways. Rather than rely on standard Nike design cues, the sneaker ditched everything, including the branding, and started from scratch. It also ditched the busy colorway program of the Jordan 1, and had just two colorways when it debuted. While both were pretty similar, this one with the extra black wins out thanks to its spot in the1987 Slam Dunk Contest.

  • 1988: Air Jordan 3 "Black/Cement"

    The Air Jordan 3 began the Tinker Hatfield era of Jordan designs, which forever altered the course of MJ's line. The "Black/Cement" version has been celebrated as one of the most wearable Air Jordans of all time, and continues to be a hit with every bring back. Its present-day ubiquity is a testament to the influence of the combo of Tinker, Nike, and Mike that would go on to dominate the game for decades.

  • 1989: Air Jordan 4 "White/Cement"

    This Air Jordan 4 colorway picked up where the Air Jordan 3 left off in terms of patterns, introducing a cement speckling to the body of the shoe. The "White/Cement" may not have been as present on-court for MJ as the other Bulls flavors, but the sneaker still stands out. Don't forget about its cameo in the classic Spike Lee Joint Do the Right Thing .

  • 1990: Air Jordan 5 "Grape"

    Save for the Jordan 2, every Jordan before this one had a blue colorway available. The Air Jordan 5 managed to break the mold while creating one of the line's most memorable colorways in the process. The Air Jordan 5 "Grape" played off the purple/teal palette of the Charlotte Hornets, taking advantage of the 1990s fervor around the young team's look.

  • 1991: Air Jordan 6 "Infrared"

    In 1991, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to their first of three consecutive NBA championships. On his feet was the "Infrared" Air Jordan 6, which is iconic both on and off the court. Infrared has since become a staple as one of the most popular accent colors in the world of sneakers.

  • 1992: Air Jordan 7 "Olympic"

    In the summer of 1992, the greatest basketball roster of all-time, the "Dream Team," was assembled. En route to a gold medal at the Barcelona games, MJ laced up the "Olympic" edition of the Air Jordan 7. It donned a USA-themed colorway, complete with Jordan's USAB uniform number 9 on the back heel replacing the traditional 23.

  • 1993: Air Jordan 8 "Aqua"

    A departure from the usual colorways, the "Aqua" Air Jordan 8 was the only non-Bulls themed pair to release in 1993. Decked in black, aqua, and teal, and fastened with "bunny ear" cross-straps, the shoe was worn by Michael Jordan in the 1993 All-Star Game and is easily the model's most popular style.

  • 1994: Air Jordan 10 "Steel"

    The Air Jordan line didn't stop when Michael left the NBA. Tinker Hatfield debuted the Air Jordan 10 in 1994, which Jordan would later go on to wear when he returned to the NBA in 1995. The "Steel" colorway was inspired by the Barons/White Sox colors and was the only pair released with the added leather toecap—something Jordan personally hated and requested the removal of.

  • 1995: Air Jordan 11 "Concord"

    Considered the greatest Air Jordan of all-time by many, the "Concord" Air Jordan 11 hit stores in the fall of 1995. Its sleek white upper and black patent leather detailing made it stand out in both competitive and casual settings. His Airness was even fined for wearing them because they went against the NBA's footwear regulations at the time.

  • 1996: Air Jordan 12 "Taxi"

    Despite having to follow the ultra-popular Air Jordan 11, the Air Jordan 12 was well-received by Jordan enthusiasts. While these were predominantly white and black, the "Taxi" nickname for this pair is derived from the yellow accent hits on the pull-tab and outsole. Worn by Michael Jordan during the Bulls' fifth championship season, the "Taxi" 12 may be best remembered for its appearance in the"Frozen Moment"commercial.

  • 1997: Air Jordan 12 "Flu Game"

    This black and red Air Jordan 12 is one of those sneakers forever linked to an epic moment in Jordan's career. There are few shoes in the entire line that carry as much on-court significance as these, which MJ wore while battling the flu in Game 5 of the1997 NBA Finals.

  • 1998: Air Jordan 13 "Bred"

    Designed after Michael Jordan's "Black Cat" nickname, the Air Jordan 13 remains one of the more popular models in the line. Jordan laced up up the "Bred" colorway during the 1998 playoffs leading up to his sixth and final NBA championship.

  • 1999: Air Jordan 14 "Last Shot"

    MJ's actual last shot may have come in 2003 while playing for the Wizards in a pair of Air Jordan 18s. But say the words "last game" to any self-respecting Jordan fan and they'll know exactly what you're talking about: MJ's final shot as a Chicago Bull, whichclinched his 6th and final NBA title.

  • 2000: Air Jordan 11 Retro "Space Jam"

    While the "Space Jam" colorway was one familiar to fans from the Space Jam  movie, it didn't actually release during the 11's initial mid- ' 90s run. The Space Jam 11 released for the first time in the year 2000 as a retro, and remains one of the most sought-after of all Air Jordan 11s.

  • 2001: Air Jordan 11 Retro "Cool Grey"

    Sneaker collectors tend to stick with original colorways when it comes to retro Air Jordans, but the "Cool Grey" 11 was able to break that trend. While not as highly coveted as some 11s, it was able to eclipse 2001 retros like the "Black Cement" 3s based on the frenzy its release caused. The Niketown Chicago launch was documented on a program called Buy-ology  that aired nationally on TLC.

  • 2002: Air Jordan 17 "College Blue"

    In recent times, retro Air Jordans have created far more buzz than the current game shoes. One of the last new models to create real conversation however was the Air Jordan 17. Not only was it packaged in a metal briefcase, it retailed for a then-unheard-of price of $200.

  • 2003: Air Jordan 3 Retro "White/Cement"

    Jordan retros were ahead of their time in 1994, so 2003 marked the first time that the "White/Cement" Air Jordan 3 was reintroduced to the retro-hungry market. The limited release went on to become one of the most sought-after sneakers in the line until it was retroed again in 2011.

  • 2004: Air Jordan 7 Retro "Olympic"

    If the events that took place in Barcelona 12 years earlier weren't enough of a reason to be excited about the first "Olympic" Air Jordan 7 retro, Fat Joe took the shoe's popularity to new heights when he licked the sole of the original in a 2004 episode ofMTV Cribs. He wasn't lying when he said that they were fetching huge money on "the eBay," so sneakerheads jumped at the opportunity to get wearable pairs for retail.

  • 2005: Air Jordan Retro 13 "Altitude"

    First spotted in the now-defunct Jordan Brand Magazine, the "Altitude" Air Jordan 13 was initially believed to be a Terrell Owens player exclusive. However, the shoe hit select Jordan accounts in limited quantities in 2005 and sold out instantly.

  • 2006: Air Jordan 6 & 11 Retro "Defining Moments"

    The first and biggest Air Jordan pack to release, "Defining Moments" paired the Air Jordan 6 with the Air Jordan 11 in celebration of Michael Jordan's first-ever NBA championship and his first championship back from retirement. Both shoes, gold-accented versions of original colorways, were packaged in a two-tiered box with dog tags and a booklet for $295.

  • 2007: Air Jordan 8 Retro "Aqua"

    As finding original pairs in wearable condition became increasingly difficult, the "Aqua" Air Jordan 8 was re-released for the first time in 2007. The shoes weren't particularly limited, but anticipation caused commotion.

  • 2008: Air Jordan XX3 "Titanium"

    The popularity of retros has eclipsed current game shoes since Michael Jordan retired, but the XX3 was able to recapture some of the energy around new designs. One of the reasons for that was a clever release strategy that saw colorways like the "Titanium" released in extremely limited quantities at select locations worldwide. Only 1,058 pairs of these exist.

  • 2009: Air Jordan 11 Retro "Space Jam"

    Understanding that Air Jordan 11 releases were a special part of its legacy, Jordan Brand began the tradition of an annual Christmas launch with the "Space Jam" colorway in 2009. This Jordan 11 was set apart from other retros by the special pull-out box with a plastic cover and plastic shoe trees. Anyone who lined up for these in 2009 remembers the chaos.

  • 2010: Air Jordan 9 Retro Premio "Bin23"

    Before the recent remastering campaign, Jordan Brand released a series of Air Jordans constructed with premium materials dubbed the Bin23 line. One of the high points was this gold-accent Air Jordan 9, which came packaged in a new box with dust bags and wooden shoe trees. And don't forget—they were still cheaper in price than a standard 2017 retro.

  • 2011: Air Jordan 1 Retro High "Banned"

    Thoughwe've debunked the myth that this was the shoe originally banned by the NBA, the story was pushed by Jordan Brand for this unique 2011 release. The perfect storm of the return of Nike Air branding, high quality leather, banned detailing, OG-style packaging, and an unprecedented outlet-exclusive launch made the "Banned" 1 one of the most unforgettable Jordan releases in recent memory.

  • 2012: Air Jordan 11 Retro "Bred"

    Despite just a four-year break from the previous retro and the lack of a special box, "Bred" 11s had no problem flying off shelves again for the holiday season. At this point, the holiday Jordan 11 release had become an event that collectors and casual buyers looked forward to every December.

  • 2013: Air Jordan 3 Retro '88 "White/Cement"

    After sneakerheads pleaded for the return of "Nike Air" branding for years, Jordan Brand obliged with the Air Jordan 3 '88. Pegged to All-Star Weekend, the release was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordan's performance in the 1988 Dunk Contest. Even the exact time of day for its release coincided with that of Jordan's legendary dunk.

  • 2014: Fragment x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG

    Using the existing "Black Toe" blocking, Hiroshi Fujiwara's Fragment imprint introduced royal blue into the equation for an easy win. The shoe also marked the first in Jordan Brand's efforts to remaster the way it does its retro sneakers. Years later, this remains one of the most expensive Jordan 1s on the resell market.

  • 2015: Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Chicago"

    The original "Chicago" Air Jordan 1 is always welcomed back by collectors. 2015's release was particularly good, using aremastered shape and the all-important "Nike Air" branding on the tongue. While that year had plenty of other high-profile releases like the Supreme x Air Jordan 5 and "Shattered Backboard" Jordan1s, nothing beats an original.

  • 2016: Air Jordan 11 "Space Jam"

    Yes, Space Jams have released before, but never like this. For the 2016 return of the shoe, Jordan Brand put the rare #45 detail on the heel, remastered the shape with a chunkier patent leather cut, and delivered the shoes as part of an ongoing campaign around the 20th anniversary of Space Jam . There were other great releases in 2016—"Bred" Jordan 1s and Jordan 3s and 4s with Nike Air on the back—but this one was the biggest deal on a pop culture level.

Air Jordan 1 Mid Black Size 14 Near 19802

Source: https://solecollector.com/news/2017/03/best-air-jordans-of-the-year-since-1985-until-present/