TIME LIN

E OF AIR

JORDAN’S

In the 1984 NBA Draft, Michael was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 3 overall pick. This was after seeing Jordan perform a wonderful three years in North Carolina and co-captain and star of the Olympic basketball team in 1984 which as you all know picked up the gold medal. Nike understood that this player would turn out to be something else and signed him up to create a line of shoes and appearal. The Air Jordan 1 (I) was designed by Peter Moore and marked a new era in basketball shoewear design.

AIR JORDAN I

The Air Jordan II (2) was released in 1986/87. The Air Jordan II was designed by Bruce Kilgore and just as its predecessor (Air Jordan 1 (I)) it showed a great innovative design. The low-tops were very stylish, produced in Italy and were far from the ordinary basketball shoe.

AIR JORDAN II

The Air Jordan III (3) was released in 1988. The 87-88 season was when Michael would receive his first NBA Most Valuable Player award. This was also the very first Air Jordan to feature the Jumpman logotype instead of the Wings-logo that was on the Air Jordan 1 (I) and Air Jordan 2 (II).

AIR JORDAN III

The Air Jordan IV (4) was released in 1989. The design, by Mr. Hatfield, wasn’t as revolutionary as the previous designs and kept a lot of the feeling from the third model. The Air Jordan shoes had started to get major popularity by now and sold out every here and there.

AIR JORDAN IV

The Air Jordan V (5) was released in 1990. The design is rumoured to be inspired by the WW2 Mustang fighter plane and the most obvious elements that shows this are the shark teeth shapes on the midsole.

AIR JORDAN V

The Air Jordan VI (6) was released in late 1990/early 1991. What is there to say else than Hatfield created another classic. This time with a rubber tounge featuring two holes which the bearer could use to easily get the kicks on. He kept the idea with clear rubber soles and lace locks from the Air Jordan 5 (V)s but apart from that this felt like a brand new AJ design.

AIR JORDAN VI

The Air Jordan VII (7) was released in late 1991/early 1992. Hatfield created a shoe with lots of similarities with the previous model. What was unique with the Air Jordan VII‘s was that they used some of the Nike Huarache technology to create a shoe that really stuck to your foot.

AIR JORDAN VII

The Air Jordan VIII (8) was released in 1992/93. The eighth model of the Air Jordan was one heavy thing. Its base was clearly close to its predecessor but it had a lot more details, color and accents. It had cross-over velcro/leather straps and was so padded your foot got surprised.

AIR JORDAN VIII

The Air Jordan IX (9) was released in 1993. The shoe being released was plain and sturdy and was the first model that Michael did not wear in an NBA seasonal game (due to the retirement). The sole had lots of details and a large 23 was stiched at the back of the shoe.

AIR JORDAN IX

The Air Jordan X (10) was released in 1994/95. It seemed as if Nike wasn’t expecting to see Jordan back in the game so soon.

AIR JORDAN X

The Air Jordan XI (11) was released in 1995/96. A terrific design with a new patent leather and the return of the clear rubber sole made the Air Jordan XI the most appreciated Air Jordan model ever released.

AIR JORDAN XI

The Air Jordan XII (12) was released in 1996/1997. This shoe was again something totally new when it came to design. The way the ribbed leather seemed to go all the way to down to the ground due to the match in color with the midsoles, really made people turn their heads.

AIR JORDAN XII

The Air Jordan XIII (13) was released in 1997/1998. The Air Jordan 13 (XIII)‘s featured a nice hologram on the ankle and the design was said to be inspired by a panther. The outsole with pads like a paw and circles representing whiskers.

AIR JORDAN XIII

The Air Jordan XIV (14) was released in 1998/1999. This was the very last Air Jordan model that Michael would sport in NBA before his retirement.

AIR JORDAN XIV

The Air Jordan 15 (XV) was released in 1999/2000. The first shoe after Michael’s retirement.

AIR JORDAN XV

The Air Jordan 16 (XVI) was released in 2001.

AIR JORDAN XVI

The Air Jordan 17 (XVII) was released in 2002. Michael joined the Washington Wizards as President of Basketball Operations in January of 2000 and selected Kwame Brown with the top overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.

AIR JORDAN XVII

The Air Jordan 18 (XVIII) was released in 2003.

AIR JORDAN XVIII

The Air Jordan 19 (XIX) was released in 2004. The design of the Air Jordan 19 (XIX)was inspired by Inspired by the most dangerous snake on earth, the Black Mamba.

AIR JORDAN XIX

The Air Jordan 20 (XX) was released in 2005.

AIR JORDAN XX

Jordan Brand went with designer D’Wayne Edwards for the Air Jordan 21 (XX1 or XXI). The design of the Air Jordan 21 (XX1 or XXI) is very simple compared to the other Air Jordan models. But like always, the Air Jordan XXI was full of high tech materials.

AIR JORDAN XXI

The Air Jordan 22 (XX2 or XXII) was released on Michael Jordan’s 44th birthday, February 17, 2007.

AIR JORDAN XXII

The Air Jordan 23 (XX3 or XXIII) is said to be the last model of the Air Jordan series by many individuals high in Jordan Brand including the head of footwear marketing, Gentry Humphrey.

AIR JORDAN XXIII