The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5 - Air Jordan

The Nike Air Jordan Retro Shoes: Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5

Nike took yet another new direction with the AJVIII, and MJ and his shoe line received international exposure at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He garnered even more attention for himself and Nike when he led the Bulls to a '3-Peat' in his Jordan VIIIs. The only Air Jordan that has ever, and most likely will ever, feature straps is the VIII; supposed to give more support and fit better, this was a brand new design concept for the AJs. The lightweight Huarache-like upper was gone while the inner bootie remained, and a color splash was added near the heel. Detail lovers need to take notice of the carpet surrounding the Jumpman logo on the tongue and '23' emblazoned on the strap, plus they should recognize that this shoe was only produced in 3 colorways (one for the NBA season and one for the Olympics).

The Air Jordan IX was a departure from what had come before. Described by many as a 'moon boot,' it was initially a hate it or love it shoe, and of course, it's controversial as the shoe that Michael himself never actually wore during his basketball playing days until his third and final comeback (in retro form). While the inner bootie was maintained, there was also a new innovation when the designer added 'speed-lacing' laceloops to Air Jordans for the first time in their history, so this model kept some comfort and created some convenience. Two style features were introduced: reflective speckles on the upper gave it some flash and a touch of foreign languages and a globe intermixed with the numbers '23' and '1994' added some class. Although the experimental moon boot design scared a few people off at the time, it did feature a solid materials mix of leather, nubuck, and mesh that kept it grounded in the basics.

With the release of the AJX, both Nike and Michael Jordan turned the page in their collective history. The Air Jordan X has been labeled the 'retirement shoe' by some as it collected and recorded MJ’s accomplishments in the shoe like a list of nostalgic memories. It did have some special characteristics, however, that made it stand out; for example, added to the unusual feel of the shoe as an atypical basketball shoe was an upper of full grain leather and suede that gave it a classical and elegant look and feel. Given the special materials and envelope-pushing colorways to match NBA team uniforms (only the Bulls colors sold well), the AJX has carved out a niche as a distinct shoe and not just the 'retirement' model Jordan.

After the overwhelming success of its two direct predecessors, it's not surprising that the Air Jordan XIII, also known as 'the Black Cat,' is something of an enigma. It was released in five different colorways in high-top form and two in low; while it proved to be one of the most comfortable and highest-performing shoes ever made, it really got mixed reviews from JordanHeads and everyday fans of hoops and kicks in the looks department. It took a while for the street buzz to start on the 13s; however, when it did, the more popular colors started to move impressive numbers, although some shoes did sit on shelves for a while, especially in experimental color schemes.

The Jordan XIII was definitely an innovator in terms of performance and support as it was the first shoe to use the Zoom Air Technology to the fullest; while the AJ13 took a lighter, more streamlined approach than the 12, its side pods actually provided a larger surface area when balling than the XII. It had a snugger, more aerodynamic style that meant the 1 and 2 could play their slashing game with good ankle support and less constraints. The AJXIII remains a bit of a puzzle to students of Jordans as it received its fair share of love from critics yet didn’t catch fire immediately with the buying public (although even the least popular/worst selling colorways are seen selling today for above retail prices).

Although the Jordan lows craze was ignited single-handedly by lucky 13, it remains unloved and underappreciated by OldSkoolers.

The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5 - Air Jordans

The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5 - Air Jordan I

The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5 - Air Jordan XII

The Air Jordan Legacy - Air Jordan 6 Retro Men's Shoe

The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 2 of 5 - Jordan 23