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All 39 Editions of the Iconic Air Jordan

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When Nike released their first Air Jordan sneaker, they never could have believed that they would still be continuing on the line 40 year’s later. With so many options, sneakerheads could get a bit confused over which are which, so here is a guide.

Air Jordan 1 (1985-86)

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Nike not only signed Michael Jordan to a major deal, the company also endeavored to create a sneaker that would mesh well with his style of play. This design, by Frank Moore, changed the world of sneakers as we know it and is among the most recognizable shoes of all time.

Air Jordan 2 (1986-87)

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Nike had a massive hit with the Jordan 1 and the pressure was on the do it again. Designer Bruce Kilgore wanted to make this shoe more of a luxury piece of footwear than the first model and did so by using premium leather to create a faux lizard texture.

Air Jordan 3 (1988)

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The first Jordan was a smash and the second Jordan was a bomb. The man to right the ship was Tinker Hatfield who designed the third Jordan. Hatfield pushed Nike back to the forefront with and Jordan garnered his first career MVP nomination while wearing these sneakers.

Air Jordan 4 (1989)

The Jordan 4 was another monster hit for Tinker Hatfield and kept the train running on the shoes popularity. The AJ4 was also the first Jordan sneaker to be showcased in a movie, as Buggin Out from Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing loses it when someone steps on his shoes.

Air Jordan 5 (1990)

Partially inspired by the fighter planes of World War II, Tinker Hatfield added a shark teeth look in the midsole and raised the height of the shoes tongue on the Jordan 5. The shoe was got a prominent placement in the hit show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Air Jordan 6 (1991)

According to Tinker Hatfield, the Jordan 6 was inspired in part by the Porsche 964 Turbo and is one of the sleeker looking Jordans in history, especially in black. The shoe is also fondly remembered as Jordan was wearing when he won his first title.

Air Jordan 7 (1992)

By the time 1991 rolled around, Tinker Hatfield was working on two major sneakers, the Air Jordan 7 and the Air Hurache. It is easy to see similarities between the two and the Jordan 7 also features a West African design on the tongue.

Air Jordan 8 (1993)

The Jordan 8 was the pair his Airness was wearing when he and the Bulls won their third NBA title in a row. The shoe looked nothing what had been seen before mixing multiple materials, adding a strap and a grafitti pattern on the sole.

Air Jordan 9 (1994)

The Air Jordan’s were made after the superstar had announced his stunning retirement. The design was meant to make note of the iconic player’s global influence and foreign words in Swahili, French, Russian and Spanish are inscribed into the shoe.

Air Jordan 10 (1995)

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Like the Jordan 9, this shoe was released while the Bulls star was still in retirement when his 10th signature shoe was relased. The Air Jordan 10 had a happy ending though as he strapped then on during his return game against the New York Knicks.

Air Jordan 11 (1996)

When asked about what he wanted to see in his 11th shoe, Michael Jordan asked Tinker Hatfield for something he could wear with a tuxedo. Hatfield responded with the Cadillac, of Jordans, the 11, adding patent leather to create a classier look.

Air Jordan 12 (1996)

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With easy to spot inspiration from the Japanese flag easy to spot, the Air Jordan 12 is commonly connected to a specific moment, the Flu Game, where Jordan led the Bulls to their 5th title in the 90s despite running a fever.

Air Jordan 13 (1997)

The Jordan 13 was the first shoe to be released under the newly formed Jordan Brand. This shoe is notable for its quilted patten as well as the hologram near the heel. Designer Hatfield also used big cats as inspiration.

Air Jordan 14 (1998)

Michael Jordan loved buying fast cars with his millions and one of his absolute favorites was the Ferrari 550. It is easy to see how features from Ferrari and the 550 in general was incorporated into the 14, the last sneaker Jordan would wear on the court for a while.

Air Jordan 15 (1999)

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By the time 1999 came around, Michael Jordan had again stepped away from the game of basketball after completing another championship trifecta. This design again calls back to a fighter plane, this time the X-15 fighter jet.

Air Jordan 16 (2001)

Not only was Michael Jordan out of the NBA when this shoe was thought up, it also was also the first time in a decade that Jordan’s signature shoe wants being designed by Tinker Hatfield. Wilson Smith III was behind this shoe with easy-to-spot tributes to Hatfield and Jordan’s legacies.

Air Jordan 17 (2002)

Wilson Smith III was again assigned to design a Jordan shoe, though this was featured a big change as Jordan was returning to the league, but was playing for the Wizards rather than the Bulls. The 17, which came in a metal briefcase and included a CD-Rom, retailed for $200.

Air Jordan 18 (2003)

The Air Jordan 18 was another signature shoe that was inspired by a fast car, this time a Lamborghini Murcielago. Known for having both a carbon plate as well as Zoom Air, this shoe came out in Jordan’s final season and was the last sneaker he’d wear on the court.

Air Jordan 19 (2004)

Jordan had retired and returned twice already, but by 2004, it was clear that any releases following 18 would be a post-playing days model. The original shoe to be designed based on a Black Mamba, there were also patent leather elements like the Jordan 11.

Air Jordan 20 (2005)

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Nike has a tradition of really pulling out all the stops for an anniversary shoe and that is quickly evident in the design of the Jordan 20. The first thing that stands out about this shoe is the floating velcro strap and the 200 Jordan moments laser etched into the shoe.

Air Jordan 21 (2006)

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Known for its unique anti-counterfeiting element that included a authentic message on the ankle that could only be seen under a blacklight. This was also notable as the first shoe designed by D’Wayne Edwards, taking over for Tinker Hatfield.

Air Jordan 22 (2007)

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The Air Jordan 22 was based on the F-22 Raptor fighter plane that that is most clearly seen in the camouflage strip along the heel. This was D’Wayne Edwards second consecutive design and was known for its fine performance on the court.

Air Jordan 23 (2008)

The Jordan 23 was another shoe that was important to Nike as it was Jordan’s jersey number. So important that Tinker Hatfield was brought back and he designed a shoe considered to be one of the best of the most recent Jordans thanks to a meld of technology and performance.

Air Jordan 2009

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The Air Jordan 24 was designed by James Mayden who was inspired by the sport of fencing and also wanted to make sure the sneaker was eco-friendly. Performance wise, the shoe has excellent impact protection with Zoom Air in the heel and 6 more Zoom units in the forefoot.

Air Jordan 2010

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The Air Jordan 2010 was another important anniversary shoe as it marked the 25th anniversary. Tinker Hatfield designed the shoe with Mark Smith. The Brand also chose to have a new NBA face for the shoe and Dwayne Wade was part of the rollout of the 2010.

Air Jordan 2011

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Tinker Hatfield was again tasked with designing a new pair of Jordans and called back to the Jordan 11 for his 2011 shoe. In the black and white colorway, this shoe looked a lot like the famous shoe, but also added new and explosive elements.

Air Jordan 2012

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Tinker Hatfield was again the desginer on the Jordan 2012 and he drew inspiration for the sneaker from the dancing shoes of the 1920s and 30s. This model also featured interchangeable booties allowing wearers to determine how much ankle support they wanted.

Air Jordan 28 (2013)

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For this shoe, the Jordan Brand went back to naming the shoe by number rather than the year it was released. And the Jordan 28 looked like nothing that had been made before with a high cut sheath that went up above the ankle.

Air Jordan 29 (2014)

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Tinker Hatfield worked with fellow designers Mark Smith and Tiffany Beers to create what the brand referred to as the first ever-woven basketball shoe. Zoom units in both the heel and the forefoot, the sneaker was both well cushioned and explosive.

Air Jordan 30 (2015)

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Another big anniversary in the world of Jordans, this shoe was again designed by Hatfield who decided to eschew inspiration from cars or animals or any previous iterations of the shoe to instead create a cosmic look celebration Jordan’s world influence.

Air Jordan 31 (2016)

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The Jordan 31 was the first shoe designed by Tate Kubris and he was clearly drawing on inspiration from the shoe that started it all with wings and ankle flaps built in. The shoe was also notable for its attractive Flyweave upper.

Air Jordan 32 (2017)

With Kubris again on the job, the Jordan 32 drew on the Jordan 2 just was the Jordan 31 drew on the Jordan 1. This sneaker blended the best of both worlds with the upper made out of Flyweave with leather overlays.

Air Jordan 33 (2018)

The Jordan 33, which debuted in 2018, incorporated new technology to change the way wearers tied their shoes. This sneaker included a special lacing system like that of a ski boot where the user simply clicks and tightens and can adjust via a side tab.

Air Jordan 34 (2019)

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One of the most impressive aspects of the Air Jordan 34 was the created of the eclipse plate, a very lightweight but incredibly stable piece placed in the shoes foot. The sneaker was very popular with players, particularly Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

Air Jordan 35 (2020)

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The AJ35 is one of the visibly striking shoes in Jordan history with Zoom units on both the forefoot and the heel. Created by Tate Kubrik, one of the main aims of the design of the Jordan 35 was to make the shoe lighter and more explosive.

Air Jordan 36 (2021)

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The Air Jordan 36 incorporates the look of the Jordan 6 while also aiming the make the sneaker one of the lightest and most responsive Jordans ever. This was incorporated in part by using an eclipse plate in the shoe’s mid-foot.

Air Jordan 37 (2022)

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The Air Jordan 37 took several elements from the AJ7 and incorporated 30 years of technology into the sneaker. The shoe not only included a Hurache-style booty, but also a carbon fiber plate in the midfoot for explosive play.

Air Jordan 38 (2023)

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One of the most interesting aspects of the Air Jordan 38 is the herringbone pattern on the outer sole meant to create incredible traction. This sneaker debuted during the 2023 March Madness Tournament worn by UCLA star Kiki Rice.

Air Jordan 39 (2024)

Long-time followers of the Air Jordan Brand will note that the most recent version of the shoe draws inspiration from the AJ9 and the AJ29. The shoe is currently being worn on the floor by several NBA players, most prominently Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero.

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