Top 20 Best Air Jordans Ever Made

Do Air Jordans look cool? Trick question: of course they do. However, the AJ XX8’s from 2013 also provided a fair amount of substance to go along with that style. Russell Westbrook served as the face of the XX8 prior to its official release, and the shoes quickly earned fan approval, thanks to a number of factors. They were stylish, sure, but also a well-performing kick that molded well to the feet. Meanwhile, the overall design offered strong protection to the heel area, making these Air Jordans a solid pick-up.

The Air Jordan XXXV kicks served as a nice blending of the old school and the new school. These AJs from 2020 took their design inspiration from the Jordan V, while at the same time showcasing updated creativity and construction. These were shoes that protected, while also offering comfort. Additionally, their light design promised both players and laypersons alike the speed they craved. Meanwhile, the black and red tongue design made sure that the Air Jordan XXXV kicks respected the colorways that came before them during years past.

The Air Jordan XV debuted right around the time of His Airness’ second retirement from basketball. The designers took some chances, and risked eschewing tradition for a little experiment. The inspiration behind this shoe was, believe it or not, the X-15 fighter jet. If that seems like a strange thing upon which to design a shoe, then congrats! You’re on the right track. Still, the AJ XV still somehow works in spite of itself. Perhaps it’s due to the elongated tongue design, which was intentionally paying tribute to Michael’s famous playing style. Or, it could just be that these kicks dared to dream big, and try something new.

It’s not unfair to connect the Air Jordan XVII with the aforementioned XV. That’s because these shoes celebrated Michael Jordan’s return to the game of basketball. The XVII were released to coincide with MJ’s return for the 2001 and 2002 NBA season, and they also possessed a similarly strange design. These Jordans are streamlined, but also weren’t afraid to sell their status with some marketing gimmicks, like a bitchin’ briefcase. If there was one caveat to these kicks it was the original price tag of two hundred bucks. Ouch.

The release of the Air Jordan sixteens in 2001 proved that everything old was new again by bringing back an old school accoutrement. Oh sure, the official Jordan website may refer to the removal shoe covering on these kicks as a “shroud,” but some folks know them by another name: spats. These shoe coverings have been in existence for literally hundreds of years, but the AJ sixteen decided to class things up a bit with its design. These kicks are classy, able to be worn with both fancy and casual dress without worry.

Big, bold and unapologetically ‘90s. These words, in part, help define the Jordan VIII’s from 1993. MJ was perhaps at the height of his powers back at this time, and these were a celebration of that fact. Restraint? Subtlety? Nah, forget about that: these kicks were about blowing the house down with a gleeful gaudiness. The decision to go with chenille fabric on the tongue design is so odd, that we’re still not quite over it, but despite it all? Yeah, these Jordans are still killers, even all these years later.

Michael Jordan may have retired for the first time back in 1993 to pursue a career in baseball, but the AJ train kept a-rollin’. The Jordan IX’s were uniquely designed to be of these two worlds, and certainly looked the part. These were plump enough to mimic baseball cleats, but also possessed a style indicative of the Jordan brand. These were heavy-duty and hefty kicks for a new era. Although, as we now know, Michael Jordan’s first retirement wouldn’t last too long, and he was thankfully back on the hardcourt, playing the game he loved.

Speaking of said triumphant return, MJ’s comeback to basketball demanded a shoe of equal stature. Enter the Air Jordan XI: one of the brand’s most popular and desired shoes. The excitement surrounding MJ’s return was at a fever pitch, and Jordan even wore the XI when he appeared in the oh-so ‘90s classic, “Space Jam.” The patent leather design is beyond dope, while the actual feel on the foot was ridiculously comfortable. It’s perhaps one of the best examples of both form and function, a true testament to the design skills of craftsman Tinker Hatfield.

Michael Jordan had finally retired for the final time back in 2003, and these shoes both celebrated and mourned that fact. The Jordan XVIII felt equally at home on a high-fashion runway in Milan, as they did on the basketball court. There was a sleek and timeless style to this design that felt like an appropriate send-off to the greatest of all time. These shoes are smooth as silk, and capture an effortless feeling of cool, all the way. The lines feel flawless, and there’s just an overall classic feel that makes these kicks an all-time benchmark for AJ coolness.

Michael Jordan was still unstoppable back in 1997, when the AJ XIII was released. As a result, the hearty design of these kicks feels strong, confident and powerful. These were bulky shoes that still allowed the wearer plenty of comfort, flexibility and style. Additionally, the Jordan XIII just looked great in a traditional black and red colorway; an excellent mixture of the classic and the cool. These shoes were a showstopper and a wallet-buster, with an original market retail of 150 bucks. Time has been kind to the XIIIs, as well, and these still look as great as they did back in the day.

You know MJ must’ve liked these shoes, when he decided to take an unfinalized prototype out on the court during the NBA Finals. Said kicks, designed by Tinker Hatfield, would be released as the Jordan XIV back in 1998. These Jordans would become the last signature pair MJ would wear as a member of the Chicago Bulls, so they definitely possess significance. Additionally, their low-cut design and breathable fabric vents meant the Jordan XIVs were lightweight and comfortable for the consumer. Finally, their sleek design has withstood the test of time to remain a super-solid pair of Jordans for just about anyone.

Does the X appear like an average pair of basketball shoes? If you answered “no,” then perhaps you’re one of the very vocal sneaker enthusiasts who see this pair as something of an outlier. This is due to Jordan (the man) still out playing baseball when first released. He did return to the court to play in these briefly. The etching on the soles that celebrate MJ’s hoop career ensure that the Jordan X also works just well on the hardwood. Ultimately, the Jordan X may be divisive, but their clean appearance and classy style just looks cool in our book.

Earlier signature Jordan shoes featured Nike branding in some capacity. However, the Jordan VII would branch out on its own by doing away with it. The design on the VII stands out as confident and bold. This was the championship-winning Michael Jordan, and the Olympic “Dream Team” era Michael Jordan. As a result, the seventh shoe is, frankly, iconic; a classic ‘90s kick if there ever was one. These definitely stand on their own two feet.

These were shoes at the dawn of what would eventually become “sneaker culture,” and, as a result, walked so the high-fashion concept kicks of today could run. Nike tried to take the Jordan line in a new direction. The Jordan II was made in Italy, and it showed, complete with a faux lizard skin finish. It was also the first AJ design to not feature a Nike swoosh. These certainly weren’t your uncle’s trainers, and instead were designed to be worn pretty much everywhere, not just on the field of play. Let’s consider the Jordan II for what it was: under-appreciated.

The Jordan XIIs were beasts. Make no mistake, these kicks were made to last, with many fans reminiscing today about its toughness and construction. Designer Tinker Hatfield eschewed a lot of gaudy bells and whistles this time, in favor of a simple-but-effective endgame. This was a shoe that could tough it out. Jordan fans also often make comparisons regarding the durability of these shoes to the infamous “Flu Game,” where MJ put on a clinic against the Utah Jazz…while pushing a hundred-and-three-degree fever.

You always remember your first time. And, for Michael Jordan fans, that “first time” mainly has to do with MJ’s first NBA Championship with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan wearing the VIs for this momentous occasion has helped make these kicks a fan favorite. There’s also a lot to like about this shoe stylistically, since it’s so unabashedly ‘90s. There isn’t much subtlety here, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. These are sneakers designed to grab attention, whether that be during a quick game of pick up, or even picking up the kids from school.

There is no shortage of celebrity endorsements for the Air Jordan brand. In fact, many folks from all around the entertainment industry can be seen rocking their favorite pair of Js. This pair, however, possess a connection to one very specific celebrity: Will Smith. Smith proudly rocked the V on his hit show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” thus introducing them to millions watching at home. Not that the shoes really needed to be promoted all that much, but ya know…it doesn’t hurt! Beyond this, they performed well and looked great: a perfect combination.

The Air Jordan IV is another iconic addition from the line that has become synonymous with “cool.” They appeared in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” and were on the feet of His Airness during an iconic moment in his career. That was when Michael hit a historic shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference First Round Series. Beyond this iconic moment of MJ’s career, the shoes in question are also pretty damn impressive. The mesh and nubuck leather construction was performance-driven and stylish, all the same.

We’ve mentioned Tinker Hatfield a number of times during this list, and with good reason. He’s designed some of the most popular Air Jordans, but it all started with the III. This was the first in the line to have a Hatfield design, and it shows. We all know the “Jumpman” logo today, but the Jordan III was the first to bear this emblem. Additionally, the elephant print mudguard is iconic, while the actual design just looks so damn outstanding. They say that a classic never goes out of style, and these are 100% classic.

Icon. Maverick. Rebel. These words and more can be applied to the very first Air Jordans. The NBA prohibited the black and red colorway as it violated the league’s uniform policy. Nike used that to launch Jordan’s debut signature sneaker with some notoriety. There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said about these. For many the Jordan I tops their sneaker list. It’s a stylistic classic and icon much like another 1980s basketball shoe, the Air Force I. Even though it’s been around for more than 35 years, you can bet we’d line up to cop at the next Jordan I drop.