The fun part about ranking the best Air Jordan signature shoe of all time is there is no right or wrong list.
But who am I kidding? Plenty of people will have something to say.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan signature shoe. The 40th edition of the shoe is expected to be released later this year.
The Jordan Brand has grown beyond just a basketball shoe. It has its own signature athletes, including current NBA stars Luka Dončić and Jayson Tatum. The brand has crossed over into multiple sports and become a fashion staple.
Does a suit appear dressed down if it’s matched with a fresh pair of Jordans? Thirty years ago, maybe. Not anymore.
Travis Kelce wears a custom Thom Browne suit, including a Camel Hair Engineered 4-Bar Classic Sport Coat (sold out) with a 4-Bar Striped Docker Hat (sold out) and Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro Sneakers arriving at Arrowhead Stadium pic.twitter.com/IfQTOYNh6D
— Style by Kelce (@StyleByKelce) January 26, 2025
I tend to favor the shoes Jordan wore during his career, but that doesn’t dismiss all the versions that have been released since 1985. I’ve also worn plenty of of his shoes that weren’t a part of his playing career.
With that said, as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan, here are my top 10 iterations, working from the bottom to my all-time favorite:
Spike Lee helped introduce the world to this shoe as Mars Blackmon in the Nike commercials. It also received love on prime time television weekly as the shoe Will Smith wore for the intro scene for the sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Legendary shoe designer Tinker Hatfield, who designed the iterations from the Jordan 3 to the Jordan 15, was inspired by a World War II fighter plane, using the plane’s shark-tooth design to create a similar design for the shoe’s midsoles.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics shoe! The Dream Team edition! This is the shoe Jordan wore to help lead Team USA to an easy run through Olympic competition, capped with a convincing gold-medal win over Croatia.
The 1992 men’s basketball Olympic gold-medal game saw Jordan, wearing his Jordan 7 shoes, against Croatia guard Drazen Petrovic. (Richard Mackson / USA Today)
This shoe also didn’t feature Nike or the Swoosh on the exterior of the shoe. It did feature the Jumpman logo. This was definitely a “Jordan” shoe.
It’s also the shoe Jordan wore when he appeared in the “Jam” music video — and got some dance lessons from Michael Jackson.
This version was unlike any other to this point in multiple ways. The crisscrossed straps and velcro gave the shoe a different look. The paint-style design on the side was nice, and the chenille Jordan logo on the tongue was a bold change.
Jordan won his third championship in this shoe, beating the Phoenix Suns and Charles Barkley — whose Air Max shoe from that 1992-93 season also is one of the better shoes of the era.
7. Jordan 1
The OG of the line has aged gracefully. It’s simple, but in 1985, there was nothing quite like it on the market.
No sneaker collection is complete without a pair, given its simplicity and versatility. Wearing a suit? Jeans and a blazer? Sweatsuit? These shoes work with everything.
This was designed to celebrate Jordan’s career, as it was released during the 1994-95 season (Jordan returned to the NBA after a stint in baseball on March 1995). The sole of each shoe has 10 separate accomplishments from Jordan’s career.
The style feels like an intentional precursor to the Jordan 11, even if it’s not. Meanwhile, Jordan returned following a brief retirement on March 18 and scored 55 against the New York Knicks 10 days later wearing the shoe.
5. Jordan 13
The shoe was released and worn during Jordan’s final season. The hologram on the ankle was done to resemble the eye of a panther and was a unique addition to the line.
The outsole is meant to resemble a panther’s paw. Jordan making his final shot as a Bull in this shoe adds to its significance.
This style gave us the renowned “flu game” shoe. What many don’t know was that the shoe drew inspiration from the Japanese flag.
It’s also a shoe that led to some nice player-edition models. Gary Payton wore wore versions of these with the Lakers that were popular with those who didn’t want a pair with the classic colorway.
This shoe was a big part of 1989. Bulls fans will remember (and Cleveland Cavaliers fans choose to forget) Jordan hitting “The Shot” in these shoes on May 7, 1989.
The shoe also brings back nostalgia from Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing.” It was the shoe that Buggin’ Out (played by Giancarlo Esposito) wore when they were scuffed a brownstone tenant wearing a Larry Bird jersey named Clifton (played by John Savage), who had recently moved to Brooklyn.
This shoe was the second designed by Hatfield. It was also the first of the signature line that was globally released.
2. Jordan 3
This was the first shoe designed by Hatfield. This also is the shoe Jordan used to edge Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago, a contest that produced multiple highlights and several future wall posters.
The shoe also elevated the game in terms of marketing. The Jumpman logo first appeared on the Jordan 3 in 1988. The elephant print on the shoe is still a topic of discussion among sneakerheads. Jordan once said the Jordan 3 shoe is his second favorite.
His favorite, as is mine?
If there is a Mount Rushmore of sneakers, this shoe is on it.
What’s the best Air Jordan 11 to drop in the last four years? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gSYyM0blr7
— House of Heat° (@houseofheat) April 3, 2025
The Concord, a version with a white base featuring black patent leather, is one of the most iconic shoes ever. Jordan wore this shoe during the Bulls’ historic 72-10 regular season that culminated with the 1996 NBA Championship.
There’s also the Space Jam version of the shoe Jordan wore in the “Space Jam” movie. That shoe is all black with accents of blue, just as revered as the Concord. The Cool Grey also is a very popular colorway with sneakerheads.
Both are fancy enough to wear with a suit or even a tuxedo, which many people have done since their release. There really isn’t a colorway of the Jordan 11 that isn’t a must have.
(Top photo: Matt Jelonek / Getty Images)
