Top 10 Air Jordan 17 Colorways

The Air Jordan 17 is a pivotal moment in the story of the greatest signature shoe line ever made. Despite Michael Jordan having retired for a second time in 1998, Nike made the decision to carry on with Jordan Brand Brand Jordan led by a new generation of athletes who wore the Jumpman with pride. Even without its leader to wear the shoes on the court, the idea was that the Air Jordan would remain the pinnacle of the sport, the north star that all other basketball shoes were chasing. Despite a bit of a stumble with the Air Jordan 14 missing its biggest star and the divisive nature of the Air Jordan 15, the Air Jordan 16 recovered well enough that people were still curious to see what was next.

Then, Michael Jordan, who by this time was part-owner and team president of the Washington Wizards, decided to suit up one more time. It was a last last dance, if you will. The Air Jordan 17 took on a special importance that probably wouldn’t have been there if Michael had not come back. Designed by Willson Smith III, the inspiration for the 17 was the free-flowing nature of jazz. When you consider that Jordan would be entering the league older, wiser, and more reliant on wits and guile than ever before, jazz’s improvisational style was a serendipitous fit for this chapter in MJ’s career.

Arriving with an ambitious and exorbitant $200 price tag (the equivalent of $360 today), the Air Jordan 17’s release was ahead of its time. In 2025, a premium drop with special packaging and accessories is a semi-regular occurrence. In 2002, it meant people were going to be priced out of being able to buy a pair. Through the years, the 17 has gained a solid following as Wizards-era MJ is appreciated more. No, he was not a serious MVP candidate like his most hardcore fans like to claim, but he was definitely beating the washed allegations, and so were the 17s.

10. Air Jordan 17+ Chicago Bulls

Release Date: May 29, 2016

Did it come with the briefcase? No

The mental image of Michael Jordan wearing this pair during the 2002-03 NBA season is kind of mind-blowing. Could you imagine MJ posting up on the block with Jay Williams throwing him an entry pass while Jalen Rose and Jamal Crawford are cutting through the lanes and Eddy Curry is… well, they had Tyson Chandler and MJ with an athletic center would have been an interesting watch. Since this was the more lux “plus” version of the 17, the Bulls colorway ditched the midfoot shroud for a croc skin detail on the tongue and heel. The metallic red midsole and dark red croc skin heel are certainly a choice as they don’t totally match the Bulls’ fiery red finish.

9. Air Jordan 17 Black Metallic Silver

Release Date: March 2, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? Yes

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Michael Jordan never wore this original colorway of the Air Jordan 17. Yes, this black pair was released late in the 2001-02 NBA season so maybe the timing was off, but wearing an unreleased pair is not uncommon for MJ or any other athlete who wants to get people excited for what’s next. There’s no stated reason why Jordan never wore the pair, so we’re left to recklessly speculate and throw out theories like the black pair did not mesh with the Wizards’ road jerseys or that this would have been called the Playoffs Air Jordan 17 had the team made the playoffs. Interestingly enough, this was also the first Air Jordan 17 to get a retro as it was part of the Air Jordan 6/17 Countdown Pack.

8. SoleFly x Air Jordan 17 Alternate Lightning

Release Date: February 16, 2018

Did it come with the briefcase? No

Limited to only 2,300 pairs made, this reinterpretation of one of the more beloved colorways of the 17 has become a sought-after grail for some because it is relatively rare. Initially believed to be a GR because there was no prominent Solefly branding until the heel was revealed, the hype started to build when the boutique showed off 13 customized pairs that made their way to friends and associates of the brand, like Russell Westbrook, Mark Wahlberg, and DJ Khaled. And with the original Lightning 17 being seen on MJ’s feet during the 2001 NBA All-Star, it only made sense for these to drop during All-Star Weekend. It’s a more respectful homage than say, replacing the Jumpman with the silhouette of MJ missing the dunk.

7. Air Jordan 17 Varsity Red

Release Date: July 31, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? Yes

Did Jordan Brand hold off on releasing a proper red Air Jordan 17 because they wanted to get people accustomed to seeing Michael and his Air Jordans in colors besides the iconic Chicago Bulls red? Possibly, but there’s still no denying that there’s a certain special energy when we see Air Jordans in their familiar hue. A retro was rumored to be releasing in 2024, but with the clock ticking on 2025, sneakerheads with original pairs that have crumbled midsoles or faded plastics that have turned the vivid red into a burnt orange are running out of time.

6. Infinite Archives x Air Jordan 17 Low Beach

Release Date: October 17, 2025 (unless you won a quickstrike raffle already, then congrats…)

Will it come with the briefcase? No, but it will come with special packaging

Isimeme "Easy" Otabor, founder of Infinite Archives, has quickly become the Air Jordan 17 whisperer thanks to his brand’s collaboration on the Wizards-era model. After teasing a handful of Jordan 17 Low samples inspired by OG colorways and a player exclusive made for Mike Bibby, the retail version that is set to drop in a few weeks actually tells the story of Air Jordan 17. With multicolor hits on the outsole, the piece is a reference to an original 17 colorway with the purple tipping its cap to Bibby himself. For those looking for a versatile pair of the 17 to rock, Infinite Archives has lined up an instantly wearable tan pair with a unique multicolor chrome heel cap that will surely pop in the sunlight.

5. Trophy Room x Air Jordan 17

Release Date: October 28, 2017

Did it come with the briefcase? No

Back when people only knew Marcus Jordan as the son of the GOAT, owner of the then-recently opened Trophy Room, and for single-handedly switching University of Central Florida from an adidas school to a Nike one, he was able to secure the first boutique collaboration of the Air Jordan 17. Granted, it was probably as simple as getting permission from his old man, but Marcus still had to deliver a quality product. Suede is an uncommon material for the 17’s upper, but pairing that material with the irrepressible cool grey and sprinkling shiny gold hits throughout, this project showed that Marcus had an eye for not only what the people wanted (dope collabs) but what the people didn’t know they wanted (an Air Jordan 17 collab).

4. Air Jordan 17 University Blue

OG Release Date: June 1, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? No, but the 2024 retro has it.

2024 was a huge year for the Air Jordan 17 as it received retros for two of its OG releases. Sure, relatively speaking, two retros in a year is not huge in a traditional sense, but when you consider the sporadic releases of the 17 prior to last year, you can see why this was a big deal for fans of the silhouette. Frequently seen on Michael Jordan’s feet during the 2001-02 NBA season, MJ being able to represent his alma mater with a North Carolina-inspired colorway for the first time in the league probably meant a big deal to him. It also helps that baby blue was experiencing a cultural renaissance with everybody rocking baby blue everything from track suits to sneakers to throwback jerseys. Mya wearing a UNC jersey in the “Best of Me Part 2” music video is a moment I think about at least once a day… oh, and Hov is there too, I guess…

3. Air Jordan 17 College Blue

OG Release Date: February 9, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? Yes

Shockingly, the first Air Jordan 17 most people remember seeing is the one that has yet to receive the retro treatment. Also known as the Wizards Air Jordan 17, as Michael Jordan wore it for both home and road games that season, the sneaker ushered in a new era for MJ and the Jordan Brand. The jazz overtones in the design were perfectly captured by not only the sneaker, but the packaging that housed the 17s inside a special briefcase as if it were a musical instrument and the commercial campaign that turned Jordan Brand athletes like Ray Allen into performers on a stage.

2. Air Jordan 17 Lightning

OG Release Date: June 1, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? No, but the 2024 retro has it.

Wait, Michael Jordan played in yellow Air Jordans? Now we truly have seen everything. A flashy contrast to the Wizards uniforms that he was wearing at the time, fans could easily picture in their minds MJ turning back the clock and soaring through the air with the greatest of ease like he had so many times before. So what if haters and sports reporters at the time were calling him “Ground Jordan” because he couldn’t fly anymore? The man was rocking yellow Air Jordans in the All-Star Game. Surely he was gonna give us a moment to remember for the rest of our…

Oh… well, at least the Js were fire. Originally believed to be a PE, the Lightning 17s were released in June of that year in limited numbers and were quickly scooped up by sneakerheads. Solefly’s remix of the sneaker in 2018 would only drive the demand for a proper retro even higher. Sneakerheads would get their wish last year and in a departure from the OG, it would come with a briefcase.

1. Air Jordan 17+ Copper

OG Release Date: November 23, 2002

Did it come with the briefcase? No

Despite the lack of briefcase, CD, and other tchotchkes besides the drawstring backs with the 17+ branding, the Air Jordan 17+ Copper arrived with a $200 price point. What could possibly justify the premium pricing if all the other goodies are gone? Turns out, the plus in 17+ meant the sneaker was getting a premium update on top of the already premium presentation. The jazz notes-inspired shroud was nowhere to be found, but in its place were shiny copper accents on the heel and eyelets while the black croc-styled heel counter and tongue was a classy turn. It’s not full-on “works well as a dress shoe” like the Air Jordan 11, but someone with great style could easily pull it off.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com