The Top 10 Best Air Jordan 9 Colorways

The Air Jordan 9 did not feel like a goodbye sneaker (that was the Air Jordan 10). Designed by Tinker Hatfield before he learned of Michael Jordan’s retirement and pursuit of baseball glory, the Air Jordan 9 was a declaration to the world that Michael Jordan and the Jumpman were destined for international stardom. The outsole would tell the story of not only Jordan’s appeal, but the beauty of the game of basketball. With an assist from Mark Smith, the words embedded in different languages on the sneaker were traits that characterized MJ but also what basketball means to people all around the world.

First seen on the feet of Jordan during practice in the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the “debut” barely made headlines in the pre-internet era. It wasn’t until their eventual release in 1994 that people got a sense of what the Air Jordan 9 was all about. It was a sneaker that became many different things, most of which don’t even involve basketball. They were baseball cleats that Michael wore during his baseball excursion. Jordan Golf turned to the 9s for one of their first golf shoe collaborations. Tupac Shakur wore them for a photoshoot right before he made history in those FILA Grant Hills. LeBron James' real first (preseason) game shoes were the Air Jordan 9s. History was made with the 9s, they just turned up in unexpected places.

10. Air Jordan 9 Boot NRG Wheat

OG Release Date: October 17, 2018

With a design that lends itself well to the work boot style, the transition of the Air Jordan 9 to a Timberland-adjacent product with water-resistant materials and rugged outsoles was flawless. There’s an alternate timeline where Michael Jordan stayed retired the first time, leading Nike to pivot and take over the work boot market with the 9s. Construction workers all around the world would be rocking Jordan 9s instead of Red Wings and Thorogoods. Alas, it was not meant to be and the Jordan 9 Boots became more of a cult classic than a mainstream fave. However, that could all change as Jordan Brand is gearing up to bring back the Wheat and Black/Gum colorways for Fall 2025 after releasing the first time a few years ago.

9. Air Jordan 9 Doernbecher Pollito

Release Date: November 30, 2012

Jordan Brand’s contribution to the Doernbecher Freestyle Program in 2012 was a banger that coincided with a big year for the Air Jordan 9. Designed by Oswaldo Jimenez, an 11-year-old who suffered from severe pulmonary hypertension, the sneaker was inspired by his journey and his family, in particular his younger brother, a big time sports fan. The black and white upper is complemented by a golden winged mudguard that represents Oswaldo’s nickname “Pollito” aka “Little Chicken.” You can also find the nickname on the tongue while the number 17 on the heel where the number 23 would normally be found is a reference to his favorite number. Considering this writer’s birthday falls on a 17, this sneaker should be ranked higher on this list if we’re being honest.

8. Air Jordan 9 Charcoal

OG Release Date: 1994

As one of the original colorways of the Air Jordan 9, the Charcoal holds a special place in the hearts of sneakerheads. Had Michael Jordan opted to go for the four-peat, you could easily picture him rocking these for road games during the 1994 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets (sorry, Patrick Ewing and Knicks fans). The other lasting legacy of the Charcoal is the alternate blue version that was worn by Penny Hardaway as one of the first Air Jordan player exclusives not made for Michael. Considering 2010 was the last time the Charcoal got a proper retro and the blue version was never released, any news of a future drop for one or both would be welcome news for those of us who still own the OG Orlando Magic black shorts with the pinstripes.

7. Air Jordan 9 Kobe Bryant PE

Release Date: November 19, 2016

Here’s the funny thing about this player-exclusive that the late Kobe Bryant was meant to wear during his iconic 2002-03 sneaker free agency season: he never wore it. There are sample pictures of 3s, 7s, 8s, and 9s floating online that Nike made for Kobe, but the 9s appear to be the only ones that stayed in the box. It’s never been explained why Kobe didn’t wear them and why this was the pair that Nike decided to actually release to the public. Was Kobe not a fan of the Air Jordan 9? Was there something wrong with the shoes themselves? Is he a purist and only wanted to wear Jordans that Michael himself wore in the NBA? And what’s the deal with Nike releasing these and not the elusive 3s, 7s, or 8s that Kobe appeared to be quite fond of that year?

6. Air Jordan 9 Cool Grey

OG Release Date: 2002

After the success of the Air Jordan 11 in Cool Grey, Jordan Brand went down a similar path for the Air Jordan 9 version. Released when MJ was already playing for the Washington Wizards, it earns the unique distinction of being the only 9s that Jordan played in while in the NBA. The patent leather mudguard is not as defining of a feature on the 9s as it is on the 11s since it’s not always used, but the glossy finish on the Cool Greys opened a lot of eyes with its clean and sleek execution. And with cool grey being just that perfect shade of grey that goes well with any outfit, its versatility is one of the reasons it deserves a premium spot on this list.

5. Air Jordan 9 Johnny Kilroy

Release Date: October 6, 2012

In 1994, Nike debuted a new campaign for the Air Jordan 9 during Super Bowl XXVIII that featured Steve Martin as an investigative reporter who was convinced that Michael Jordan was not only playing basketball despite being “retired,” but he was doing it in the minor leagues just for the love of the game. 18 years later, Nike would release an ambitious six-pack of sneakers dedicated to all of the alter egos that Jordan played in those commercials. The Kilroy pair stands out because that was the name Michael used for his mysterious one-quarter 79-point performance as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Sounds like Kilroy wasn’t just Jordan, like Alonzo Mourning said, but Jordan with all of the attributes maxed out like it’s a create-a-player in 2K.

4. Air Jordan 9 Powder Blue

OG Release Date: 1994

One of the most memorable sneaker magazine ads of all time wasn’t really even an ad for the sneakers. Featuring a modern-day Michael Jordan sitting on a basketball and wearing the Air Jordan 9 Powder Blue, the ad was actually for Champs Sports and Nike releasing University of North Carolina gear, which included MJ’s jersey. The shoes just happened to match the uniform, so that’s what they went with that day. Regardless of the intent, the Powder Blue Air Jordan 9 was the first time Nike tapped into Jordan’s college days in a direct way. Not surprisingly, the conclusion everyone came to was that Michael Jordan and Air Jordan look damn good whether he’s in red and black or baby blue and white. Just say no to Duke Blue, though…

3. Air Jordan 9 Motorboat Jones

Release Date: December 1, 2012

Another banger from the Johnny Kilroy Pack, 99.9% of the appeal of Motorboat Jones is in the moniker, which sounds like the backup nickname Will Ferrell in Old School would have given himself if Frank The Tank was taken.. To add to the lore, the inner tongue features the logo of the fictional team that Jones played for, the Billings Bandits.

Fun Fact: There was a minor league baseball player in the late 80s and early 90s who went by the name of Eugene “Motorboat” Jones. Given the nickname by his grandmother because he would make the sounds of a motor as a child, Motorboat bounced around from Single A to Double A ball to the Independent Leagues between 1987 and 1995. He even has an Upper Deck rookie card that was released in 1994, the same year that Michael Jordan was also featured in the set. Was Motorboat Jones secretly the influence for the alter ego? If not, that is one wild coincidence.

2. Air Jordan 9 OG/Space Jam

OG Release Date: 1994

You might be forgiven for thinking, “wait, Space Jam? Aren’t those the 11s?” During the first half of the movie, Michael Jordan tasks Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck with grabbing his Air Jordans from his home along with his lucky North Carolina shorts, much to the dismay of Bugs and Daffy. After securing the 9s and the shorts, we get a training montage of Michael Jordan flying through the air to the sounds of Seal’s “Fly Like An Eagle.” Jordan may have worn the 9s during his Chicago Bulls days, but being featured in Space Jam, a beloved ‘90s kid’s classic, might be even more important.

1. Air Jordan 9 Olive

OG Release Date: 1994

A cult classic that also claims the top spot, what makes the Air Jordan 9 Olive distinct from the other excellent colorways on this list is that it really did not feel like any previous Air Jordan ever seen at the time. The military-coded aesthetic made them perfect for off-court shenanigans (I may or may not have seen these during a paintball match in my college years). There’s an underrated picture of Michael wearing the Olives while cleaning his golf clubs and there’s no doubt that he probably went to the range while wearing them. Simply put, the Air Jordan 9 Olive was the perfect Air Jordan 9 for doing anything but playing basketball it seems.

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