Every Pair of Air Jordans Michael Jordan Wore in the NBA
Published
All the Jordans Michael Jordan Wore in the NBA by Year
“Michael Jordan wore them.”
Those four words used to be the ultimate co-sign. For all of the award-winning commercials and iconic magazine ads and viral videos, there was nothing stronger in Jordan Brand’s arsenal to sell a retro than those four words. Most of the time, they didn’t even have to actually say the words. All they needed was a clean photo from the 80s and early 90s of Michael Jordan wearing any of the Air Jordans on this list and that was enough of an endorsement for the public to buy them in droves.
In 2025, OG Air Jordans still sell, but their hold on the culture is not the same as it once was. Today, kids need to see Travis Scott wearing their next must-have Air Jordan retro. Maybe it’s watching Nigel Sylvester actually performing tricks on a bike with his Air Jordan 1 collab that will spike some sales. Even seeing them in digital form in Fortnite might be a stronger motivator than seeing them for the 15th time in the latest NBA 2K entry.
But for sneakerheads of a certain age, along with those who have a great appreciation for the pioneers of the sneaker game, there is nothing purer than discovering an image or a rarely seen video clip of Michael Jordan rocking your favorite pair of Js. This compilation of images of Michael Jordan wearing every single pair of Air Jordans in his NBA career is a mixture of the most iconic ever caught on film (digital was still in its infancy in the Washington days) and some deep cuts that don’t always pop up on the aggregator accounts.
1984-85 - Nike Air Ship, Air Jordan 1
Stats: 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG
Honors: NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team, All-Rookie First Team
The legend begins with the shoe that was banned by the NBA and never to be worn again, the Air Jordan 1 Nike Air Ship. The league had oddly draconian rules at the time that frowned upon a primary black and red sneaker with a white midsole being worn by a player who plays for a team whose primary colors are red and white with some black. Because of this, Nike capitalized on a moment that would change how sneakers and athletes are marketed forever. And it wasn’t even the actual shoe that Michael wore. Because, really, who was checking for accuracy back then?
As for the Air Jordan 1 itself, MJ would wear several of the OG colorways that we covet to this day, along with some variants form that never became retail releases. The scarcity of NBA photos from this time means there might still be some variants out there that the world doesn’t know about and that aura of mystery is part of the reason why we revere this era so much.
1985-86 - Air Jordan 1 (again…)
Stats: 22.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star
A broken foot sidelined Michael for most of the regular season. While that meant plenty of old school looks that would blow up any tunnel fit IG account today, the time away left Nike to wonder about what was next. That included trying out tooling that was meant for other sneakers on the Jordan 1 and making adjustments like ankle straps to better handle Jordan’s injury when he did return to the court.
Despite Jordan only playing 18 games in the regular season, the Chicago Bulls made the playoffs and secured themselves a date with the eventual NBA Champion Boston Celtics. The Bulls would be swept by the Celtics, but not before Jordan showed the world what exactly he was capable of, broken foot or not. In game 2, Jordan would score 63 points in a double overtime loss while wearing a pair of Jordan 1s with Dunk tooling. The 63 points is a record that stands to this day.
1986-87 - Air Jordan 2
Stats: 37.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.9 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Scoring Champion, Slam Dunk Champion
The proper follow-up to the Air Jordan 1 did not set the world on fire. The drastic shift in design, branding, and materials resulted in a look that did not endear itself to the public and a price tag that probably shocked them just as much. Even Michael Jordan was reportedly not a fan of the Air Jordan 2’s fit and price point, setting up a scenario where he debated leaving Nike for rival brands.
In spite of Michael’s reservations, he would go on to have what would turn out to be the greatest scoring season of his career, averaging 37 points a game. He would win the first of his two Slam Dunk titles, and earn his first All-NBA First Team selection. Not bad for a guy who allegedly hated the shoes he was wearing.
1987-88 - Air Jordan 3
Stats: 35.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 3.2 SPG
Honors: NBA MVP, NBA Defensive Player of the Year, NBA All-Star, All-Star MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, Scoring Champion, Steals Leader, Slam Dunk Runner-Up Champion
Here’s a fun thing to think about: does the Air Jordan 3 happen in the way that we know it today if Michael Jordan likes or is just apathetic to the Air Jordan 2? Does Nike desperately turn to Tinker Hatfield in their darkest hour if things were in less dire straits? In Spider-Verse terms, the Air Jordan 2 being that divisive is a canon event. The Air Jordan 3 does not become Spider-Man the most important sneaker Tinker designs and Nike releases if the Air Jordan 2 is even, well, mid. Fun fact: the Jordan 3 was the first sneaker to feature the famous Jumpman logo!
On the court, Michael would have another spectacular season in the Jordan 3s that saw him collect plenty of hardware like another Slam Dunk championship, his second scoring title, and his first MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. A breakout fourth season even in comparison to his breakout third season, Jordan would take his place among the league’s elite and soar above the rest because no one was touching Air Jordans.
1988-89 - Air Jordan 4
Stats: 32.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, 2.9 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, Scoring Champion
If the Air Jordan 3 is the Super Mario Bros. 3 of Air Jordans, then the Air Jordan 4 is the Super Mario World, an all-time classic that builds upon the foundation that the predecessor laid. That goes for not just the sneakers but the marketing and perception as well. From the White Cement 4's appearance in Do The Right Thing to Ronnie Lott wearing them in the Super Bowl a year later, sneaker culture was being introduced to the world in subtle ways that go beyond what was taking place on the basketball court.
As for the basketball side of things, it was another great year for Michael with plenty of gaudy numbers and amazing highlights, including “The Shot” over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Playoffs. The clip of Jordan nailing that jumper over Craig Ehlo is among the most replayed clips of all time. And on his feet for that accomplishment? The black and red Air Jordan 4 that would go on to be known as the Playoff colorway. In some circles, it would be called the Bred 4s because saying black and red cost too much brain power apparently.
1989-90 - Air Jordan 5
Stats: 33.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.8 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, Scoring Champion, Steals Leader
If the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4 are the Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World of the Jordan lineage, does that mean the Air Jordan 5 is the Super Mario 64? Maybe, but one could make the case that it’s actually Mario Kart; meaning this was the pair that broke through to the mainstream in a new way. Whether it was Will Smith rocking them in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the Grape colorway popping up on Wheaties boxes, the Jordan 5 showed the versatility of the silhouette and the Jordan line as a whole.
Year 6 for Michael Jordan would end similarly to years 4 and 5; with lots of individual success that culminated with an elimination in the playoffs courtesy of the Detroit Pistons. The infamous Jordan Rules would be in full effect here as Michael would get suffocated on defense with his teammates unable to pick up the slack. Losing to a team in the playoffs three times in a row might be enough for a superstar of any era to pack it up head elsewhere, but not Michael and not the Bulls. Their time was coming, it was just a matter of when.
1990-91 - Air Jordan 6
Stats: 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star, Scoring Champion, NBA MVP
To conclude this mini-arc, yes, the Air Jordan 6 is the Super Mario 64, the breakthrough into a different stratosphere. Tinker Hatfield, inspired by Michael’s love of cars, added a number of elements that highlight that passion and gave the sneaker a unique spirit and vibe in comparison to the previous years. It was also more focused in comparison to the 5, doing away with the playful shark teeth in the midsole and the Grape colorway that felt so divergent at the time. Black and (Infra)Red, White and (Infra)Red, Carmine for his Bulls runs, Sport Blue for those Midsummer Nights Magic games and Maroons for something “different,” the Air Jordan 6 was the Jordan line “growing up” in a sense.
That energy would translate to on the court as Michael and the Bulls would take care of business by finally getting past the Detroit Pistons to make their first trip to the NBA Finals. In hindsight, it kind of felt silly to think the Lakers had a shot against a younger and hungrier Bulls squad, but it doesn’t diminish what Bulls accomplished in winning their first championship. That’s why that Black and Infrared colorway of the 6 remains an all-timer; it was the first championship Air Jordan.
1991-92 - Air Jordan 7
Stats: 30.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.3 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star, Scoring Champion, NBA MVP
It would be insulting to the Air Jordan 7 to compare it to Super Mario Sunshine, but we’re going to do it anyway. Think of it as a post-credit stinger of sorts. Sunshine is often overlooked when talking about the greatest mainline Mario games of all-time, but the reasons are justified. There are high points in the game that rival any of the best moments of other GOATed Mario games, but the lack of consistency is what ultimately causes it to drop in the rankings. The Air Jordan 7 Hare and Olympic colorways are legendary colorways in the entire Jordan oeuvre, but beyond those two, there’s not much that gets talked about. The Raptors? It’s another example of sneaker culture getting ahead of their skis, glossing it with a nickname that references a team that wasn’t even in existence when the shoe first came out. By definition, the 7s are classics, but a curious follow-up to the 6.
There would be no ambiguity with Michael Jordan’s eighth season as he would lead the Bulls to their second straight championship. The signature moment would come in the NBA Finals when Michael hit six straight three pointers against the Blazers in the first half of Game 1, setting the tone for the rest of the series and in a wild way giving us a glimpse into our three-point heavy present in 2025.
1992-93 - Air Jordan 8
Stats: 32.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.8 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, NBA All-Star, All-Defensive First Team, Scoring Champion, Steals Leader
At the time, the Air Jordan 8 didn’t feel like the end of the road. It was the continuation of Tinker Hatfield’s fascination with drawing inspiration from anywhere and everywhere. The rugged nature with the cross straps and Huarache inner bootie brought to mind trail boots and other footwear that required more support. And yet, the colorful nature of the Aqua colorway and the white, red, and grey pair that would be as the Bugs Bunny colorway gave off a playful spirit. It would have been interesting to see what the reaction to the 8s would have been if Michael Jordan had announced his retirement a little earlier.
But before he did announce his retirement (#1), Michael would lead the Bulls to their third straight championship. Defeating good buddy (at the time) Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns, Michael’s hyper competitive nature was on full display here. It didn’t matter to him that he and Barkley were best friends when a championship was on the line. He was going to take every competitive advantage he could, even if some of it turned out to be wildly out-of-pocket. Dan Marjerle is probably still wondering to this day why MJ hated his guts.
1994-95 - Air Jordan 10, Air Jordan 11
Stats: 26.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG
Honors: He Came Back…
The Air Jordan 10 is the opposite of the iconic Jay-Z (or Chris Rock) line, “grand opening, grand closing.” With his career achievements listed on the outsole, the 10 was Michael Jordan’s basketball swan song as he pursued a career in baseball. A City Pack would release featuring the shoe in colors that never would have been thought possible on an Air Jordan just a few years ago. Whether the Air Jordan line would have continued was an open question, but the 10s were supposed to be a passing of the torch moment into the next generation.
And the torch would have been passed had Michael not decided to return to the game of basketball. A combination of the baseball strike and a feeling of unfinished business on the court inspired Jordan’s (first) comeback. Wearing the 4-5, Michael slowly worked his way back to form, double nickel game being an outlier instead of the norm. Even though the Bulls would lose in the second round of the playoffs against the Orlando Magic, the stage was set for revenge season, even though nobody talked like that back in the 90s. It was, after all, the first time Michael revealed next season’s Air Jordan - the Air Jordan 11 - before the current one was done.
1995-96 - Air Jordan 11
Stats: 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 2.2 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star, All-Star MVP, Scoring Champion, NBA MVP
It’s hard to argue with the Air Jordan 11 when both Michael Jordan and Tinker Hatfield call it their favorite in the entire line. With the shiny patent leather mudguard giving it a distinct look that transcends basketball, it was the must-have sneaker for kids, adults, hoopers, and non-hoopers alike. Ultimately, it should be the person that makes the shoe and not the other way around, but it was hard to deny how much cooler a kid from the 90s and early 2000s felt when they put on a pair of 11s for the first time.
Denying Michael Jordan was just delaying the inevitable on the court. The Orlando Magic would feel that a year later after eliminating Michael and the Bulls. With new teammate Dennis Rodman in tow, Micheal and the Bulls would run off a then-record 72 wins in the regular season before seemingly cruising to their fourth championship in six years. The highlight moment of the 11s wasn’t even during a game; it was by an emotional Michael laying the floor of the locker room as this was the first championship that he was celebrating without his father, who was tragically murdered a few years prior.
1996-97 - Air Jordan 12
Stats: 29.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star, Scoring Champion
Following the Air Jordan 11 feels a lot like following a Beyonce or Taylor Swift or Mariya Takeuchi set. Like, good look trying to top someone who has nothing but banger (Concord) after banger (Space Jam) after banger (Playoffs) after banger (Columbia). And ultimately, the Air Jordan 12 did not surpass the 11, but it did carve out a niche for itself that is among the best in the entire Air Jordan line. From the ambitious design that alludes to high fashion wing tips and the Japanese Rising Sun flag to the use of Zoom Air for the first time, the Jordan 12 has more than enough in its resume.
But, if you’re still not convinced, look no further than the black and red colorway that would go on to be known as the Flu Game. With flu-like symptoms rendering him all but a shell of his usual self, Michael would draw from the depths of his competitive spirit and produce a performance for the ages in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. With every exhausting jump shot and exasperating drive to the basketball, Jordan really did whatever it takes to win. And with each basket made and Utah Jazz fan heart broken, the Air Jordan 12 just looked better and better.
1997-98 - Air Jordan 13, Air Jordan 14
Stats: 28.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.7 SPG
Honors: NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star, All-Star MVP, Scoring Champion, NBA MVP
Just like the Air Jordan 8, it feels weird to call the Air Jordan 13 a goodbye sneaker. Nope, that was the Air Jordan 14’s job. Neither the 13 nor the 14 had any callbacks to Jordan’s career and it would be a year or two before we would see other NBA players wear them as a way to pay homage to Michael. Instead, the 13 would enjoy a unique reputation post-Michael’s playing days as the white and black pair would become associated with Denzel Washington in the movie “He Got Game” and a green and white Ray Allen player exclusive was on Ray’s feet when he broke the then-three point record held by Reggie Miller.
As for the Air Jordan 14, it gets the honor of being “The Last Shot” sneaker. Wearing only the black and red colorway during Games 3, 4, and 6 1998 NBA Finals, those moments would become synonymous with Michael’s retirement (#2) and the eponymous shot that’s frozen in every basketball fan’s mind as he once again sticks it to the Utah fandom. Much like the Air Jordan 12, the 14s have seen a lot of great releases in the time since, but it’s going to be impossible to ever reach the height of that Last Shot pair.
2001-02 - Air Jordan 16, Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 17
Stats: 22.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.4 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star
Michael Jordan’s (second) comeback after a three-year hiatus and a stint as Washington Wizards co-owner would have him take off the fancy baggy suits he was famously known for and into a very unfamiliar Wizards blue. However, the new color palette allowed us to see Michael wear Air Jordans with that very jarring hue of Wizards blue. Finally, Michael had an excuse to wear the True Blue Air Jordan 3 on the court during the preseason before debuting a then-player exclusive version with copper hits. Those retros would make way for a brief stint with the Ginger Air Jordan 16 before heading into the regular season rocking the jazz-infused Air Jordan 17.
In a way the 17’s and their improvisational inspirations kind of tell the story of Michael Jordan’s first season as a Wizard. Just like you can’t listen to a jazz record once and expect to capture its entire essence, you had to dig deep to find the flashes of the Bulls-era Michael Jordan brilliance. And Bulls MJ could be found once you waded through the Wizards stuff, which wasn’t all that bad in retrospect.
2002-03 - Air Jordan 18, Air Jordan 7, Air Jordan 9, Air Jordan 11
Stats: 20.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG
Honors: NBA All-Star
For most of the 2002-03 season, Michael Jordan would wear the Air Jordan 18 in their original white and blue and black and blue colorways, occasionally being broken up by the white and red colorway when the Wizards would revert back to their Bullets days and the very head-scratching decision to wear the curiously named Jordan FBI. Just like the Air Jordans 8 and 13, the 18 doesn’t feel like a goodbye from Michael, although it was marketed like one at the time. The 18’s multilayered effect made it feel like a sneaker that had more story to tell but just ran out of time to tell them.
The bigger sneaker from that season was Michael’s full-blown embrace of his own retros. There was a brief cameo of the Air Jordan 7 in French Blue that would later become a huge part of the Jordan Remastered Series a decade later and the introduction of Cool Grey to the Jordan lineage. Both the Air Jordan 9 - an Air Jordan he finally got to wear in an NBA game - and Air Jordan 11 Cool Greys would become classics in their own right despite never having the privilege of being on Michael’s feet when he was a Chicago Bull. It’s these moments that should make fans wonder why Jordan Brand doesn’t do more to embrace Michael’s time in Washington.
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
