And when his namesake brand began re-releasing the shoe as the menโs Jordan Retro 11 in 2000, it reminded us all of how perfect it really was for the occasion.
Designed for a comeback
MJ announced his retirement from basketball in October 1993, spent 1994 playing minor-league baseball in pursuit of a childhood dream, and returned to the hardcourt in March 1995.
While MJโs initial return saw him wearing the previous version of his signature shoe, longtime designer Tinker Hatfield had been working on a shoe befitting his return when that fall came and tipped off the 1995-96 campaign.
Hatfield watched video of MJ to determine the best way to enhance performance, and he noticed that MJโs foot would roll off the foot bed during hard cuts. That inspired Hatfield to blend style and substance, adding patent leather to the foxing for the first time in a basketball shoe. Patent leather was stronger and lighter than other materials of the time and fit with MJโs reported desire to have a shoe he could wear with a suit.
The Retro 11 also feature a thin, polymer-coated ballistic mesh upper that combines flexibility with breathability. A padded ankle collar adds to your comfort, and a translucent โfrostyโ outsole encases a carbon fiber shank that helps give you some extra torsional support. And a full-length Air-Sole unit cushions your every step.
The shoe was a co-star with Jordan in the 1996 film โSpace Jam,โ which led to a special edition colorway release thatโs still straight heat among collectors.
Retro royale
Just before Jordan became a brand of its own in 1997, Nike had begun re-releasing in 1994 popular silhouettes from its Air Jordan line. Jordan Retros have been regular drops ever since, with some becoming calendar-marking events. The Retro 11, for example, has been a hot holiday drop since 2008.
But Champs Sports always has a variety of Jordan Retros, in an array of colorways that can hook up whatever look you want.
The Jordan Retro 1 is the shoe that started it all, complete with the Wings logo that was MJโs original mark, and the colored-up Swoosh that was only prominent on that one installment.
The Retro 5 recalls the shoe in which MJ hit โThe Shotโ that propelled Chicago past a heavily favored Cleveland team in the 1989 playoffs, pushing his team one more step down road through history.
Jordanโs Retro 3, with its tumbled leather and iconic elephant print, has become known as the shoe that kept MJ with Nike. With uncertainty surrounding his future with the company, Hatfield hit a proverbial grand slam with a shoe that showed a willingness to blend MJโs desires with independent design innovation.
MJโs Retro 6 represents the first shoe to get stained with championship champagne, as it was on his feet when he clutched that first championship trophy. Recall the memorable photo of MJโs father looking on as his son shed tears of joy at accomplishing what had seemed nearly impossible.
Air apparel
There are lots of ways to complete your Jordan Retro 11 look. Short- and long-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, shorts, and more all bear just enough branding to help you hook yourself up with the look of a legend.
