There has never been a basketball player who has been as synonymous with the NBA as Michael Jordan became.
His talent on the court was generational whilst his natural charisma and success made him transcendent in terms of mainstream appeal.
Not all of this was down to his on-court prowess however, with the Air Jordan brand of sneakers becoming a household name for fashion-conscious individuals since the 1990s.
Despite Michael Jordan’s retirement from the NBA over two decades ago, his sneakers remain among the most sought-after in the world.
In 2022, a pair of his game-worn Jordan XIII Bred sneakers fetched a staggering 2,200,000 dollars at auction, setting a record as the most expensive shoe ever sold.
In an interview with NBA 2K, Jordan was asked to name his top three favorite pairs of Air Jordan sneakers. Initially hesitant, he eventually relented and shared his choices:
What are Michael Jordan’s three top sneaker designs?
Jordan found it difficult to make his choice, expressing the sheer scale of his challenge in picking just three pairs.
“My favorites? That’s hard you know, it’s like saying which of your kids you love the most,” Jordan admitted in the interview with NBA 2K.
1. Air Jordan XI: This iconic sneaker is synonymous with Jordan’s career, particularly during a pivotal period. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the XI was in development when Jordan announced his first retirement. Despite Nike’s initial hesitation, Hatfield continued with the design, and the XI became the shoe Jordan wore upon his return to the NBA and during his fourth championship win.
2. Air Jordan III: Known as the shoe that solidified Jordan’s long-term partnership with Nike, the III was a game-changer in the sneaker world. It introduced the ‘Jumpman’ logo and was the first mid-cut shoe in Jordan’s collection. The III also featured leather, a rarity in 1988, making it more durable for immediate wear. Jordan debuted the III during the 1988 dunk contest, which he won, and went on to secure his first league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
3. Air Jordan XII & Air Jordan XIII (tie): Jordan didn’t elaborate on why he favored the XII and XIII, but both were significant during his fifth NBA championship win in 1997. The XII was worn during his famous “flu game,” while the XIII holds the distinction of being the most expensive shoe ever sold.