2015 marks 30 years of the Air Jordan line which started with Nike and eventually evolved into its on individual brand. The ascension of Michael Jordan as not only a basketball player, but also as an endorser of many different companies and products all have been the product of his greatness as a basketball player and his strategical marketing of himself. The 30 years which have passed since the creation of the first Air Jordan shoe has seen many memorable moments in the legacy of Michael Jordan. ESHE celebrates Michael Jordan and Air Jordan line with 30 memorable moments:
Ronnie Lott rocks the Air Jordan V on the field for the San Franciso 49ers.The irony of this moment is that Michael Jordan was NOT wearing an Air Jordan shoe. After coming back to the NBA from retirement and playing minor league baseball, Jordan had wore the Concord 11’s in the previous game and risked a fine being assessed for wearing those shoes again. To avoid the fine Jordan wore the Nike Air Flight One (Anfernee Penny Hardaway’s shoe) in game 3 of the series against Orlando, scoring 40 points in his rival’s shoe in a losing effort.
One of the staples of Air Jordan’s is the UNC colorway, which always came out during mid season during his basketball career.1991 | Michael Jordan wears the Air Jordan 6 as the Bulls finally beat the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Playoffs, sweeping them en route to their first ever NBA Championship.1998. Finale.Michael Jordan became a fragrance in 1996.MJ welcomes Dikembe Mutumbo to the NBA by shooting and making a free throw with his eyes closed.Michael Jordan becomes the cover athlete for Wheaties.Rookie Michael Jordan began the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest in an Air Jordan jogging suit.Allen Iverson, then a sophomore at Georgetown University made the Air Jordan 11 even more fashionable by wearing them for the majority of his 2nd year of college with the black McDavid ankle braces.Jordan Brand member Ray Allen has been notorious for wearing exclusive, customized Air Jordan’s during games.Same man, same shoe, same greatness.First NBA All Star Game, 1985.
Air Jordan & Sir Charles – 1993 Commercial
The 2003 All Star Game was Michael Jordan’s last All Star Game and the players that participated in the game that were under contract with Nike all wore signature Air Jordan shoes.The 1st Jordan Brand Team in 1997; Vin Baker, Ray Allen, Eddie Jones, Michael Finley & Derek Anderson.Michael’s #23 was stolen prior to the start of this game in Orlando in 1990; so he simply donned a #12 jersey and scored 49 points.Simply stated; The Number 9’sJordan vs Baby Jordan (Harold Miner)The Cincinnati Bearcats became one of the first teams to be under the Jordan Brand umbrella in the late 90s.MJ Plays in a charity game at Chicago Stadium in 1994. He is wearing the Air Jordan X.
Roy Jones Jr was not only a world champion boxer, but he was also a member of Team Jordan.During his rookie year in the NBA, Michael wore the Nike Air Ship before the signature Air Jordan I was released.1988 Dunk Contest; hometown win during all star weekend in Chicago. Michael flew in the Air Jordan III.From “She’s Gotta Have It” to hangin’ with his MAIN MAN Michael Jordan, Mars Blackmon helped elevate the Air Jordan line to new heights in the late 80s and early 90s.Last NBA Game, 2003 in Philadelphia against the 76ers.The Dream Match Up | Magic vs Michael, 1991 NBA Finals
The night Michael Jordan lit Jerry Stackhouse up for talking too much.
