Air Jordan 1 Through 14: Every Original Jordan Ranked
Fourteen sneakers, one of the greatest runs in sportswear history. This list covers the Air Jordan line from the moment Nike almost got MJ fined for wearing them, through the models that carried him to six rings and the ones that showed up after he'd already left basketball once or twice.
We're ranking on design, cultural impact, performance reputation and how well each shoe has aged on feet today. Fans argue about this stuff constantly, especially around the Tinker Hatfield years, so where the debate is close we picked a side and told you why. Disagree? That's half the fun of a list like this.
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SS Tier: The legends
Air Jordan 3
The shoe that saved the whole line. Tinker Hatfield's first Jordan design brought the elephant print, the visible Air unit, and the Jumpman logo all at once, and it's never stopped selling. The 'True Blue' and 'Black Cement' colorways are still grail-tier decades later.
About Air Jordan 3
Released in 1988, the first Jordan designed by Tinker Hatfield and the first to feature the Jumpman logo and elephant print. Widely credited with saving the Jordan line.
- Released
- 1988
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
Air Jordan 1
Where it all started, and still the most culturally loaded sneaker ever made. The banned-colorway myth, the Chicago away pair, the fact that it looks just as right in 2024 as it did in 1985, that's a near-impossible combination to repeat. Every hype sneaker since owes it something.
About Air Jordan 1
Released in 1985 as Michael Jordan's first signature shoe with Nike, designed by Peter Moore. Known for the Chicago colorway and the (partly mythologized) NBA ban story.
- Released
- 1985
- Designer
- Peter Moore
Air Jordan 4
Mesh panels, visible wings on the midfoot, and a silhouette that works with everything from sweats to a suit. 'Bred' and 'White Cement' are shorthand for sneaker culture at this point, and the Drake and Eminem collabs only added to the mythology.
About Air Jordan 4
Released in 1989, famous for its mesh panels and visible midfoot wings. Worn in the famous Spike Lee 'Mars Blackmon' ads.
- Released
- 1989
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
AA Tier: Icons with an asterisk
Air Jordan 11
Patent leather on a basketball shoe sounded ridiculous until MJ wore the 'Concord' in the 1996 Finals run and made it look inevitable. The 'Space Jam' colorway turned a whole generation of kids into sneakerheads. Only kept out of S by how divisive the low-tops and some later colorways are among purists.
About Air Jordan 11
Released in 1995, famous for its patent leather mudguard. Worn during the Bulls' 1996 championship run, including the 'Space Jam' colorway tied to the movie.
- Released
- 1995
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
Air Jordan 6
The shoe MJ won his first title in, with that heel tab everybody fights about flipping up or down. 'Infrared' is one of the best colorways in the entire line, full stop. Visually it's a little busier than the 3 or 4, which is the only thing keeping it from the very top.
About Air Jordan 6
Released in 1991, the shoe MJ wore to win his first NBA championship with the Bulls that same year.
- Released
- 1991
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
Air Jordan 5
Shark teeth on the midsole and a tongue that lights up under a camera flash, the 5 leaned into fighter jet styling and it worked. 'Grape' and 'Fire Red' get rotated through retro drops constantly because people never stopped wanting them.
About Air Jordan 5
Released in 1990, inspired by WWII fighter jets, with shark-tooth midsole detailing and a reflective tongue.
- Released
- 1990
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
BB Tier: Genuinely good, just overshadowed
Air Jordan 12
Inspired by a Japanese flag design and famous for the 'Flu Game' where MJ dropped 38 points looking half-dead. Chunky, a little polarizing in silhouette, but the 'Taxi' and 'Flu Game' colorways have real staying power.
About Air Jordan 12
Released in 1996, with a design inspired by the rising sun on the Japanese flag. Worn in the famous 'Flu Game' during the 1997 Finals.
- Released
- 1996
Air Jordan 7
No visible Air unit, which still bugs some purists, but the Olympic 'History of Flight' colorway and the general weirdness of the upper give it a cult following. Underrated compared to the hype around its neighbors.
About Air Jordan 7
Released in 1992, the first Jordan without a visible Air unit, inspired in part by African and South American tribal patterns.
- Released
- 1992
- Designer
- Tinker Hatfield
Air Jordan 13
The holographic eyelets meant to look like a panther's eyes are a nice touch, and MJ wore these for his last title with the Bulls. Solid shoe, but it sits in the shadow of flashier siblings and rarely wins 'favorite Jordan' polls.
About Air Jordan 13
Released in 1997, with holographic eyelets meant to evoke a panther's eyes. Worn as MJ won his sixth and final title with the Bulls.
- Released
- 1997
Air Jordan 14
Ferrari-inspired design that actually ties back to MJ's own car obsession, and it's the shoe from his final Bulls shot over Byron Russell. Good shoe, underrated by casual fans, but it came out as the Bulls dynasty was ending and never got the spotlight it deserved.
About Air Jordan 14
Released in 1998, designed with influence from Jordan's Ferrari 550, the shoe he wore for his final shot as a Bull against the Utah Jazz.
- Released
- 1998
CC Tier: Respected more than loved
Air Jordan 9
Released while MJ was off playing baseball, so it's the first Jordan with no on-court MJ moment attached, and that absence still shows in how people talk about it. Decent shoe on its own terms, but it lacks the story the others lean on.
About Air Jordan 9
Released in 1994 while Michael Jordan was playing minor league baseball, making it the first Jordan model released without him actively playing in the NBA.
- Released
- 1994
Air Jordan 2
Made in Italy, no Nike Air branding visible, and a design that looks more like an odd 80s dress shoe than a sneaker. Fans respect the backstory and the fact MJ dropped 61 points in these, but almost nobody names it a favorite silhouette.
About Air Jordan 2
Released in 1986, notable for being manufactured in Italy and dropping the visible Nike Air branding.
- Released
- 1986
- Made in
- Italy
Air Jordan 8
Crisscross straps that look like a basketball shoe trying to also be ski boots. The 'Aqua' colorway has fans, and it's the shoe from MJ's first comeback season with the 72-win Bulls, but the design hasn't aged gracefully for most people.
About Air Jordan 8
Released in 1993, recognizable for its crisscrossing double straps. Worn during the 1992-93 season as the Bulls won their third straight title.
- Released
- 1993
DD Tier: The forgettable one
Air Jordan 10
Released after MJ's first retirement with no direct game connection to him at all, and it shows in how little buzz it generates compared to the rest of the line. The city flag outsole is a nice detail, but it's the one most casual fans forget exists.
About Air Jordan 10
Released in 1994 during Jordan's first retirement from basketball, meaning it has no original on-court MJ moment attached to it.
- Released
- 1994
How we ranked them
We weighed four things: original cultural impact (did it change sneakers or streetwear), design and silhouette strength, on-court performance reputation, and long-term legacy including retros and resale demand. No single factor decides a spot. A shoe can rank high on nostalgia alone, but the top tier needed all four boxes checked. Consensus from sneaker forums, retro reviews and collector chatter shaped the order, with our own judgment settling the close calls.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best Air Jordan of all time?
Most fans and critics land on the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 3, or Air Jordan 4 as the best overall, with the 1 usually winning on cultural impact and the 3 on design.
Why is there no Air Jordan 2 love compared to the 1 and 3?
The Air Jordan 2 ditched visible Nike Air branding and was made in Italy with a more formal, dress-shoe-like look, which makes it feel disconnected from the rest of the line even though MJ had big games in them.
Which Air Jordan did Michael Jordan wear for the 'Flu Game'?
The Air Jordan 12, worn during Game 5 of the 1997 Finals against the Utah Jazz.
Why is the Air Jordan 10 ranked so low?
It came out during Michael Jordan's first retirement from basketball, so it has no signature on-court moment tied to him, which hurts its legacy compared to shoes worn during his biggest games.
Is the Air Jordan 11 the most popular Jordan retro?
It's consistently one of the top sellers on retro, largely thanks to the patent leather design and the 'Space Jam' and 'Concord' colorways, though opinions vary on whether it's the single best design in the line.
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Image credits
- Air Jordan 3Photo: buyeasyshop.com, CC BY 2.0 (via Openverse) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 1Image: nike.com, © Nike · Source
- Air Jordan 4Photo: NYR-NYG-NYY 40 million was sold, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 11Photo: 2Pacalyp, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 6Photo: buyeasyshop.com, CC BY 2.0 (via Openverse) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 5Photo: Osyffar, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 12Photo: Osyffar, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 13Photo: buyeasyshop.com, CC BY 2.0 (via Openverse) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 14Photo: Doge24190, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 9Photo: Pangalau, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 2Photo: HI 622, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Air Jordan 8Photo: Mylesclark96, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source