H I S A I R N E S S

B Y M A R C H E E R E N V E E N

www.fullhouze.nl

Early in 1984, Nike was a struggling

shoe company. The running shoe

phenomenon that has fueled their sales

in previous years was slowly dying

and they needed a way to revitalize

and reinvent themselves in order to

appeal to another segment of the

market. At the same time, rookie player

Michael Jordan was already endorsing

several products, but Nike hoped

that his appeal would generate sales.

Jordan, though, had other ideas. He

had always preferred Adidas or the

Converse shoes endorsed by North

Carolina Coach, Dean Smith, and

hoped to sign on with either company.

Converse, with Larry Bird and Magic

Johnson on board as spokesmen,

were not interested in offering a better

deal than Nike, and Adidas wasn’t

interested at all at the time; perhaps

due to Kathe Dassler’s death the same

year. While Jordan, himself, did not

initially see the significance of Nike’s

offer, his agent, David Falk, saw a

golden opportunity in Nike’s offer to

create a new line of shoes called “Air

Jordans.” and urged him to give Nike a

chance.

AIR JoRdAn

Born February 17, 1963) is a former

American professional basketball

player, active businessman, and

majority owner of the Charlotte

Bobcats. His biography on the National

Basketball Association (NBA) website

states, "By acclamation, Michael

Jordan is the greatest basketball player

of all time." Jordan was one of the

most effectively marketed athletes of

his generation and was instrumental in

popularizing the NBA around the world

in the 1980s and 1990s.

After a standout career at the University

of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where

he was a member of the Tar Heels'

National Championship team in 1982,

Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls

in 1984. He quickly emerged as a

league star, entertaining crowds with

his prolific scoring. His leaping ability,

illustrated by performing slam dunks

from the free throw line in slam dunk

contests, earned him the nicknames

"Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He

also gained a reputation for being

one of the best defensive players in

basketball. In 1991, he won his first

NBA championship with the Bulls, and

followed that achievement with titles

in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-

peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired

from basketball at the beginning of

the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue

a career in baseball, he rejoined the

Bulls in 1995 and led them to three

additional championships (1996, 1997,

and 1998) as well as an NBA-record

72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96

NBA season. Jordan retired for a

second time in 1999, but returned for

two more NBA seasons from 2001 to

2003 as a member of the Washington

Wizards.

MIchAel JoRdAn

Jordan’s individual accolades and

accomplishments include five MVP

awards, ten All-NBA First Team

designations, nine All-Defensive First

Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star

Game appearances, three All-Star

Game MVP awards, ten scoring titles,

three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP

awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive

Player of the Year Award.

He holds the NBA records for highest

career regular season scoring average

(30.12 points per game) and highest

career playoff scoring average (33.45

points per game). In 1999, he was

named the greatest North American

athlete of the 20th century by ESPN,

and was second to Babe Ruth on the

Associated Press’s list of athletes of

the century. He was elected to the

Basketball Hall of Fame on April 6,

2009 and was inducted on

September 11, 2009.

Jordan is also noted for his product

endorsements. He fueled the success

of Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers, which

were introduced in 1985 and remain

popular today. Jordan also starred in

the 1996 feature film Space Jam as

himself. He is the majority owner and

head of basketball operations for the

NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats; he recently

won a bidding war to buy controlling

interest in the team from founding

owner Robert L. Johnson.

Jordan was born in Brooklyn,

New York, the son of Deloris (née

Peoples), who worked in banking, and

James R. Jordan, Sr., an equipment

supervisor. His family moved to

Wilmington, North Carolina, when he

was a toddler. Jordan attended Emsley

A. Laney High School in Wilmington,

where he anchored his athletic career

by playing baseball, football, and

basketball. He tried out for the varsity

basketball team during his sophomore

year, but at 5’11” (1.80 m), he was

deemed too short to play at that level.

His taller friend, Harvest Leroy Smith,

was the only sophomore to make the

team.

Motivated to prove his worth, Jordan

became the star of Laney’s junior

varsity squad, and tallied several

40 point games. The following summer,

he grew four inches (10 cm) and

trained rigorously. Upon earning a spot

on the varsity roster, Jordan averaged

about 20 points per game over his

final two seasons of high school play.

As a senior, he was selected to the

McDonald’s All-American Team after

averaging a triple-double: 29.2 points,

11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists.

In 1981, Jordan earned a basketball

scholarship to the University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he

majored in cultural geography. As a

freshman in coach Dean Smith’s team-

oriented system, he was named ACC

Freshman of the Year after he averaged

13.4 points per game (ppg) on 53.4%

shooting (field goal percentage). He

made the game-winning jump shot in

the 1982 NCAA Championship game

against Georgetown, which was led by

future NBA rival Patrick Ewing.

Jordan later described this shot as

the major turning point in his basketball

career. During his three seasons at

North Carolina, he averaged

17.7 ppg on 54.0% shooting, and

added 5.0 rebounds per game (rpg).

He was selected by consensus to the

NCAA All-American First Team in both

his sophomore (1983) and junior (1984)

seasons. After winning the Naismith

and the Wooden College Player of

the Year awards in 1984, Jordan left

North Carolina one year before his

scheduled graduation to enter the 1984

NBA Draft. The Chicago Bulls selected

Jordan with the third overall pick, after

Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets)

and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers).

Jordan returned to North Carolina to

complete his degree in 1986.

During his first season in the NBA,

Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg on 51.5%

shooting. He quickly became a fan

favorite even in opposing arenas,

and appeared on the cover of Sports

Illustrated with the heading “A Star

is Born” just over a month into his

professional career. Jordan was also

voted in as an All-Star starter by the

fans in his rookie season. Controversy

arose before the All-Star game when

word surfaced that several veteran

players, led by Isiah Thomas, were

upset by the amount of attention

Jordan was receiving. This led to a

so called “freeze-out” on Jordan,

where players refused to pass him

the ball throughout the game.[1] The

controversy left Jordan relatively

unaffected when he returned to regular

season play, and he would go on to

be voted Rookie of the Year. The Bulls

finished the season 38–44, and lost

in the first round of the playoffs in four

games to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jordan’s second season was cut short

by a broken foot which caused him

to miss 64 games. Despite Jordan’s

injury and a 30–52 record, the Bulls

made the playoffs. Jordan recovered in

time to participate in the playoffs and

performed well upon his return. Against

a 1985–86 Boston Celtics team that is

often considered one of the greatest

in NBA history, Jordan set the still-

unbroken record for points in a playoff

game with 63 in Game 2. The Celtics,

however, managed to sweep the series.

Jordan had recovered completely by

the 1986–87 season, and had one

of the most prolific scoring seasons

in NBA history. He became the only

player other than Wilt Chamberlain

to score 3,000 points in a season,

averaging a league high 37.1 points on

48.2% shooting. In addition, Jordan

demonstrated his defensive prowess,

as he became the first player in NBA

history to record 200 steals and 100

blocks in a season. Despite Jordan’s

success, Magic Johnson won the

league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

The Bulls reached 40 wins, and

advanced to the playoffs for the third

consecutive year. However, they were

again swept by the Celtics.

Jordan led the league in scoring again

in the 1987–88 season, averaging 35.0

ppg on 53.5% shooting and won his

first league MVP award. He was also

named the Defensive Player of the Year,

as he had averaged 1.6 blocks and a

league high 3.16 steals per game.The

Bulls finished 50–32, and made it out

of the first round of the playoffs for the

first time in Jordan’s career, as they

defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five

games. However, the Bulls then lost

in five games to the more experienced

Detroit Pistons, who were led by

Isiah Thomas and a group of physical

players known as the “Bad Boys”.

In the 1988–89 season, Jordan again

led the league in scoring, averaging

32.5 ppg on 53.8% shooting from the

field, along with 8 rpg and 8 assists

per game (apg). The Bulls finished with

a 47–35 record, and advanced to the

Eastern Conference Finals, defeating

the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York

Knicks along the way. The Cavaliers

series included a career highlight for

Jordan when he hit a series-winning

shot over Craig Ehlo in the closing

moments of the deciding fifth game of

the series. However, the Pistons again

defeated the Bulls, this time in six

games, by utilizing their “Jordan Rules”

method of guarding Jordan, which

consisted of double and triple teaming

him every time he touched the ball.

The Bulls entered the 1989–90 season

as a team on the rise, with their core

group of Jordan and young improving

players like Scottie Pippen and Horace

Grant, and under the guidance of new

coach Phil Jackson. Jordan averaged

a league leading 33.6 ppg on 52.6%

shooting, to go with 6.9 rpg and 6.3

apg in leading the Bulls to a 55–27

record. They again advanced to the

Eastern Conference Finals beating

the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers en

route. However, despite pushing the

series to seven games, the Bulls lost

to the Pistons for the third consecutive

season.

www.fullhouze.nl

In the 1990–91 season, Jordan won

his second MVP award after averaging

31.5 ppg on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rpg,

and 5.5 apg for the regular season.

The Bulls finished in first place in their

division for the first time in 16 years

and set a franchise record with 61 wins

in the regular season. With Scottie

Pippen developing into an All-Star,

the Bulls elevated their play. The Bulls

defeated the New York Knicks and the

Philadelphia 76ers in the opening two

rounds of the playoffs. They advanced

to the Eastern Conference Finals where

their rival, the Detroit Pistons, awaited

them. However, this time the Bulls beat

the Pistons in a surprising sweep. In an

unusual ending to the fourth and final

game, Isiah Thomas led his team off

the court before the final minute had

concluded. Most of the Pistons went

directly to their locker room instead of

shaking hands with the Bulls.

The Bulls compiled an outstanding

15–2 record during the playoffs, and

advanced to the NBA Finals for the

first time in franchise history, where

they beat the Los Angeles Lakers four

games to one. Perhaps the best known

moment of the series came in Game

2 when, attempting a dunk, Jordan

avoided a potential Sam Perkins block

by switching the ball from his right

hand to his left in mid-air to lay the shot

in. In his first Finals appearance, Jordan

posted per game averages of 31.2

points on 56% shooting from the field,

11.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals

and 1.4 blocks. Jordan won his first

NBA Finals MVP award, and he cried

while holding the NBA Finals trophy.

FIRst thRee-peAt

Jordan and the Bulls continued their

dominance in the 1991–92 season,

establishing a 67–15 record, topping

their franchise record from 1990–91.

Jordan won his second consecutive

MVP award with averages of 30.1

points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists

per game on 52% shooting. After

winning a physical 7-game series over

the New York Knicks in the second

round of the playoffs and finishing

off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the

Conference Finals in 6 games, the Bulls

met Clyde Drexler and the Portland

Trail Blazers in the Finals. The media,

hoping to recreate a Magic-Bird rivalry,

highlighted the similarities between

“Air” Jordan and Clyde “The Glide”

during the pre-Finals hype.

In the first game, Jordan scored a

Finals-record 35 points in the first half,

including a record-setting six three-

point field goals. After the sixth three-

pointer, he jogged down the court

shrugging as he looked courtside. Marv

Albert, who broadcast the game, later

stated that it was as if Jordan was

saying, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

The Bulls went on to win Game 1, and

defeat the Blazers in six games. Jordan

was named Finals MVP for the second

year in a row and finished the series

averaging 35.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 6.5

apg, while shooting 53% from the floor.

In 1992–93, despite a 32.6 ppg, 6.7

rpg and 5.5 apg campaign, Jordan’s

streak of consecutive MVP seasons

ended as he lost the award to his

friend Charles Barkley. Coincidentally,

Jordan and the Bulls met Barkley and

his Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA

Finals. The Bulls captured their third

consecutive NBA championship on a

game-winning shot by John Paxson

and a last-second block by Horace

Grant, but Jordan was once again

Chicago’s catalyst.

He averaged a Finals-record 41.0

ppg during the six-game series, and

became the first player in NBA history

to win three straight Finals MVP

awards. He scored more than 30 points

in every game of the series, including

40 or more points in 4 consecutive

games. With his third Finals triumph,

Jordan capped off a seven-year run

where he attained seven scoring titles

and three championships, but there

were signs that Jordan was tiring of his

massive celebrity and all of the non-

basketball hassles in his life.

In the 1993–94 season, the Jordan-less

Bulls notched a 55–27 record, and lost

to the New York Knicks in the second

round of the playoffs. But the 1994–95

version of the Bulls was a shell of the

championship squad of just two years

earlier. Struggling at mid-season to

ensure a spot in the playoffs, Chicago

was 31–31 at one point in mid-March.

The team received a lift, however, when

Jordan decided to return to the NBA

for the Bulls.

On March 18, 1995, Jordan announced

his return to the NBA through a pithy

press release: “I’m back.” The next

day, Jordan donned jersey number 45

(his number with the Barons), as his

familiar 23 had been retired in his honor

following his first retirement. He took

to the court with the Bulls to face the

Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, scoring

19 points. The game had the highest

Nielsen rating of a regular season NBA

game since 1975.

Although he had not played in an NBA

game in a year and a half, Jordan

played well upon his return, making

a game-winning jump shot against

Atlanta in his fourth game back and

scoring 55 points in a game against

the Knicks at Madison Square Garden

on March 28, 1995. Boosted by

Jordan’s comeback, the Bulls made the

playoffs and advanced to the Eastern

Conference Semi-finals against the

Orlando Magic. At the end of the first

game of the series, though, Orlando’s

Nick Anderson would strip Jordan from

behind, leading to the game-winning

basket for the Magic; he would later

comment that Jordan “didn’t look like

the old Michael Jordan”, after which

Jordan returned to wearing his old

number (23). Jordan averaged 31

points per game in that series, but

Orlando prevailed in six games.

“I’M bAck”

JoRdAn 3

The Air Jordan 3 hit the streets in 1988.

To follow up an incredible year the year

before, a great pair of Jordan shoes

was needed and fulfilled.

Hatfield takes command

The Air Jordan 3 was the first of 14 Air

Jordans designed by Tinker Hatfield.

The Air Jordan 3 also carried more

of Jordan’s name on the shoe since

the man himself was an active part of

the design of the shoe. The shoe was

the perfect example of Tinker’s skill to

blend fashion with function.

a first of many

The Air Jordan 3 broke ground for

many different aspects of the Nike Air

Jordan shoe line. First, the Air Jordan 3

featured the “Jumpman” on the tongue

of the shoe. This silhouette of Jordan

was to celebrate and commemorate

his Slam Dunk Contest victory the

year before. Every Jordan after the

Air Jordan 3 features this Jumpman

as a focal point of the shoe as well as

became the new logo for the Air Jordan

line. The Air Jordan 3 was also the first

to feature a visible air unit. Lastly, the

Air Jordan 3 featured elephant print on

the upper. Though this material was

only used again on 1 other model, it set

a standard that the Jordan shoes are

as much fashionable as functional.

The Air Jordan 3 also is one of the

most famous shoes in the Air Jordan

lineup. On many polls, the Air Jordan

3 finishes as the greatest sneaker of all

time.

marketing monster

Nike created a personality ad campaign

featuring the Mars Blackmon character

who was created and played by

famous director and actor Spike Lee.

This campaign followed Air Jordan for a

couple of years and is definitely one of

the most appreciated Nike commercial

series through all time.

Freshly motivated by the playoff defeat,

Jordan trained aggressively for the

1995–96 season. Strengthened by

the addition of rebound specialist

Dennis Rodman, the Bulls dominated

the league, starting the season 41–3,

and eventually finishing with the best

regular season record in NBA history:

72–10. Jordan led the league in

scoring with 30.4 ppg, and won the

league’s regular season and All-Star

Game MVP awards. In the playoffs,

the Bulls lost only three games in

four series, defeating the Seattle

SuperSonics in the NBA Finals to win

the championship. Jordan was named

Finals MVP for a record fourth time,

surpassing Magic Johnson’s three

Finals MVP awards. He also achieved

only the second sweep of the MVP

Awards in the All-Star Game, regular

season and NBA Finals, duplicating

Willis Reed’s feat during the 1969–70

season. Because this was Jordan’s first

championship since his father’s death,

and it was won on Father’s Day, Jordan

reacted very emotionally upon winning

the title, including a memorable scene

of him sobbing on the locker room floor

with the game ball.

second thRee-peAt

In the 1996–97 season, the Bulls

started out 69–11, but narrowly missed

out on a second consecutive 70-

win season by losing their final two

games to finish 69–13. However, this

year Jordan was beaten for the NBA

MVP Award by Karl Malone. The team

again advanced to the Finals, where

they faced Malone and the Utah Jazz.

The series against the Jazz featured

two of the more memorable clutch

moments of Jordan’s career. He won

Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer-

beating jump shot. In Game 5, with the

series tied 2–2, Jordan played despite

being feverish and dehydrated from

a stomach virus. In what is known

as the “flu game”, Jordan scored 38

points including the game-deciding

three-pointer with less than a minute

remaining. The Bulls won 90–88 and

went on to win the series in six games.

For the fifth time in as many Finals

appearances, Jordan received the

Finals MVP award. During the 1997

NBA All-Star Game, Jordan posted

the first triple double in All-Star Game

history in a victorious effort; however,

he did not receive the MVP award.

Jordan and the Bulls compiled a

62–20 record in the 1997–98 season.

Jordan led the league with 28.7 points

per game, securing his fifth regular-

season MVP award, plus honors for

All-NBA First Team, First Defensive

Team and the All-Star Game MVP. The

Bulls captured the Eastern Conference

Championship for a third straight

season, including surviving a grueling

seven-game series with Reggie

Miller’s Indiana Pacers in the Eastern

Conference Finals; it was the first time

Jordan had played in a Game 7 since

the 1992 series with the Knicks. After

prevailing, they moved on for a rematch

with the Jazz in the Finals.

The Bulls returned to Utah for Game

6 on June 14, 1998 leading the series

3–2. Jordan executed a series of plays,

considered to be one of the greatest

clutch performances in NBA Finals

history. With the Bulls trailing 86–83

with 40 seconds remaining, coach

Jackson called a timeout. When play

resumed, Jordan received the inbound

pass, drove to the basket, and hit a

layup over several Jazz defenders.

The Jazz brought the ball upcourt and

passed the ball to forward Karl Malone,

who was set up in the low post and

was being guarded by Rodman.

Malone jostled with Rodman and

caught the pass, but Jordan cut behind

him and swatted the ball out of his

hands for a steal.[59] Jordan then

slowly dribbled upcourt and paused at

the top of the key, eyeing his defender,

Jazz guard Bryon Russell. With fewer

than 10 seconds remaining, Jordan

started to dribble right, then crossed

over to his left, possibly pushing off

Russell, although the officials did not

call a foul. Jordan then released what

would be the climactic shot of his

career.

After a desperation three-point shot

by John Stockton missed, Jordan

and the Bulls claimed their sixth NBA

championship, and secured a second

three-peat. Once again, Jordan was

voted the Finals MVP, having led all

scorers by averaging 33.5 points per

game, including 45 in the deciding

Game 6. Jordan’s six Finals MVPs

is a record; Shaquille O’Neal, Magic

Johnson, and Tim Duncan are tied

for second place with three apiece.

The 1998 Finals holds the highest

television rating of any Finals series in

history, and Game 6 holds the highest

television rating of any game in NBA

history.

JoRdAn 4

The Air Jordan 4 took the world by

storm in 1989. Along with a career

season came a career sneaker.

Tinker Hatfield once again designed

this shoe. The Air Jordan 4 featured

many new design concepts. First, the

straps on the side for increased ankle

support. It was nearly impossible for

MJ to roll his ankle in these shoes.

The Air Jordan 4 again featured the

air sole heel for dded cushioning and

a full length midsole. In the White/

Black-Cement, the shoe featured a

unique texturing nicknamed “Cookies

& Cream” for its striking resemblance.

The Air Jordan 4 was another

masterpiece to the Jordan lineup.

mike flies to new HeigHts

While wearing the Air Jordan 4, Michael

Jordan reached new points in his

career. Taking home another scoring

title with 32.5 points per game,

Jordan also appeared in the All-

Star Game, First Team NBA, and

All-Defense. This year was arguably

Jordan’s best year despite no

championship. It was in the Air Jordan

4′s that Jordan made “the shot” which

was a series winning shot at the buzzer

to advance the Bulls to the next round

in a do or die situation.

spike likes mike

Nike continued the Jordan 4

commercials with Mars Blackmon

(Spike Lee) and created the famous

Can/Can’t TV commercial.

Spike Lee really liked these shoes

personally and gave them some extra

promotion in his movie Do The Right

Thing. A classic scene for all AJ fans is

when one of the persons in the movie

gets his brand new AJ IV’s scuffed by

a bicycle rider and flips out about it,

places his shoe upon a fire-hydrant and

cleans it with a toothbrush. Rent the

movie today if you haven’t it!

JoRdAn 4

Jordan won numerous awards

and set many records during his

career. The following are some of his

achievements:

• Naismith Memorial Basketball

Hall of Fame Class of 2009

• 2 Olympic Gold Medals –

1984, 1992

• 6-time NBA Champion

• 6-time NBA Finals MVP

• 5-time NBA MVP

• 10 NBA Scoring Titles

• 3-time steals leader

• 3-time minutes leader

• 14 NBA All-Star Selections

• 3-time NBA All-Star Game MVP

• 11 All-NBA Selections

• 9 All-Defensive First Team Selections

• 2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Champion – 1987, 1988

• NBA Rookie of the Year – 1984–85

• NBA Defensive Player of the Year –

1987–88

• ACC Freshman of the Year –

1981–82

• 2-time Consensus NCAA All-

American First Team – 1982–83,

1983–84

• ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the

Year – 1983–84

• USBWA College Player of the Year –

1983–84

• Naismith College Player of the Year –

1983–84

• John R. Wooden Award – 1983–84

• Adolph Rupp Trophy – 1983–84

• Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the

Year – 1991

• Named one of the 50 Greatest

Players in NBA History in 1996

• Ranked #1 by SLAM Magazine’s Top

50 Players of All-Time

• Ranked #1 by ESPN Sportscentury’s

Top 100 Athletes of the 20th century

• Elected to North Carolina Sports Hall

of Fame

honoRs And AwARds

JoRdAn 5The Air Jordan V (5) was released

in 1990. Phil Jackson took over as

head coach for the Bulls in the 89-

90 season. This gave the Bull’s an

extra boost and everything was flying.

Jordan kept on playing his game and

set a personal best when scoring 69

points in a game against the Cleveland

Cavaliers.

first flying design

Once again Hatfield came up with a

revolutionary design for the new shoe.

A few elements were picked up from

its predecessor but it featured a great

silver/reflex tounge and a clear/see-

through rubber sole which gave it a

totally unique look. Also there were

lacelocks which made it easy to strap

them on.

The design is rumoured to be inspired

by the WW2 Mustang fighter plane and

the most obvious elements that shows

this are the shark teeth shapes on the

midsole.

JoRdAn 10The Air Jordan 10 was released in

1994-95 despite Jordan’s absense

from the NBA. The Air Jordan 10

featured a different shape than the

previous Jordan shoes did.

not everyone plays like mike

Too bad for Mike (but good for all of his

followers), baseball went on strike thus

leaving Jordan hanging with nothing

to do – that is if he didn’t return to the

NBA. Sure enough, Jordan shocked

everyone when he returned from

retirement on March 19, 1995. Since

his jersey had been retired, he had to

go back onto the court wearing #45

until the technicalities were cleared out

of the way.

surprised nike?

It seemed as if Nike wasn’t expecting

to see Jordan back in the game so

soon. Nike started to re-release older

model’s of the Air Jordan series (Air

Jordan 1, Air Jordan 2, Air Jordan 3)

and the Air Jordan 10 soles featured

an honor or an award from each year

Michael had spent in the NBA.

JoRdAn 12The Air Jordan 12 was released in

1996-97 and were the first Air Jordan

shoes in the Jordan Brand line.

In this season, Jordan lost the MVP by

the narrowest margin in NBA history to

Karl Malone as he helped lead his Jazz

to the NBA Finals only to fall to Jordan

and the Bulls. Jordan wore the Air

Jordan 12’s while he took home his fifth

NBA title and fifth NBA Finals MVP.

love for Japan

The Air Jordan 12 featured something

very unique in terms of design. The

Air Jordan 12 upper was stitched to

resemble the Japanese Rising Sun flag.

The Air Jordan 12 also was the most

durable shoes out of the whole Jordan

shoe series. In addition to this, the Air

Jordan 12 provides the most ankle

support which was great for keeping

Jordan on the floor for the whole

season.

JoRdAn 13The Air Jordan 13 was released in

1997-98 which was the last season

that Jordan played for the Bulls.

While wearing the Air Jordan 13’s

Jordan broke Karemm Abdul-Jabbar’s

NBA record by scoring double-digits for

the 788th consecutive game. Jordan

also led the bulls to the franchise’s

sixth NBA Championship Title. Jordan

took home his sixth ring along with his

sixth Final MVP honor.

pantHer paws

Tinker Hatfield was the mastermind

behind the genius design of the Air

Jordan 13. The Air Jordan 13 is

regarded as the best designed Jordan

shoe by a large percentage of Jordan

sneaker fans. The Air Jordan 13

was the first and only Jordan shoes

to feature a hologram. The outsole

received inspiration from the paws of

a Panther. Jordan’s nickname on the

court from fellow NBA players was

“Black Cat” for his fast reflexes and

speed down the court.

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