The Nike Air Jordan 1 made more than its debut in the basketball shoe market in 1985. It blazed a trail for many more to follow.
Michael Jordan’s NBA rookie year earned him a position on the Chicago Bulls, but it also landed him a $2.5-million-dollar endorsement contract from Nike.
Ironically, Jordan was less than thrilled with the deal. His initial loyalties were to Adidas, so to Jordan, Nike was a step-down…If he only knew what the future had in store, right?
To some, the deal was premature. After all, Jordan was just a rookie who was picked third in the draft. A trip to the NBA playoffs where he scored 63 points against Larry Bird’s Celtics soon put naysayers to rest.
Jordan’s shoe, the Air Jordan, debuted boasting many of Nike’s signature basketball features—compressed air pocket in heel, additional ankle support, and an overlay on the toe. It’s inaugural logo, wings on the shoe’s side, set the bar high for what was to follow in terms of design.
The initial shoe design lacked the technology of many that would follow, but it certainly did not lack the excitement. The shoe’s biggest claim to fame was the controversy that surrounded it. Every time Jordan stepped on the court wearing his black, red, and white sneakers, he was fined $5,000 for violating the uniform policy—a fine that Nike was happy to pay in order to fuel the fire and reap the promotions.
Popular Colorways

Colorway: OG Black and Reds
Release Date: 9/15/1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Black – Red
Release Date: 09/15/1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG Black Toe White / Black / Red
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG AJKO White / Black – Red
Release Date: 11/18/2013
Price: N/A

Colorway: OG Black and Royal Blue
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG Black and Grey
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Natural Grey
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Blue
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Black
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Caroline Blue
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Metallic Green
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Metallic Dark Red
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Metallic Purple
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Metallic Orange
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Metallic Blue Low
Release Date: 1985
Price: $65

Colorway: OG White and Natural Grey Low
Release Date: 1986
Price: $65

Colorway: Retro White / Black – Red
Release Date: 1994
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Black and Red
Release Date: 1994
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Black and Varsity Red
Release Date: 08/25/2001
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Black / Varsity Royal Blue – White
Release Date: 10/06/2001
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro White / Metallic Silver – Midnight Navy
Release Date: 08/25/2001
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Neutral Grey / Silver – White
Release Date: 10/06/2001
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Japan Neutral Grey / Metallic Silver
Release Date: 01/01/2001
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro Japan Black / Black – Metallic Silver
Release Date: 2001
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro Japan White / White – Midnight Navy
Release Date: 08/13/2001
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro Japan White / Metallic Silver – Midnight Navy
Release Date: 2001
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro White and Metallic Silver
Release Date: 12/26/2002
Price: $100

Colorway: Retro Patent Leather White and Carolina Blue
Release Date: 09/27/2003
Price: $100

Colorway: Retro Patent Leather White / Black – Varsity Red
Release Date: 11/22/2003
Price: $100

Colorway: Retro Patent Leather Black and Metallic Gold
Release Date: 12/23/2003
Price: $100

Colorway: Retro Low White / White – Metallic Silver
Release Date: 06/12/2004
Price: $80

Colorway: Retro Low White / Black – Midnight Navy
Release Date: 06/12/2004
Price: $80

Colorway: Old Love New Love Retro Package BMP
Release Date: 04/21/2007
Price: $200

Colorway: Retro Stealth / Varsity Royal – Sport Red
Release Date: 05/19/2007
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro Sport Red / White-Varsity Red
Release Date: 05/19/2007
Price: $110

Colorway: North Side Retro Low White / Dark Forest – Light Graphite
Release Date: 05/26/2007
Price: $90

Colorway: South Side Retro Low True White / Varsity Red/Stealth
Release Date: 05/26/2007
Price: $90

Colorway: East Side Retro Low White / Varsity Red – Varsity Royal
Release Date: 05/26/2007
Price: $90

Colorway: West Side Retro Low White / Chlorine Blue – Sonic Yellow
Release Date: 05/26/2007
Price: $90

Colorway: Inline Retro Low Black / Metallic Silver – Varsity Red
Release Date: 05/26/2007
Price: $90

Colorway: China Xq 2007 Retro White / Gold Dust – Sport Red – Black
Release Date: 06/01/2007
Price: $205

Colorway: Retro Alpha University Blue / White – Black
Release Date: 06/02/2007
Price: $110

Colorway: Retro Womens Low Canvas Real Pink / White
Release Date: 05/2007
Price: $85

Colorway: Retro White / Blue / Canvas
Release Date: 05/2007
Price: $85

Colorway: Retro Womens Low Denim / White – Sport Red
Release Date: 05/19/2007
Price: $85

Colorway: Retro Womens Low White / Denim
Release Date: 05/19/2007
Price: $85

Colorway: Crocodile Pure Retro Low White / Metallic Silver – White
Release Date: 11/2007
Price: $100

Colorway: Crocodile Black Cat Retro Low Black / Metallic Silver – Black
Release Date: 11/2007
Price: $100

Colorway: Levi Denim Retro Package
Release Date: 03/15/2008
Price: $310

Colorway: Barons Home Opening Day Retro White / Black – Silver
Release Date: 04/05/2008
Price: $100

Colorway: Barons Away Opening Day Retro Black / White – Silver
Release Date: 04/05/2008
Price: $100

Colorway: Armed Forces Military Retro Pearl White / Hay / Walnut
Release Date: 05/24/2008
Price: $100

Colorway: Armed Forces Military Retro Medium Brown / Urban Haze – Hay – Anthracite
Release Date: 05/24/2008
Price: $100

Colorway: Girls Youth (GS) Retro Grey Violet / Sunburst / White
Release Date: 05/2008
Price: $80

Colorway: Grape Head Girls Youth (GS) Retro Grape / Emerald Green / White
Release Date: 05/2008
Price: $80

Colorway: Doernbecher Retro
Release Date: 11/14/2008
Price: $125

Colorway: Retro High Black / Max Orange – White
Release Date: 01/31/2009
Price: $105

Colorway: Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders Retro High Strap
Release Date: 02/2009
Price: $110

Colorway: Hare – Easter Bunny Retro Light Silver / White – True Red
Release Date: 04/11/2009
Price: $110