30 Best Air Jordans of All Time - Ranked
By 90min
Possibly the biggest shoe brand of all time, you don't have to be a massive sneakerhead to realise that Air Jordans are a pretty phenomenal piece of kit.
In association with Nike, basketball icon Michael Jordan created a legacy, dating all the way back to 1984. And if you're thinking: "Let me just go to the shop and pick up a pair," then you may have another thing coming, as many of the shoes on this list are unbelievably rare - and expensive.
In fact, some Air Jordans can sell for upwards of $150k - yeah, just for a pair of sneakers. But such is their popularity, that hoards of passionate collectors are willing to fork out quite frankly ludicrous sums of money for the most coveted and rare Air Jordans about.
Without further ado, let's try and rank the 30 best Air Jordans ever made.
30. Air Jordan XII Flu Game
Despite a rather unusual name, there is a remarkable story behind this pair of shoes. Worn by Jordan when he scored 38 points in the fifth game of the 1997 NBA finals (including the decisive three-pointer) the Chicago Bulls star was suffering from feverish flu-like symptoms throughout the game, but powered on through to help the Bulls defeat Utah Jazz.
29. Air Jordan Retro IV LS Lightning
Supposedly inspired by the colours of Jordan's motorcycle racing team, these yellow beauties were released exclusively to 'Team Jordan Members', and are highly sought after due to the fact they're seldom seen.
28. Air Jordan VII Bordeaux
The remastered Air Jordan 7 Bordeauxs are a stunning high-top shoe that beautifully combines graphite, black and Bordeaux colourways to produce a striking pair of sneakers. If you're hoping to get your hands on some, then you may have to save over $200.
27. Air Jordan X Chicago
A true collectors item, the black, white and red Air Jordan 10s are a difficult pair of sneakers to get a hold of, with prices hitting over $2000. Dedicated to his career at the Bulls, Jordan donned a pair following his return to the NBA, and had the number '45' stitched in to the side.
26. Air Jordan XII Public School
Somewhat of a marmite pair, these black and grey Jordans are designed in collaboration with the brand Public School, and should be worn as a more formal pair of trainers...if such a thing exists.
25. Air Jordan IV Military Blue
Originally released in 1989, the beautiful blue colourway of the Jordan 4s has been re-released on two separate occasions - back in 2012 & 2016. The imposing and bulky Jordans have a characteristic look and feel to them, while also being relatively easy to find online.
24. Air Jordan VIII Aqua
Worn by Jordan during the '93 NBA season, collectors have been doing everything within their power to get a hold of a pair since, with the gorgeous purple, blue and turquoise trimmings a sight to behold.
23. Air Jordan I Royal
The OG Jordans in a breathtaking royal blue, what's not to like?
22. Air Jordan IV KAWS Cool Grey
Made in collaboration with infamous artist Kaws, the 'cool grey' sneakers with awesome suede trimmings have to be some of the neatest looking shoes on the market. The world-renowned rapper has certainly not disappointed his fans, or those of Air Jordans, with a stunning yet simple shoe.
21. Air Jordan XIII Black & Red
The "Bred" colourway has to be the most iconic for Air Jordans, always going down a treat with fans and collectors. Originally released in 1997, this futuristic pair have always sold remarkably well when re-released to the public, and it's easy to see why.
20. Air Jordan I UNC
Dedicated to his time playing college basketball for the University of North Carolina, these Jordans sure have sentimental value for the basketball legend. As a result, these OG sneakers are some of the best selling in history, and provide a touching tribute to the blue and white of Jordan's early college career.
19. Air Jordan IV Fire Red
Some of the most iconic Jordans available, the 1989 Fire Red colourway has sold out every single time it's been made available to fans. You would certainly set the court alight if you donned a pair of these beauties.
18. Air Jordan VI Infared
Worn by Jordan when he won his first championships, and first released in '91, these Jordans epitomise the brand's forward-thinking and bold designs. Inspired by the curvature and lines of Porsche sports cars, these sneakers have been a firm fan favourite due to their impact on and off the court.
17. Air Jordan V Toro Bravo
A significantly newer pair, released in 2009, these vibrant red suede shoes have been so successful that they inspired a later edition of Toro Bravos.
16. Air Jordan V Grape
Although they were originally released in 1990, these quintessential Jordans are just as popular now as they were upon release. The luminescent 'grape' colouring teamed with a sleek, sharp white body makes these sneakers highly desirable.
15. Air Jordan VII Olympic
Created especially for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Jordan wore these red, white and blue sneakers as a tribute to the United States flag. It's fair to say it worked, as the USA's dream team of the early '90s won gold emphatically, with Jordan himself the only player to start every match - averaging 14.9 points per game.
14. Air Jordan V Tokyo T23
Made in tribute to the Jordan Tokyo 23 Basketball Tournament, these shoes are almost impossible to find outside of Japan and east Asia. The striking gold hue make the sneakers incredibly popular, and valuable.
13. Air Jordan IX Anthracite
This all-black pair of Jordans was the first produced after the star's retirement in 1993, making them highly sought after. The shoes were actually inspired by baseball - a much-loved pastime of Jordan - and their sexy all-black simplicity makes them an iconic pair of sneakers.
12. Air Jordan Supreme V Camo
Supreme. It's an apt word to describe this pair of Jordans, but it obviously refers to Nike's collaboration with the popular clothes brand. Two of the heavyweights of modern fashion, this was a much-anticipated release which led to an insanely positive response from fans.
11. Air Jordan XI Space Jam
Made famous by the hit film Space Jam, (which famously starred Jordan) these shoes were also worn by Jordan in the 1995 NBA playoffs. As a result, this pair have been remarkably popular over the years.
10. Air Jordan VI Carmine
Worn during Jordan's first NBA Championship victory, these are obviously in high demand. Having been released in a variety of colours over the years, and re-released in a variety of colours as well, this pair of sneakers has been craved by collectors and fans since it debuted in 1991.
9. Air Jordan XI Concord
A smooth and effortless pair of sneakers, the Concords need little introduction. The XIs have been much-loved for years and originally took inspiration from lawnmowers (among other things). The more you know, eh?
8. Air Jordan I Shattered Backboard
Dedicated to the time the legendary Jordan actually smashed the backboard in 1996, this pair are widely recognised as some of the best Air Jordans about, partly due to their celebration of one of Jordan's iconic moments.
'Why orange and black?', we hear you cry. Well, those were the colours Jordan was wearing during the infamous match. They really did think of everything, don't worry.
7. Air Jordan IV Eminem X Carhartt
A rather peculiar three-way collaboration between one of the world's biggest sports brands, one of the world's best-known American rappers and one of the world's most fashionable clothes brands, was unsurprisingly a big hit. However, only ten pairs were ever made - all auctioned to charity.
6. Air Jordan VI Doernbecher
Designed in collaboration with Jordan Dark, this pair of sneakers has a heartwarming story. The shoes are dedicated to Dark conquering cancer, with the dates of his chemotherapy's start and end emblazoned on the shoes.
5. Air Jordan I Black & Red
Simple, elegant and original. Three words that perfectly describe why we love these 'bred' Air Jordans. Perhaps the image you would set out in your mind if asked to conjure up a picture of Jordans through pure imagination alone, these shoes epitomise the brand better than any other pair.
4. Air Jordan III Black & Cement
Originally released in 1988, this pair of sneakers is perhaps Air Jordan's most popular and worn. The gorgeous blend between aesthetic and performance makes these shoes invaluable for any budding Jordans fan.
3. Air Jordan XI Black & Red
We really do love Jordan's black and red combo.
First showcased to the world in 1995, this sneaker is breathtaking, with its curves and fluidity unrivalled by the majority of other Air Jordans, or any other sneakers for that matter. With the classic silhouette of the Jumpman on the back, these shoes truly are priceless.
2. Air Jordan I Black Toe
One of the first Jordans released, and one of the first to possess the characteristic Nike swoosh, the Black Toe is a classic. Despite being brought to life all the way back in 1985, we think there are very few shoes worldwide that could surpass its beauty.
1. Air Jordan IV UNDFTD
And our winner is this peach. In collaboration with Los Angeles brand UNDFTD, this pair of sneakers is the most wanted Jordan of all time - in our humble opinion, of course. In fact, the pair is so loved that they can still fetch upwards of $15k in good condition.