Nike saw potential. Nike wanted to make history. And that is exactly what they did with the legendary GOAT, Michael Jordan. This is Air Jordan history and all Air Jordans ever released. Every J comes with a story, and every J comes with an EPIC tale.
Therefore, Jordan sneakers are unlike any other in the sneaker industry. So, the whole checks over stripes debate doesn’t mean SQUAT when it comes to copping Js! Jordans have always been an integral part of everyone’s life. And, whether you choose to admit it or not, they’re a huge game-changer in sneaker culture.
Here’s to getting to know our 36 OG pairs of Jordans and the history behind them.
Jordan History
So, just to be brief about it, the Air Jordan history started when Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984. It was a five-year deal worth $500,000 per year with his very own signature line – the Air Jordans. And, it was the sneaker collaboration of a lifetime!
Now, because of all these Air Jordans, MJ’s got a net worth of 1.6 BILLION dollars. Of course, it’s not ALL because of the Jordans! But, he does have the biggest NBA signature shoe deals standing at $150 MILLION dollars. A number that no one has even barely gotten close to!
Oh, and since we’re on the topic of Js, you might need a Jordan cleaning guide and size guide. In case you get tempted to add a few of these OGs to your sneaker collection. We know we were.
Thus, without further ado, we’re introducing you to the OGs!
All Air Jordans – 36 Silhouettes
The One that Started it All – AJ1
In short, the first of all Jordans in Air Jordan history!
Date Released: 1985
OG Colorway: Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $65
Average Resale: $15,000
Honorable Mentions: Threesome Jordan x Fragment Design x Travis, Trophy Room Chicago, and University Blue
Sights Set High – Jordan 2
All Air Jordans look up to the 23-pointer Jordan!
Date Released: 1986
OG Colorway: White – Red
OG Retail Price: $100
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Eminem The Way I Am, Premio Bin 23, and Doernbecher Peacock
The Beginning of an Era – AJ3
The beginning of the elephant print in Air Jordan history.
Date Released: 1988
OG Colorway: White – Cement Grey
OG Retail Price: $100
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: À Ma Manière, Georgetown, Retro Racer Blue
Jordan Pioneers A Road to Success – Jordan 4
Not all Air Jordans got to be a part of Spike Lee’s film!
Date Released: 1989
OG Colorway: Black – Cement Grey
OG Retail Price: $110
Average Resale: $4,500
Honorable Mentions: University Blue, Shimmer (W), and Eastside Golf
A Fighter Rises – AJ5
Another great moment in Air Jordan history: shark-tooth midsoles!
Date Released: 1990
OG Colorway: Black – Metallic Silver
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Anthracite, Raging Bulls, and White Stealth
The Warrior’s Dedication – Jordan 6
First of all Air Jordans claim a championship title!
Date Released: 1991
OG Colorway: Black – Infrared
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: British Khaki, Electric Green, and Carmine
The Spirit of Jordan Goes Global – AJ7
Making Air Jordan history international!
Date Released: 1992
OG Colorway: White – Light Silver – Red
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Miro, J2K Filbert, Premio Bin 23
Dominates the Field, Leaves His Mark – Jordan 8
Solidifying a rep of being unstoppable for all Air Jordans.
Date Released: 1992
OG Colorway: Black – Bright Concord – Aqua Tone
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Ray Allen, Ice Blue (W), and Doernbecher
The Game Will Never Really End – AJ9
The first hiatus in Air Jordan history!
Date Released: 1993
OG Colorway: Black – White – True Red
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Premio Bin 23, Motorboat Jones, and Charcoal
A Drive That Won’t Quit – Jordan 10
A sneaker making its mark of ALL Air Jordans!
Date Released: 1994
OG Colorway: Black – White – Light Steel Grey
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Sacramento Kings, Red Steel, and Linen
GREATNESS Return – AJ11
The start of the most impressive years in Air Jordan history.
Date Released: 1995
OG Colorway: Black – White – Dark Concord
OG Retail Price: $125
Average Resale: $893
Honorable Mentions: Concord DMP, Space Jam, and Playoffs
Jordan Earns His Stripes – Jordan 12
Undoubtedly, the most durable of all Air Jordans.
Date Released: 1996
OG Colorway: Black – White – Taxi
OG Retail Price: $135
Average Resale: $475
Honorable Mentions: Cherry, Indigo, and Concord
Black Cat Rises – AJ13
The best sneaker technology in Air Jordan history!
Date Released: 1997
OG Colorway: Black – Varsity Red
OG Retail Price: $150
Average Resale: NA
Honorable Mentions: Obsidian Blue, Starfish, and Red Flint
Legend Status is Attained – Jordan 14
The last of all Air Jordans worn on court by MJ with the Chicago Bulls.
Date Released: 1998
OG Colorway: White – Black – Varsity Red
OG Retail Price: $150
Average Resale: $347
Honorable Mentions: Hyper Royal, Black Real Pink (W), and Black University Blue
The SAGA Continues – AJ15
The first in Air Jordan history to have woven Kevlar® uppers.
Date Released: 1999
OG Colorway: Flint Grey – White
OG Retail Price: $150
Average Resale: $297
Honorable Mentions: Columbia, White Navy Red, and Obsidian.
A New Season – Jordan 16
The first, of all Air Jordans, with a different sneaker designer – Wilson Smith III.
Date Released: 2001
OG Colorway: Black – Varsity Red
OG Retail Price: $160
Average Resale: $384
Honorable Mentions: Cherrywood, White Midnight Navy, and CEO
The Magician Returns – AJ17
A magical time in Air Jordan history – MJ was back on the court!
Date Released: 2002
OG Colorway: White – Red
OG Retail Price: $200
Average Resale: $561
Honorable Mentions: Wizards Home, Black Metallic, and SoleFly Alternate
The Final Bow – Jordan 18
The last of all Air Jordans to see the court.
Date Released: 2003
OG Colorway: Black – Blue
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $353
Honorable Mentions: White Red, Bred CDP, and White Sport Royal
A New Day Dawns – AJ19
Most vicious of all Air Jordans – modeled after an African poisonous snake!
Date Released: 2004
OG Colorway: White – Red
OG Retail Price: $165
Average Resale: $359
Honorable Mentions: Black Metallic Gold, Olympic, and West Coast
Standing the Test of Time – Jordan 20
Making Air Jordan history with over 200 embedded icons on the uppers!
Date Released: 2005
OG Colorway: White – Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $235
Honorable Mentions: Black CDP, Stealth, and West Coast
Working-Class Luxury – AJ21
Most luxurious of all Air Jordans with diamond-quilted inner booties
Date Released: 2006
OG Colorway: White – Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $373
Honorable Mentions: White Black, Red Suede, and Black Anthracite
Flight At New Heights – Jordan 22
The game-changing sneaker innovation in Air Jordan history.
Date Released: 2007
OG Colorway: White – Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $222
Honorable Mentions: Joe Johnson, Josh Howard, and Basketball Leather
What’s In a Number – AJ23
Possibly the best out of all Air Jordans!
Date Released: 2008
OG Colorway: Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $302
Honorable Mentions: Titanium, Finale, and Trophy Room White
A PIVOT in the Game – Jordan 24
The AJ2009 is the first in Air Jordan history to use the release year in its name!
Date Released: 2009
OG Colorway: White – Black
OG Retail Price: $190
Average Resale: $196
Honorable Mentions: Black White and S23
The Visionary – AJ25
AJ2010 brought the first of all Air Jordans to have independent forefoot.
Date Released: 2010
OG Colorway: Black – Varsity Red- White
OG Retail Price: $170
Average Resale: $219
Honorable Mentions: Black Uni Blue, Silver Anniversary, and Welcome Home.
Choose Your Weapon – Jordan 26
Changing Air Jordan history with two interchangeable midsoles!
Date Released: 2011
OG Colorway: Black – White
OG Retail Price: $170
Average Resale: $180
Honorable Mentions: Classic West, Year of the Rabbit, and Team Red White
Roots Run Deep – AJ27
All Air Jordans in this model had THREE interchangeable booties!
Date Released: 2012
OG Colorway: Black – White
OG Retail Price: $180
Average Resale: $262
Honorable Mentions: Year of the Dragon, White Black, and Wolf Grey
The Concept Car of Basketball – Jordan 28
Changing Air Jordan history with better performance footwear.
Date Released: 2013
OG Colorway: Gym Red – White
OG Retail Price: $250
Average Resale: $306
Honorable Mentions: Think 16 (Locked and Loaded), Green Camo, and Cement Elephant
The World’s Best Basketball Shoe – AJ29
The first of all Air Jordans to have an entirely woven upper.
Date Released: 2014
OG Colorway: Black – White – Red
OG Retail Price: $225
Average Resale: $223
Honorable Mentions: Photo Reel, Legend Blue, and All-Star
The Next Frontier of Flight – Jordan 30
A new era in Air Jordan history – AJXXX.
Date Released: 2016
OG Colorway: White – Blue
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $204
Honorable Mentions: Quai 54 Cosmos, Black Cat, and Gym Red
The New Anti-Gravity Machines – AJ31
Of all Air Jordans, this model pays respect to the Jordan heritage!
Date Released: 2016
OG Colorway: Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $220
Honorable Mentions: Gold All-Star, Russel Westbrook MVP, and All-Star Chameleon
The Style of Innovation – Jordan 32
The first time in Air Jordan history when both low and high models release together.
Date Released: 2017
OG Colorway: Black – Red
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $229
Honorable Mentions: Gordon St., Like Mike Gatorade, and Camo
Prepare to Fly – AJ33
First of all Air Jordans to utilize the revolutionary FastFit System.
Date Released: 2018
OG Colorway: White – Metallic Gold – Black
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $220
Honorable Mentions: Guo Ailun, Fiba, and Travis Scott
Make Less More – Jordan 34
The one, in all Air Jordan history, that has everything you need and nothing you don’t!
Date Released: 2019
OG Colorway: White – University Red – Black
OG Retail Price: $180
Average Resale: $206
Honorable Mentions: Chicago, Guo Ailun, and Rui Hachimura Japan
Unapologetic Speed – Jordan 35
For the past, present, and future of all Air Jordan – AJ history.
Date Released: 2020
OG Colorway: Black – Chile Red – White
OG Retail Price: $175
Average Resale: $175
Honorable Mentions: Paris, Fragment, and Titan
The GAME CHANGER – AJ36
The 2021 OG dropped with the most BIZARRE colorway of all Air Jordans!
Date Released: 2021
OG Colorway: Violet – White – Bright Mango
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $139
Honorable Mentions: White Metallic Gold and Jason Tatum
Perfect for Jumping – AJ37
Inspired by the three stages of jumping, Jordan Brand ups the game with this one in terms of performance.
Date Released: 2022
OG Colorway: Light Bone – Black – Dark Concord – Fire Red
OG Retail Price: $185
Average Resale: $114
Honorable Mentions: Undefeated and Zion Williamson
All About the Heritage – AJ38
Finally, the latest AJ silhouette pays tribute to the brand’s heritage through a mix of OG colorways
Date Released: 2023
OG Colorway: White – Siren Red – Black
OG Retail Price: $200
Average Resale: $199
Honorable Mentions: FIBA and WNBA