Throwback Thursday: Nike Air Jordan XI
Posted by Matt Halfhill | Sep 10, 2009
Tomorrow, the greatest that ever took the court will be honored with his official enshrinement at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. We could spend hours and compose pages of all of the great things that Michael Jordan did for the game of basketball among many other things. Besides forever changing the sport of basketball, Michael Jordan’s impact on the footwear forever changed the scope of the business. This week we honor the greatest that ever played with (our office opinion) of the greatest shoes Michael wore on court - the Nike Air Jordan XI. Michael returned to the game in mid-March from retirement to help his Bulls into the Playoffs. On May 7, 1995, Michael Jordan laced up in something new and something fresh for Game 1 of the Conference Semi’s against the Orlando Magic. Though the Bulls dropped Game 1 and MJ was only able to put up 19 points, many fans were talking about what Mike had on his feet. The shoes shiny black patent leather on a white upper caught more than the attention of virtually every camera man in the building, but also the NBA. Just like the old days, Mike was hit with a $5k fine for having footwear that was out of line. MJ and the Bulls did fall short in the 1995 Playoffs, but roared through the 1995-96 season setting an unbelievable regular season record of 72-10 while MJ averaged 30.4 points per game. The Playoffs proved to be not much of a challenge for the Bulls either as they cruised through losing only 3 games in total of all rounds. What makes the Air Jordan XI special for you? Is it the shoes beauty? Is it what Jordan accomplished in the shoes? |
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Nike Air Jordan XI - Throwback Thursday
Michael Jordan wearing the Nike Air Jordan XI
Oct 28, 2009 at 7:01 pm
ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Oct 14, 2009 at 10:40 am
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AIR PENNY ROCKS!
AIR PENNY RULES!
AIR PENNY IS FIRST!!!
;-P 
Oct 12, 2009 at 7:09 am
This jordan shoes are wonderful.
Sep 17, 2009 at 11:08 am
are these gonna drop in the near future…
Sep 15, 2009 at 11:41 pm
OG Concords are amazing looking
Sep 15, 2009 at 10:13 am
Tinker should have a hollywood star for designing these…..
Sep 14, 2009 at 8:49 pm
LEGENDARY…..This sneaker changed the game
Sep 14, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I am rockin these right now!! I love them!! wish mine were signed though
Sep 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm
yea the concords were one of my favs i liked em for both reasons actually!!!
Sep 13, 2009 at 12:54 pm
@2PN
Man I respect the Concords and they are definitly Top 5, being that they lead the way for the rest of the XI’s. However, the Space Jams are the real deal. I love the Space Jams and I’m happy Brand Jordan did a good job with this retro. Let’s face it, all the XI’s are classic and anyone into the Jordans would love to have them all.
Sep 12, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Def a top 5 jordan of all time. It had me crackin up when n!ggas was talkin bout the space jams being the best shoe of all time…I’m like how…those aren’t even the best jordans of all time…matter a fact, they ain’t even the best 11s of all time…they don’t even crack the top 3.
1.Concords
2. Cool greys
3. Breds
Boyz II Men rocked these with tuxedos to the grammys…
Sep 12, 2009 at 11:51 am
WAS AT ORLANDO O’RENA WHEN HE PLAYED WITH WIZARDS HIS LAST GO AROUND HE HAD HIS COOL GREYS ON AND I HAD MINE ON. SINCE I KNOW T-MAC PERSONALLY HE GAVE T-MAC THE SHOES AND WROTE ON THEM THANKS FOR THE CHALLENGE, SHOES ARE PROBABLY SOME WHERE AROUND 25,000 AT LEAST. NOWADAYS JUST LOOKING AT THEM ALONG WITH MY DMP WHICH NEVER BEEN TRIED ON SCARED TO WEAR THEM.
Sep 11, 2009 at 6:01 pm
these are my all time favorite jordans
Sep 11, 2009 at 4:34 pm
G.O.A.T.Was born 94 never got to see mike play ball.i wish i could’ve seen him play.
Sep 11, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I WISH THEY WOULD BRING THE SHOES OUT AGIN…WUD COP IN A QUICKNESS
Sep 11, 2009 at 10:51 am
I remember seeing them in a slam Magazine before Jordan ever laced them up. It would show these and the Carolina blue 11’s side by side and I remember me and my boy talking about who was going to get what Colorway. When I saw Jordan wear them in the 95 playoffs I was hooked I knew that I had to have these. The firse time I saw them It was in High school During an assembaly. I remember that day I was sitting next to my boy not paying attention to what was going on and for some reason I turn my head to the left and I see a kid that I went to middle school with he just lift up one foot and puts it on the chair in front of him showing the person next to him his brand new Concords. I couldn’t Belive what i was seeing. This was on a friday, so the next day me and my mom went to Champs Sports and I got my brand new pair Of Concords. It was the best day for me having those shoes and what made them special was that they were my first pair of J’s. I had all 3 colorways pluse both lowtops 11’s that year. And I have the concords when they Retro back in 2000
Sep 11, 2009 at 10:44 am
Damn its crazy cuz when jordan was gone I loved the orlando magic’s like many young kids. But when you started to see the older more dominate bulls you could just respect how great thi guy was. Much love. And Air Jordan are best shoes ever
Sep 11, 2009 at 3:21 am
congrats to his royal airness!!!!!!! the best jordan shoes ever!!!!!
Sep 11, 2009 at 2:02 am
Simply the best…!
Sep 11, 2009 at 1:33 am
G.O.A.T of kicks before and on and on, thks MJ for the legendary days and the hawtest shoes ever~
Sep 11, 2009 at 12:15 am
oh hail my favorite J’s!!! I will cop this again and again and again… congrats to MJ u deserve to be in the HOF!!! see you tomorrow and pls sign my Bulls jersey and my OG concord.
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:40 pm
The thing about these is that these may be one of the best ever sneakers and coming from jordan sneakers which has other sneakers that you could say the same thing about.
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I’m at the event now, having a boat load of fun. I wish I could get him to sign my DMPs that I brought with me, but that upper deck ish is in the way.
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:09 pm
BY FAR, ONE OF THE BEST SHOES IN HISTORY..I REMEBER BEING IN FOOTLOCKER WITH MY BOYS AND 3 PAIRS OF THESE ON THE COUNTER..ONE OF MY FRIENDS PAID FOR EM WITH A STOLEN CREDIT CARD..WE ALMOST GOT CAUGHT..I COULDNT SLEEP THAT NIGHT AND I WOKE UP EXTRA EARLY TO GET TO SCHOOL WITH EM ON MY FEET..ONE OF LIKE 3 OR 4 KIDS OUT OFF LIKE 4,000 IN MY SCHOOL TO HAVE EM…ALMOST GOT EM TAKEN TOO…A COUPLE OF TIMES…BEST SHOES EVER!!!
Sep 10, 2009 at 11:03 pm
holy of holiest grails!!!!!!
:-O
Sep 10, 2009 at 9:55 pm
My first pair of XI were the OG white/columbia. Got them in 1996 at JCPenny. Dam they ust to sell J’s at JCPENNY!!! today you cant even get retro J’s at footlocker they are so scarce. I remember when the patent leather cracked at school. I was heart broken. wonder what happened to those kicks… Dam if i could only have all my sneakers from the past back. what a collection i would have. MJ #1
Sep 10, 2009 at 9:10 pm
this made my day!
Sep 10, 2009 at 8:34 pm
these shoes are SO dope! HOW DOPE ARE THEY! they’re so dope the NBA should have banned these too!
the XIs are beautific. and MJ is greatness. without MJ there would be no Kobe and LeBron.
Sep 10, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I have my OG’s, I have my DMP’s. Nothing can touch this shoe, this colorway. It’s just a magical concept from a legendary time.
There are not enough adjectives to describe this shoe. One of those moments that you remember where you first saw it (in an ad in my little cousin’s Sports Illustrated for Kids) where I was when I bought them (Foot Locker, downtown, Port Plaza Mall) and my first game wearing them (Sophomore year, varsity, 22pts 11ast in a win over East)
These will be buried with me.
Sep 10, 2009 at 8:07 pm
wow this actually made me really emotional
I just feel lucky that i’ve been able to see many sports greats
mj… tiger… federer… phelps… etc.
i can’t argue what jordan’s best sneaker was but my personal favorite is the white /chili red/black IVs
congrats to his airness
Sep 10, 2009 at 8:07 pm
i am gonna wear my 11’s tomorrow in honor of the hall of fame
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:59 pm
i always loved the shoe,i just dont like how the ice at the bottom turns yellow,i only have one pair of 11,s,thereason being,is that after a few years they look like those up top,they need sea glowing to much,and that to much work for some one who has multiple 11,s,i wish nike/jb could find a way to make there icey soles to where they dont change colors after a period of time.
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:52 pm
including the Jordan 1s and 3s, these may have made the biggest industry impact from a design standpoint. The 11 introduced certain other concepts regarding performance and materials, especially the use of patent leather in a basketball shoe and a carbon fibre shank. The look of the shoe was befitting of the drama that accompanied MJ’s return to the NBA at the time. These may just be THE QUINTESSENTIAL Air Jordan sneaker of all time.
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Love Em - still got my OG’s, still in decent shape too!
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:26 pm
G.O.A.T!!! He will take his place on the thrown tomorrow! Now to change that Jerry West NBA logo…lol…like that will ever happen..HA!
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:22 pm
The XIs are my favorite Air Jordans of all time. I think what does it for me is the patent leather, of course. I’m sure there are many of us who think the patent leather are the best part of the sneakers. It just stands out and demands attention. These are most definitely, without a doubt, the best Air Jordans ever created in my opinion. Thanks MJ for all of the memories and making me a Jordanhead.
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Yeah, these are 1 of my holy grail kicks. when I see these, it takes me back 2 school days….back when you could catch a Bulls game that had you jumpin out ya seat. I own the retro red & black Space Jams. I nervously keep em wrapped in Saran wrap. I’m so concerned about the bottom turning yellow lol.
Sep 10, 2009 at 7:03 pm
beautiful
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Best pair of J’s ever, every colorway of the 11’s were sick. Instant classics v Rio I feel ya bro, i remember being late for school to get the Bred 11’s when they first came out. Ah the memories
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I remember being the 1st cat in skool with the Carolina blue 11’s back in 96′ when I was in the 12th grade. Plus, I rocked those with my tux at da prom. These are the ish!!! JB needs to retro every colorway if the 11’s!!!
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Best Throwback Thursday feature yet…and I personally think that these were my favorite Jordan & colorway actually worn by MJ…there was something so perfect about its design & everything that he stood for…clean, classic…with a splash of flash…these were dress shoes for the hardwood and from a far, they looked like something out of The Greay Gatspy. I mean these were f#@cking clean and every OG colorway looked great, but the Concords are the ones.
In honor of MJ’s career, I’m wearing my Air Jordan I retro from 1994 (black/red/white) to the office…and I don’t give a f@ck what the boss says.
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:40 pm
the xi’s are my favorite
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Classics. Hands down.
Random: I remember seeing Jodeci rock these with suits on a talk show (Ricki Lake?) around the same time they came out.
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I always have a hard time really coming up with my all-time fav j but tha concord 11’s are in my top 3 hands down a clean azz shoe
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:33 pm
favorite j’s ever.love the ad too
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Awesome ass shoe!!!
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Concords>>>>>>
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:11 pm
i hate these…… my opinion
Sep 10, 2009 at 6:02 pm
EXCELLENCE. Had the acual sneaker and 2000 retro. It would be bo bo bananas if re retro
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Best j’s ever to me
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:38 pm
these are cool but not the greatest js for me
the white black true red 9s r my favorites
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:34 pm
FOR ME, THE SEXIEST SHOE EVER. I REMEBER WHEN THESE FIRST CAME OUT, WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. ME AND ALL MY BOYS HAD A PAIR. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MOST OF US WAS LATE FOR SCHOOL THAT DAY, JUST TO COPE THEM. BACK THEN, THEY USE TO RELEASE ON WEEKDAYS. DAMN I FEEL OLD.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:33 pm
These are okay. The black XI’s w/red are cleaner.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:33 pm
These are awesome…
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Classics.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I like it more when Throwback Thursday talks about more esoteric shoes from sneaker past. I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t know most of what there is to know about Jordans, and especially the XI, it seems like it’s been one of the most popular shoes ever put out.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Just a beutiful shoe…looks great on your feet they were in the lab 4 hours working on this classic pair of J’Z
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Yeah these are the legendary kicks right here!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I think im going to rock one of my pairs tomorrow on campus!!!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:21 pm
These should be in the smithsonian or something brah, I love me some concords!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:20 pm
NiceKicks:What makes the Air Jordan XI special for you? Is it the shoes beauty? Is it what Jordan accomplished in the shoes?
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:18 pm
By far the best f’ing shoes in the Jordan line up thes shoes are crack!!! I need’em! I need’em bad when or are they ever gonna be re-released if so imma be FIRST lol!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Excuse me- I meant that they need to retro these asap!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:12 pm
These jordans are worthy of purchasing
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm
These need to retro these asap!
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Mj was a monster and in the 11’s he was unstopa-bull
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Wait……no……a massive erection it gives me.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:07 pm
This shoe gives me a chubby…
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Just remember being in the 5th grade and seeing the AJ X1 magazine ad with Mike in White & Black with the toll-free telephone number. Instant classic! Thanks Mike for all the memories & inspiration…
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:05 pm
yup best jb shoe ever
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I’ve tried thousands of bball shoes. Still, this one is the best.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:04 pm
5 star.. I need them kicks in my life..
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I just wet myself, sticky wet, no effin lie
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Greatness.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Best f***ing sneakers of all time.
Sep 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm
the best looking pair of shoes ever made period