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The latest addition to the Air Jordan legacy is here as the brand has officially announced the Air Jordan 38 as the brand’s energy is centered in Paris for the annual Quai 54 tournament.
The AJ38 was first seen by the brand’s first NIL athlete, Kiki Rice, during March Madness.
Months later, the latest innovation for the Jumpman is ready to take flight.
“It’s pretty amazing that, during March Madness, I debuted a shoe that Michael Jordan used to debut,” Rice said. “It shows how much he and the Jordan Brand are invested in women and elevating the women’s game. As the first NIL athlete in the Jumpman Family, I’m proud to rock such a cultural icon and continue to push the game forward for the next generation.”
The Air Jordan 38 is a continuation of the Jordan Brand legacy bringing design cues from the past into the modern game to push it forward. Made of 20% recycled material, the Air Jordan 38 is the brand’s most sustainable game shoe ever.
The shoe is constructed with a full-length Cushlon 3.0 wedge and a full-length Zoom strobel, engineered and paired for comfort and a responsive feel. In the underfoot, an X-Plate is added, enabling the forefoot and supporting lateral movements. Additionally, the X-Plate is a nod to the cross-strap design of the Air Jordan 8, which his Airness wore in the 1993 Finals against the Phoenix Suns, securing his first of two three-peats.
Further tying to 1993 and the Jordan legacy, the Air Jordan 38 holds details inspired by his Final performance. The upper’s lateral part features 41 crosshatches, representing the 41 points per game MJ average. Below that, the patterns represent 6.3 assists, while the lines featured represent his 8.5 rebounds.
Additionally, the top part of the upper’s medial side represents the third consecutive ring MJ won while in the Air Jordan 8, and the lines below represent the Chicago Bulls’ 57-25 from the 1992-93 season. The inside of the tongue features an abstract ring as well.
Other details include a unique Air Jordan 38 logo on the tongue near the toe box and there are 38 textured circles on the outside of the dual-injected plate and 23 on the inside of it.
As Jordan Brand continues to tap into the past and propel it for the next generation, the brand will release three colorways: the black, white, and red “Fundamental” colorway; the “FIBA” colorway dedicated to the game’s global growth; and “The Center Star” colorway that’s dedicated to the WNBA and its changemakers with a radiant orange hue.
“Only the Air Jordan signature line can stay true to its legacy, while still advancing innovation and enhancing on-court performance for players,” Orlando Magic’s Pablo Banchero said. “When I put on the Air Jordan 38, not only do I feel like I could physically do anything on the court, but I psychologically get this connected feeling to MJ and greatness that it gives me the confidence to go out there and dominate a game just like he used to.”
The Air Jordan 38 will be available in the upcoming months in full-family sizing on Nike.com and select retailers. Keep it locked on Nice Kicks on Instagram and the Air Jordan release dates page to stay on top of the latest news and drops.