The shoe that started it all. The sneaker that changed the entire business of footwear. The icon that kicked off the greatest legacy in sneaker history. The Air Jordan 1.
In 1984, a 6’6 guy from Brooklyn joined the NBA as the third pick in the first round of the NBA Draft and would later be known as the greatest player of all time: Michael Jordan! We all know the story of this legend, his incredible basketball career and his famous Jumpman empire, but one never gets old reading about His Airness some more.
MJ was playing in Converse at North Carolina, wearing Adidas while being on Team USA in the Olympics and appearing in New Balance in a LIFE magazine photoshoot, no one therefore knew which shoe the rookie would wear in his NBA debut season. Ultimately, Nike was the brand to offer him the deal every player was desperate to get. He not only earned a position in the Chicago Bulls roster that year, but also landed a five-year-endorsement contract with the one and only Swoosh. In 1985, Jordan was presented the best gift an athlete could receive: a signature line of sneakers and apparel with an unique logo – all created in order to break with Nike’s previous basketball efforts.
Despite some skepticism, Michael Jordan exceeded expectations on and off court. He had a successful rookie season earning him a spot on the All-Star team, won the Rookie of the Year award and brought the Chicago Bulls back to the NBA Playoffs after a four-year-absence. Not bad for a 21-year-old, don’t you think so too? Around this time, the first Air Jordan 1 hit the stores and set the sneaker industry on fire. It paved the way for colorful basketball sneakers and blazed a trail for many more Jumpmans to follow. You think MJ knew what the future had in store for him? Nah, but he sure as hell was committed to strive for greatness (sorry LBJ, but I had to steal this one from you)!
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Black Toe”, now hitting the stores on October 5th 2016, is one of the original colorways of the legendary line. It helped define Michael Jordan on the court, thus the anticipated re-introduction takes us all the way back to His Airness’ first season in the best basketball league. Remastered to the look he wore in 1985, the “Black Toe” returns with the OG-famous “Nike Air” branding on the tongue and the embossed “Wings” details on the ankle collar. Its iconic white/gym red/black colors for the 2016 release, served as one of the core colorways in 1985 as well. The AJ1 forebear comes with a dose of Gym Red on the leather heel panel and contrasting black highlights. The silhouette is closely tied to the famous “Chicago” edition, but the black leather, especially on the toe, predominates. Hence “Black Toe” – pretty clever, isn’t it?
Amidst the Air Jordan Royals, this sneaker played and plays a pivotal role in sneaker culture and has never lost its luster. Designed by Nike legend Peter Moore, the AJ1 has been around for quite some time – 31 years to be exact. Since its 30th anniversary last year, the Jordan Brand has focused on re-dropping one original AJ1 legend after the other, taking us on a trip down memory lane. From the “Shattered Backboards” to the “Top Threes” up to the “Banneds”, there is still nothing like a classic AJ1. Traveling in time makes so much more fun with these iconic sneakers on your feet. Thus, back at it again with da “Black Toe” now on Saturday, October 5th!
Check out the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Black Toe” at KICKZ.com.
