Jordan Brand is about to drop the annual Air Jordan 11 retro release. In our full history of the of the Air Jordan 11 we’ve already taken a look at the impact of this iconic basketball sneaker. This time we want to show you how players around the NBA honor this milestone in athletic shoe history. We start off with some images of MJ wearing the AJ XI for the first time in the 1995 NBA Playoffs versus the Orlando Magic.
All photos via FIVE Magazine/Getty Images
14 Nov 1995: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls moves the ball during a game against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Magic won the game, 94-88. (Allsport USA/Allsport)
14 Nov 1995: Guard Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles baseline in an attempt to go around the pressure defense applied by a defender of the Orlando Magic during the Bulls 94-88 loss to the Magic at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. M (Allsport USA/Allsport)
14 Nov 1995 Michael Jordan faces up Nick Anderson (Allsport USA/Allsport)
14 Nov 1995: Guard Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls creates a loose ball on the court while forward Anfernee Hardaway #1 and guard Horace Grant #54 of the Orlando Magic see an opportunity at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. (Allsport USA/Allsport)
14 Nov 1995: The shoes of guard Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls grace the sideline at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, during the game against the Orlando Magic. The Magic defeated the Bulls 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Allsport USA/Allsport
Both because of Michael’s greatness and the iconic style the Air Jordan 11 has been a popular footwear choice of NBA players. Below you can see some of the best and maybe some of the worst players wearing the AJ XI. The Concord colorway is by far the most popular but the Space Jam, Columbia and Playoffs can be seen almost every week as well. Check out the gallery to see, for example, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Monta Ellis, Nate Robinson and KICKZ on Court regular Marcus Morris alongside Enes Kanter and DeJuan Blair – all paying homage to the G.O.A.T.
Kevin Garnett in the Air Jordan 11 Columbia in a 1996 game vs. the Chicago Bulls (Photo by Dale Tait/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
Kobe Bryant in the Air Jordan 11 Concord, Copyright NBAE 2002 (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 14, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on January 14, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Monta Ellis in the Air Jordan 11 Space Jam, in Charlotte 2012 (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Gerald Green in the Air Jordan 11 Concord
Gerald Green in the Air Jordan 11 Concord, Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Enes Kanter in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nick Young in a Air Jordan 11 Custom (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nick Young in a Air Jordan 11 Custom (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Nick Young in a Air Jordan 11 Custom (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LaMarcus Aldridge in the Air Jordan 11 Playoffs (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
LaMarcus Aldridge in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
James Johnson in the Air Jordan 11 Playoffs (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
DeJuan Blair in the Air Jordan 11 Space Jam (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Blake Griffin in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Blake Griffin in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nate Robinson in the Air Jordan 11 Columbia (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Marcus Morris in the Air Jordan 11 Concord (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
Aaron Harrison of the Kentucky Wildcats in the Air Jordan 11 Columbia during the NCAA Final Four (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)