Updated 04/20/2023 at 2:24 p.m. ET:
Michael Jordan has the freshest kicks of all time, and it’s not a debate. Even fans of LeBron James have to admit that Air Jordans are the cleanest.
More than 20 years after Jordan stepped foot on an NBA court, sneakerheads everywhere still want his kicks. With that in mind, I’ll give you my list of the best and freshest Air Jordan sneakers of all time.
The one that started it all. These sneakers are iconic – not because they’re super clean, but because they were originally banned from the NBA because they did not have enough white on them. Nike paid Jordan’s fine for every game he wore them in, making them even more sought after. They even made a commercial about it.
These sneakers are so clean. I know, the basic answer. But just look at them! This pair will always be at the top of the list for sneakerheads. Jordan also famously dropped 63 points against the Celtics during the 1986 NBA Playoffs while wearing them. He was so good in that game that Larry Bird said, “It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
This was one of the first Jordan sneakers that didn’t include the normal red and Black colorway, which matched the Chicago Bulls’ uniforms. Despite Jordan never wearing them on the court, some fans still prefer these over the original “Breds.”
This is an underrated colorway. It follows the same color blocking as the “Breds” and “Royals,” but instead uses an understated grey. It still makes for a clean shoe.
Many people love to throw the Jordan 2s to the side, but they’re still a clean sneaker to me – especially the “Chicago” colorway. It’s the first time a sports brand took a luxurious approach to making a performance shoe. The first run of these sneakers was made in Italian factories. Plus, Jordan had his best scoring season ever in these shoes, averaging 37 points per game.
This sneaker will never go out of style. They’re clean, look good beat up, and symbolize an iconic moment in NBA history. Jordan debuted this pair during the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago and won an iconic battle against Dominique Wilkins.
The night after winning the dunk contest in 1988, Jordan dominated the All-Star game, dropping 40 points and taking home the MVP. He did all this while debuting the “Black Cement” Jordan 3.
The second greatest Jordan sneaker ever made, this model of the Jordan 4 might be iconic for another reason other than his ability on the court. In the 1989 movie, Do the Right Thing, Giancarlo Esposito’s character, Buggin’ Out, famously wore these sneakers and became livid after someone stepped on his brand-new kicks.
While I prefer the “White Cement” Jordan 4s, the “Breds” are just as clean. Jordan also hit his most iconic shot in this sneaker during the 1989 NBA playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jordan doesn’t have as many memorable moments in this sneaker, but it still has to be on this list becasue of its timeless colorway. The red, black and white will never got out of style on a Jordan sneaker and this sneaker is another example why.
This shoe was made famous for a variety of reasons. Obviously, because MJ wore them, but also because they were famously styled by Will Smith in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The “Metallics” was also featured in a commercial every sneakerhead should remember.
Another clean colorway for a dope sneaker. I prefer the metallics, but you can’t go wrong with an all-white shoe.
Michael Jordan took home his first championship in these sneakers, beating Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers, the team of the 80s.
After taking home his second championship in 1992 against the Portland Trailblazers, Jordan joined the iconic 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona for the Olympics. During those games, Jordan wore this clean pair of the Jordan 7s.
Although these shoes are nice when you just look at them, they’re memorable because of how Jordan performed on the court in them. During game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals against Portland Trailblazers, MJ made six threes in the first half, in a game which is now known as the “shrug game.”
Considered by many to be the best Jordan sneaker, this was the first basketball shoe to incorporate patent leather. Sneakerheads love them so much that they’ll even wear a tuxedo with these kicks.
Even non-sneakerheads recognize this shoe for its iconic appearance in the 1996 film, Space Jam. Michael Jordan pulled these out before he was placed with the impossible task of beating the unstoppable Monstars.
The Jordan 12s are a simple shoe. Oftentimes nike would just salp to colors on this sneaker and fans would still go crazy for it and I can’t blame them. Jordan his his awesome game winner against the Utah Jazz in game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals in these sneakers.
Essentially the reverse of th “Playoff” Jordan 12s, but way cleaner. The simple Black and white will never go out of style, and the subtle gold accent sets these kicks off.
These sneakers are iconic not only because they are clean as hell, but Jordan also put forth the gutsiest performance of his career during game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. Despite having “the flu,” Jordan still scored 38 points and led the Bulls to a 90-88 win.
Out of all the sneakers that came out during Jordan’s time with the Bulls, the Jordan 13s are one of the least appealing. But, if I were to pick any colorway, it would be the “Playoffs.”
They’re not the best Jordan by any stretch, but these will forever have a special place in my heart. Jordan hit his last shot with the Chicago Bulls in these sneakers, which also won him his 6th NBA championship.
Now we’re getting into sneakers that were released years after Jordan played, but they’re just aesthetically pleasing to look at. These “Raging Bull” Jordan 5s originally dropped in 2007 and were always a grail sneaker for me. Thankfully they came out again in 2021, but the 2007 version will always be my favorite.
Released as a collaboration with Los Angeles streetwear brand UNDEFEATED, this is the most expensive Jordan sneaker ever. Only 72 pairs were made available to the public, which led to them being worth more than $20,000 on the resale market. They’re clean, but I’m not sure I would pay that much money for them.
A collab between Jordan and the street artist KAWS, this shoe is just beautiful to look at. It was made with grey suede and featured his signature “XX” where the Nike logo normally would be.
In Virgil Abloh’s first collaboration with Nike, he dropped ten banger designers, known as “The Ten.” But his design of the Jordan 1 “Chicago” was by far the most unique of all. I only wish I could have a chance to hold them in my hand one day.
This is an underrated collaboration, but I love what Public School NYC did with these kicks. Similar to the Kaws Jordan 4, these 12s are covered in grey suede. They make one of the bulkiest Jordan models ever look luxurious.