You’ve seen the Air Jordan 3 Retro “Black Cement” and flexed the Air Jordan 11 Low ‘Bred’. Cool. But what about the pairs that slipped past your radar while you queued for hype drops in 2018? Some Jordans never got the billboard treatment, yet still carry that MJ-at-35 energy. Not every legend trends. Sit back. We’re counting down 20 Air Jordans you probably missed and never knew existed.
1. Air Jordan Fusion 4 ‘Bred’ 2009
Combining the upper of the Air Jordan 4 with the midsole of the Nike Air Force 1, the Air Jordan Fusion 4 is the sneaker equivalent of a superhero team-up—except that nobody asked for it, and it still kinda works. One of the more well-received Frankenstein creations in sneaker history, the Fusion 4 dropped in a variety of OG-inspired colorways and some fresh new takes.
2. Air Jordan 4 Retro ‘Wild Things’
Tinker Hatfield’s classic design of the Air Jordan 4 gets a warm, fuzzy upgrade with the Air Jordan 4 ‘Wild Things’—because who doesn’t want their sneakers to feel like a hug? These shoes are wrapped in soft tan leather, but the cozy fleece around the collar and tongue is really what makes these kicks the sneaker equivalent of your favorite winter blanket.
3. Social Status x Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘Pony Hair’
The February 2019 Social Status x Air Jordan 6 Retro released during the All-Star weekend, and it symbolized every bit of luxury that can be interwoven into a seemingly common sneaker. Why use leather when you can have pony hair? Why have a regular toe box when you can have a reptilian base? All of that, of course, is done up as well as you might expect from Social Status and with the elegant “luxury barn” motifs of Jordan Brand.
4. Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘Tech Chrome’
The Air Jordan 6 Retro ‘Tech Chrome’ bestows a fresh appearance on the silhouette that Michael Jordan wore while winning his first-ever NBA championship. The upper is a blend of a black suede foundation and dark grey suede along the overlays, plus a transparent film that runs along the side panels.
5. Air Jordan 1 Mid Melo SE ‘Equality’
Nike launched the Air Jordan 1 Mid Melo ‘Equality’ in February 2019, as part of its yearly Black History Month collection. The sneaker’s looks play with a black-and-white palette—something of a hallmark for the brand’s ‘Equality’ designs.
6. Air Jordan Fusion 3 ‘Varsity Red’
The Air Jordan Fusion 3 ‘Varsity Red’ borrows a little from the Air Jordan 3, a little from the Air Force 1, and a whole lot of boldness. Dressed in a head-turning combo of Black and Varsity Red, this hybrid sneaker is basically what happens when classic style and AF1-esque swagger collide.
7. Air Jordan 5 Retro ‘3Lab5’
Released under the Air Jordan brand and part of the Lab series, the Air Jordan 5 Retro “3Lab5” takes the brand’s elephant print and applies it all over the upper.
8. Air Jordan 3 Retro Explorer Tropical Twist
The Air Jordan 3 Retro Explorer Tropical Twist elevates the Air Jordan 3—quite literally. This sneaker swaggers with its bold teal accenting a sleek grey base, turning the classic low-cut Air Jordan 3 into a high-top that’s fresh, functional, and all-around appealing.
9. Air Jordan 15 Retro SE ‘Bragging Rights – Georgetown’
The Air Jordan 15 SE ‘Braggin Rights’ dropped in 2008 and came in two original colorways. The first was the sleek ‘Georgetown’ look, which takes a navy and silver palette across the woven upper, mesh tongue, and sock liner—and gives those colors a truly on-point silhouette. But the more impressive colorway has to be the one that takes ‘Braggin Rights’ to a whole new level.
10. Air Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Zinc’
The AJ1 Retro High is a modern, sleek remake of the iconic 1985 original. Yet, it makes some bold moves, especially in the upper, where a monotone finish in “Metallic Zinc” covers the entire shoe. The result is a glaze-y, textured look that has this Retro High shining real bright.
11. Air Jordan 4 Retro ‘Toro Bravo’ Sample
The Air Jordan 4 Retro ‘Toro Bravo’ Sample is a rare prototype created before the ‘Toro Bravo’ colorway, which dropped in 2013. This version features a Fire Red nubuck upper with black and white detailing and cement grey accents.
12. Air Jordan 11 “Purple Rain”
Prince may have been known for high-heeled boots, but imagine him swapping them for an Air Jordan 11. Sounds wild, right? Well, sneaker collector Simon Voltaire Tan (@depeche23mode) revealed that Nike actually designed a pair just for him—and it’s as purple as you’d hope. The upper is drenched in nubuck, the mudguards are wrapped in velvet, and the entire shoe is dipped in Prince’s official Pantone shade, Love Symbol #2. Inside, custom insoles spell out “Jumpman” in his signature typography, complete with falling rain graphics. Only one pair exists. Prince never got them, and Tan just sold them for $100,000.
13. Air Jordan 11 Retro Low ‘Nightshade’
The Jordan 11 Low “Nightshade” (Green Snakeskin) is a strange-looking sneaker. The snakeskin overlay feels tougher than the usual patent leather, which means less creasing and better durability. The textured green upper gives the shoe a bold edge without feeling overdone, and the translucent outsole adds that instantly recognizable Jordan 11 stamp.
14. Toni Kukoc Jordan Jumpman Team 1
The Jumpman Team 1 debuted in 1997 as the first sneaker under the Team Jordan line, inspired by the Air Jordan 12 and featuring design nods to the Air Jordan 13—like those circular jeweled bubbles on the upper and heel. Priced at $110, it offered Zoom Air and Phylon cushioning, making Jordan performance shoes more affordable. Bulls stars Toni Kukoc and Ron Harper rocked them, along with Team Jumpman athlete Eddie Jones. Kukoc’s worn pair from the 1997-98 playoffs even has a verified photomatch, tying these kicks directly to Bulls’ second three-peat.
15. Ronaldinho x Jordan – XXI Player Exclusive
Soccer maestro Ronaldinho scored a pair of Jordan XXI player exclusives—decked out in red and white, featuring his own number. And this wasn’t just any gift: Michael Jordan himself handed them over.
16. Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Heavy Metal/Anaconda”
Kanye West is still making headlines like it’s 2012. After relaunching Yeezy.com last month with $20 footwear that sold faster than a TikTok trend, a ghost from his Nike past has stolen the spotlight. Collector Simon Voltaire Tan unveiled the never-released Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Silver/White,” also known as “Heavy Metal/Anaconda.” Unlike the famous “Solar Red” or “Pure Platinum” colorways, this sample never hit shelves. With quilted reptile-embossed panels, hieroglyph graphics, Horus branding, and a glow-in-the-dark outsole, the shoe feels like sci-fi-meets-streetwear.
17. Air Jordan 5 “Fresh Prince” Gold Satin
Will Smith once schooled Isiah Thomas in a season one dream and a narrator hyped his kicks: “Air Fresh gym shoes… Just pass it to Will.” Funny thing, he rocked “Grape” Air Jordan 5s. Jordan Brand later released lace-free “Fresh Prince” 5s in 2018 and even gifted Will gold satin Grapes for his 50th birthday.
18. Air Jordan 5 Retro OG Satin “Black & Gold”
This 2018 Air Jordan 5 goes full Black Satin with Gold detailing. Only one exists. It arrives in an authentic Jordan box, so you look like you planned ahead. Want something even rarer than those friends-with-Nike sample pairs that cost 5x more? Problem solved.
19. Michael Jordan-Designed Air Jordan 1 Charlotte Hornets Foundation
Only 300 pairs. Michael Jordan cooked up black or white Air Jordan 1s for a Charlotte Hornets Foundation raffle, each quilted and clean with grain leather, white midsoles and that All-Star hangtag flex. The white pair even rocks black breaks on the ankle.
20. Air Jordan 10 “Grimm”
Nike teamed up with NBC’s Grimm, which feels like the coolest crossover nobody asked for, but everyone wants. Two exclusive Air Jordan 10s dropped April 15 2016 on eBay at 12 p.m. PST. Only eight pairs. The Black men’s pair rocks ultra-premium leather and a herringbone lining, while the White women’s pair goes full fairy-tale with fur. Tinker Hatfield said, “We created these shoes to capture the duality that exists in the world that the show has created and in the lives of the children being treated at OHSU Doernbecher.” Bidding started at $1,000.
