Tate Kuerbis could never know how big his design for the Air Jordan 18 would be back in 2003. The sneakers themselves didn’t set the world on fire, but that year was important, for it was the last time Michael Jordan played an NBA game. Let’s take a look at the best colorways of the Air Jordan 18 OG and Retro that have ever dropped.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Veteran’s Day” Sample
When Nike really believes in a cause, something special happens with the sneakers they make to represent that belief. They’ve done it with various Doernbecher colorways, and now they’ve done it with the Air Jordan 18 Retro ‘Veteran’s Day’ Sample.
The name really says it all: these sneakers are an exclusive sample. Jimmy Butler and Jeff Green wore them back in 2017, and even stock images don’t do them justice. But because these sneakers were never made for retail distribution, you won’t just be able to buy a pair. Unlike typical materials, such as leather and suede, these sneakers sport a canvas upper that has camo motifs across them. This pays homage to the many in the armed forces that we celebrate on Veteran’s Day.
Air Jordan 18 OG “White Sport Royal”
This specific pair has an extraordinarily special place in the history of basketball. They are the precise colourway that MJ donned for his last workout with the Washington Wizards and bear the three hues that are so emblematic of that team. This pair brings back the stunning sporty appearance, thanks to the visible carbon fibre shank. The upper is simply gorgeous, some of the best leather, and in full white. At the same time, the hardware is done up in metallic silver, and the accents once again feature Sport Royal blue.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Yellow Suede”
These sneakers, released in 2018, have an upper that is entirely made of suede, a translucent midsole, and a rubber outsole and heel section that match the midsole. Once again, the tonal look of the sneakers is so balanced that even the branding and hardware match it in terms of tone, not making them stand out in an obnoxious way. With the tonal look, the sneakers kind of appear to be all one color without actually being all one color, which would be obnoxious.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Blue Suede”
Racer Blue, translucent rubber, and opaque rubber make for a very futuristic feel, but these sneakers are still firmly rooted in retro vibes. They’re blue, very blue, and that’s all about their upper. This is the last sneaker of the three to talk about that has an upper of anything other than the love-it-or-hate-it material that is nubuck. The midsole and outsole here continue the same translucent-and-white theme as the pairs that dropped in sync.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Orange Suede”
This brilliant pair of sneakers was one of many suede pairs released in 2018 as part of Nike’s successful attempt to breathe new life into the Air Jordan 18 silhouette, which was introduced 15 years ago this year. This shoes are a vision in orange suede, with the accents and inner lining being the same color. In a rare show of variation, the carbon fiber midsole has been replaced with an almost translucent one that matches the rubber outsole and section that makes its way up the heel.
Air Jordan 18 OG “Black Sport Royal”
Although chrome can occasionally appear as low-grade plastic on some sneakers, on the Air Jordan 18, every chrome accent serves to elevate the kicks to a higher standard. The upper is made of black suede, with Sport Royal Blue making up the inner lining and the carbon fiber shank. They didn’t skimp on the accents, partially in homage to what appears to be the OG colorway for this silhouette since it first dropped in 2003.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Countdown Pack”
Much like the previous design, this classic colourway is loved for its direct relation with the better-known “Toro” version. Here, the inverted colourway is further shifted by the presence of the “Countdown Pack”—a set of sneaker releases in 2008 that prefaced the arrival of the Air Jordan 23. And even as the design has now existed for over a decade, many still view the Air Jordan 18 as a classically chic, if underappreciated, choice. Its upper, made of black suede, is lux like not many pairs of performance shoes—they tend to err on the side of too much synthetics. The hoody, or shroud, that covers the laces is the same way.
Air Jordan 18 Retro “Toro”
Though it was released only in later years, the Air Jordan 18 Retro “Toro” is a colorway that occupies a special place in everyone’s hearts. It is a rendition of what could have been, an alternate past in which MJ’s last NBA match was still played under the Chicago Bulls banner—using their signature University Red and Black to make up the design.
Air Jordan 18 OG “White Varsity Red”
Of all the kicks in the range, the “White University Red” colorway is one of the pairs that really drives home the selection of themes. It serves as a reminder that Kuerbis based his design for this range on beloved Italian motifs like the Lamborghini Murcielago and the insane fashion sense that we have seen coming out of Italian designers and the media. The shoes feature the gorgeous carbon-fiber shank that makes up the visible parts of the midsole—and that’s not even mentioning how it makes its way up and around the heel, in a sense mimicking the business end of a V12. For these beauties, Nike only used top-shelf leather. Also, read our list of The Top 10 Best Air Jordan 17 Colorways Of All Time.
Drake’s “Gold” Air Jordan 18 OVO “Gold” Sample
In 2017, Jordan Brand gifted Drake with the Air Jordan 18 OVO “Gold” Sample before their partnership officially came to an end. The pair features the same liquid gold theme as the OVO Jordan 11 and the previous model. The sneaker boasts a nearly all-gold appearance with some white and red contrast details that really pop against the gold base. The white accents cover the liner, the Jumpman logo, the “23” motif, and the sole of the sneaker, while the “Jordan” branding on the back is the only appearance of red on the sneaker. See more of Drake’s amazing sneakers here: Sneaker Fortress
