When Michael Jordan decided to launch Jordan Brand in 1997, he didn't just pick anybody to wear the Jumpman. He picked winners. He picked style. Most importantly, he picked Eddie Jones. If you were watching the NBA in the mid-90s, you remember. Eddie was smooth. He was the guy who made the Los Angeles Lakers look cool before Kobe Bryant became "Kobe."
The Eddie Jones Air Jordan connection is honestly the bedrock of what we now call "Team Jordan." Without Eddie, the brand might have just been a vanity project for MJ. Instead, Jones turned it into a legitimate performance powerhouse on the hardwood. People often forget how high the stakes were back then. Nike was taking a massive gamble by spinning off a sub-brand. They needed a face that wasn't Mike.
Eddie was that face.
The Birth of the Jordan Brand "Class of 1997"
It’s easy to look at the Jordan Brand roster now and see dozens of superstars. But at the start, it was a tiny, hand-picked circle. We’re talking about Eddie Jones, Ray Allen, Vin Baker, Kevin Garnett (briefly), and Michael Finley. That was it.
Eddie was the crown jewel of that initial group. Why? Because he played in Los Angeles. The camera loved him. He had this effortless, gliding style of play that mirrored Jordan's own game, albeit with a bit more finesse and a little less raw aggression. When he laced up the Eddie Jones Air Jordan exclusives, he wasn't just wearing sneakers; he was carrying a torch.
The first major shoe he championed wasn't even a signature model. It was the Air Jordan XIII. While MJ was wearing the "Breds" and "He hisness" versions in Chicago, Eddie was rocking Player Exclusive (PE) colorways in Laker purple and gold. That was the moment sneakerheads realized Jordan shoes weren't just for Bulls fans anymore. They were for the elite.
Why the Air Jordan XVI and XVII Belong to Eddie
If you want to talk about the peak of the Eddie Jones Air Jordan era, you have to talk about the "shroud" years. The Air Jordan XVI was a weird shoe. It had that removable gaiter or shroud that made it look like a dress shoe one minute and a performance beast the next.
Eddie Jones, by then a Miami Heat superstar, became the unofficial mascot for the XVI and the XVII.
Honestly, he wore them better than Mike did during the Wizards comeback. While Jordan was struggling with knee fluid and a declining roster in D.C., Eddie was out in Miami, locking people up on D and hitting transition threes in some of the cleanest white-and-red PEs ever made. The XVI "Ginger" and the XVII "College Blue" are synonymous with Eddie's tenure. He proved that a non-MJ player could carry a flagship model and make it sell.
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He didn't need a signature shoe with his own name on it—though he did eventually get the Jordan Quick 6—because his identity was so baked into the main line. He was the primary vessel for the brand's DNA.
The Jordan Quick 6: A Forgotten Masterpiece
Let’s get technical for a second. The Jordan Quick 6 is arguably one of the best non-numbered Jordans ever produced. Period. Released around 1998, it took design cues from the Air Jordan XIV and the Ferrari-inspired aesthetic.
- It featured a sleek, low-profile cut.
- The venting on the side was aggressive.
- The "EJ" branding was subtle but signaled his status.
You don't see these in retro shops often. It's a tragedy, really. Collectors are constantly scouring eBay and GOAT for wearable pairs of Quick 6s because they represent a specific time when Jordan Brand was experimenting with "speed" designs. Eddie was the fastest guy on the court most nights, so the shoe actually made sense for his game. It wasn't just marketing fluff.
The Cultural Impact of the Laker and Heat PEs
Sneaker culture today is obsessed with "exclusivity." We have apps, raffles, and resale bots. But back in the day, exclusivity meant watching a Heat vs. Knicks game on TNT and seeing Eddie Jones wear a pair of Air Jordan IXs with a "6" embroidered on the heel.
You couldn't buy those. You couldn't even find a high-res photo of them easily. You just had to see them in action.
That mystery built the myth. The Eddie Jones Air Jordan PEs are some of the most hunted items in the secondary market today. Collectors like Sole Supreme or world-renowned PE hunters will tell you that a game-worn Eddie Jones AJ 13 or 14 is a "grail" status item.
It’s the color blocking. The way the Lakers' purple or the Heat's deep red interacted with the classic Jordan silhouettes changed the game. It showed that the Jumpman was a canvas. It paved the way for guys like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Jayson Tatum to have their own flavor of Jordans. Eddie was the blueprint.
Transitioning from the Star to the Mentor
By the mid-2000s, Eddie’s role changed. He wasn't the "next Jordan" anymore; he was the veteran presence. But his sneaker game stayed elite. Even as he moved to Memphis or back to Miami, he was still getting the latest heat from Oregon.
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I think people underestimate how much Eddie influenced the younger generation. Dwyane Wade joined the Heat and saw Eddie Jones—a legend—wearing Jordans every day. That stuff rubs off. You can draw a direct line from Eddie’s influence in the Miami locker room to the brand's later success with other athletes.
He stayed loyal. He never jumped ship to another brand for a bigger paycheck. He was a Jordan guy through and through, which is why his legacy within the company is so secure. He represents the "pro's pro." Reliable, stylish, and fundamentally sound.
The Modern Resurgence: Why We Need a Retro
We are currently living in a "Golden Age" of retros. We’ve seen the return of obscure models like the Air Jordan 1.5 or the various Team Jordan silhouettes from the early 2000s. Yet, the Eddie Jones Air Jordan catalog remains largely untouched in the vault.
Why? Maybe Nike thinks the demand isn't there for a non-MJ signature. They're wrong.
The "Quick 6" needs a comeback. The specific PE colorways of the 13s and 14s that Eddie made famous deserve a "Player Edition" public release, similar to what they’ve done with Ray Allen’s PE 13s in the past.
There is a massive hole in sneaker history where Eddie Jones should be. Ask any head over the age of 30 who the coolest player in the league was in 1996. A huge chunk will say Eddie. He had the high socks, the smooth jumper, and the best shoes on the court.
Facts vs. Hype: Setting the Record Straight
There’s a misconception that Eddie Jones was just a "placeholder" until Kobe Bryant got older. That’s revisionist history. Eddie was an All-Star. He was an All-Defensive First Team player. He led the league in steals.
When you talk about Eddie Jones Air Jordan history, you aren't talking about a bench player getting hand-me-downs. You're talking about a guy who Michael Jordan himself respected enough to hand-pick for his company.
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- Eddie Jones was the first player to ever wear the Air Jordan XVI in an NBA game.
- His "Quick 6" model sold out in many major markets despite not being a "numbered" Jordan.
- He wore at least 15 different Air Jordan silhouettes in professional games throughout his career.
That’s not a footnote. That’s a career.
How to Collect Eddie Jones Air Jordan Today
If you're looking to get into this specific niche of collecting, be prepared to spend.
First off, original "OG" pairs from the 90s are almost certainly unwearable. The foam in the midsoles undergoes hydrolysis—basically, it turns to dust. If you find a pair of Quick 6s on eBay, they are for display only. Don't try to hoop in them unless you want to end up on a blooper reel with your sole flapping off.
Second, look for "Team Jordan" releases that mimic his PEs. Every few years, Jordan Brand drops a "Lakers" colorway of a classic model. While it’s not officially an "Eddie Jones" shoe, it’s a nod to that era.
Third, keep an eye on auction houses like Sotheby's or Heritage Auctions. Game-worn Eddie Jones PEs occasionally pop up there. They usually go for thousands of dollars because of the "EJ 6" embroidery. It’s a niche market, but it’s a passionate one.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of the era or just starting to appreciate the Eddie Jones Air Jordan legacy, here is how you can actually engage with this history:
- Study the 1997-1999 Lakers Era: Watch old game footage to see how the shoes moved on court. It gives you a much better appreciation for the design than a static photo.
- Monitor the Jordan Brand "Retro" Schedule: There are persistent rumors of "Team Jordan" shoes returning. If the Quick 6 or the Pro Strong (another shoe Eddie wore) appears on a leak site, that’s your chance.
- Focus on the XVI and XVII: These are the models most closely tied to his peak years. Even the non-PE versions of these shoes carry the spirit of Eddie’s game.
- Join PE Forums: Sites like Niketalk or specific Discord servers for Player Exclusives are the only places where you’ll find the real "insider" info on where his surviving shoes are located.
Eddie Jones wasn't just a basketball player who wore Jordans. He was the proof of concept for an entire brand. He showed the world that the Jumpman was bigger than one man. Next time you see a pair of purple and gold Jordans, don't just think of Kobe or LeBron. Think of Eddie. He was there first.
Next Steps for the Savvy Collector
To truly understand the value of these items, you should research the specific manufacturing dates on the internal size tags of 1990s Jordan PEs. Look for the "999999" code or the "PROMO" stamp, which distinguishes a true Eddie Jones player-issued pair from a retail version. Cross-referencing these tags with game-log photos from Getty Images is the only way to verify authenticity in a market rife with high-quality fakes. Once you have verified a piece of history, ensure it is stored in a UV-protected, temperature-controlled environment to prevent the degradation of the delicate nubuck and Phylon materials used during that era.