Honestly, it’s kinda wild. We live in a world where you can drop two grand on a pair of shoes that came out forty years ago and nobody even blinks. That’s the power of the list of all air jordans. It isn’t just a catalog of leather and rubber; it’s a timeline of how one guy from North Carolina basically rewrote the rules of what we wear.
Most people think the story starts and ends with Michael Jordan flying through the air. But if you actually look at the full list of all air jordans, you see the messy, brilliant, and sometimes weird evolution of a brand that almost didn't happen. MJ wanted to sign with Adidas. Nike was the underdog. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the Jumpman is still the loudest logo in the room.
The Early Years: When the Banned Myth Took Flight
The Air Jordan 1 hit the shelves in 1985 for $65. Today, that feels like a steal, but back then, people weren't sure about a red-and-black shoe. The NBA definitely wasn't. They allegedly "banned" the shoe for violating uniform rules, and Nike, being the marketing geniuses they are, leaned into it. They paid the $5,000-per-game fines. They made commercials about it. It was genius.
Then came the II. It was made in Italy. No Swoosh. It was meant to be "luxury," which was a massive gamble. It cost $100 in 1986, which, adjusted for inflation, was basically a mortgage payment for a sneaker.
Then everything changed in 1988. Tinker Hatfield entered the chat.
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The Tinker Era (AJ 3 to AJ 15)
If Peter Moore gave the brand its name, Tinker Hatfield gave it its soul. He's the reason the Air Jordan 3 exists. Michael was ready to leave Nike, but Tinker sat him down, showed him the visible Air unit and that iconic elephant print, and the rest is history.
- Air Jordan 4 (1989): Famous for "The Shot" and Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. It added "Flight" to the tongue and used mesh for the first time.
- Air Jordan 5 (1990): Inspired by WWII fighter planes. It had shark teeth on the midsole and those clear outsoles that everyone obsesses over.
- Air Jordan 6 (1991): The "Championship" shoe. MJ finally got his first ring in these. The design was inspired by his German sports car.
- Air Jordan 11 (1995): Patent leather on a basketball shoe? It sounded crazy. But when Mike wore them during the 72-10 season, they became the greatest sneaker of all time. Period.
The list of all air jordans gets a bit experimental toward the end of the 90s. The 13 looked like a panther’s paw. The 14 was a Ferrari on foot. By the time we hit the Air Jordan 15, which looked like a literal X-15 fighter jet (or a tongue, depending on who you ask), the brand was moving into a space where the shoes were more like pieces of architecture than just footwear.
The Post-MJ Era: Navigating the 2000s and Beyond
What happens when the GOAT retires? You keep innovating. The Air Jordan 17 came in a metal briefcase with a CD-ROM. It cost $200 in 2002. That was unheard of.
Then the naming convention got weird. For a while, they stopped using numbers and used years, like the Air Jordan 2009 or 2010. Those years are sort of the "dark ages" for casual collectors. Most people didn't care for the 2009—it looked a bit like a fencing shoe. The 2010 had a literal window in the side. Not great for the streets, honestly.
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But they found their footing again.
Modern Flight: 30 to 39
In the last decade, the brand started looking back to move forward. The Air Jordan 31 took cues from the 1. The Air Jordan 37 looked like a futuristic version of the 7.
The latest in the list of all air jordans, the Air Jordan 39 (released in 2024), is a masterclass in "retro-futurism." It pulls from the 9 and the 29, but it’s packed with 2026-level tech like full-length Zoom Air and a focus on "cross-axial" movement. It's built for the way guys like Zion Williamson and Jayson Tatum play today—explosive and twitchy.
Why the List Matters for Your Collection
If you're trying to navigate this massive list, you've got to understand the difference between a "General Release" and a "Retro."
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- Retros are the money-makers. These are re-releases of the 1 through 14. This is where you find the "Chicagos," the "Concords," and the "Breds."
- Performance models are for the court. If you’re actually playing ball, look at the 36 through 39. They aren't as "cool" at a bar, but your ankles will thank you.
- Collaborations change the game. Travis Scott, Off-White, A Ma Maniére—these take the classic silhouettes and turn them into art. A Travis Scott AJ1 is basically a blue-chip stock at this point.
There’s a common misconception that every Jordan is a good investment. It’s not. The market is fickle. If you buy a pair of Jordan 1 Mid "Crimson Tints," don't expect to retire on the resale. But if you snag a pair of original 1985 "Black Toes"? That's a different story.
How to Start Your Own Jordan List
If you're just starting out, don't try to buy everything. That's a quick way to go broke. Start with the "Big Three": an Air Jordan 1, an Air Jordan 3, and an Air Jordan 11. These are the pillars. They go with everything—jeans, suits, whatever.
Once you have the basics, look into the history of each model. The list of all air jordans is as much about the stories as it is the leather. Whether it’s the "Flu Game" 12s or the "Space Jam" 11s, every shoe has a moment attached to it.
The best way to track your collection is to use apps like SNKRS or GOAT, but also keep a physical log. Note where you bought them and why. Sneakers are better when they have a personal history.
Start by looking at the upcoming release calendar for the rest of 2026. Identify one "must-have" pair rather than chasing every Saturday drop. This keeps your collection curated and your bank account happy. Focus on "OG" colorways first—they never go out of style.