Tinker Hatfield is a genius. Seriously. Most people know him as the guy who saved Nike by keeping Michael Jordan on the roster, but his work on the Air Jordan 13 was something else entirely. It was 1997. Michael was deep in his "Black Cat" persona—fast, calculating, and predatory. Tinker leaned into that. He gave us a shoe with a paw-print outsole and a holographic "eye" that looked like it was watching you from every angle. But here is the thing: a design is only as good as its paint job. The Jordan 13 original colorways didn't just look cool; they defined the end of an era. The "Last Dance" era.
When you look back at the seven OG releases from '97 and '98, you aren't just looking at sneakers. You're looking at MJ’s final championship run with the Bulls. It was poetic. It was gritty.
The White and True Red "He Got Game"
You probably call these the "He Got Game" 13s. Spike Lee basically cemented that name in history when Denzel Washington’s character, Jake Shuttlesworth, copped a pair in the movie. But for the purists? This is the quintessential home colorway.
The white tumbled leather on the side panels is iconic. It's dimpled, which was a huge tech flex at the time. Honestly, the contrast between the white leather and the black pods on the midsole is what makes this shoe pop. It looks like a panther’s paw hitting the pavement. If you were watching the NBA in late '97, you saw Michael wearing these for a huge chunk of the regular season. There is a specific kind of nostalgia tied to that high-contrast look. It’s clean. It’s loud without being obnoxious.
That "Flint" Blue Magic
The "Flint" colorway is the weird one. And I mean that in the best way possible. It is the only one of the Jordan 13 original colorways that MJ never actually wore in a professional game. Think about that for a second. It became one of the most beloved sneakers in history despite having zero "on-court" DNA from the man himself.
Why does it work? It’s the textures. You have that reflective Navy mesh that shines when the light hits it just right, paired with Flint Grey suede. It felt premium. It felt like something you could wear to a nice dinner, even though it was a performance basketball shoe. While the other colorways were strictly "Bulls" colors, the Flint offered something for the rest of us. It was a lifestyle shoe before "lifestyle" was even a marketing category at Jordan Brand.
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The Playoffs and the "Bred" Identity
Black and Red. The "Bred" 13. This is the shoe Michael wore during the 1998 playoffs.
Unlike the earlier models, the Bred 13 featured a reflective mesh upper. It was lighter. It felt faster. When MJ was slicing through the Pacers or the Jazz, these were the shoes flickering under the arena lights. But there is a common misconception here. A lot of people confuse the "Bred" with the "Playoff" colorway.
The "Playoff" 13 is the one with the black leather upper and the yellow circle around the Jumpman on the tongue. Michael debuted these at the 1998 All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. It was a statement. He was moving away from the white-based shoes and into a "stealth mode" for the post-season. If you're hunting for a pair today, the Playoff 13 usually holds its value better because that All-Star connection is just too strong to ignore.
Let's Talk About the Lows
People forget the lows. They really do.
In the original '98 run, Nike dropped two low-top versions: the "Navy" and the "Chutney." The Chutney is polarizing. People either love that mustard-yellow vibe or they absolutely hate it. There is no middle ground. But it showed that Tinker and Jordan were willing to get weird. They weren't just playing it safe with red and black anymore. The Navy Lows, on the other hand, were sophisticated. They used a metallic silver Jumpman on the heel instead of the holographic eye. It was a subtle shift, but it changed the whole energy of the shoe.
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Why the Tech Actually Mattered
Look, we can talk about colors all day, but the 13 was a beast on the court. It was the first Jordan to feature a carbon fiber shank plate and Zoom Air in both the heel and the forefoot.
- The Traction: That herringbone pattern on the pods? It's legendary. Even by today's standards, a well-preserved pair of 13s has better grip than half the modern performance shoes on the market.
- The Fit: The asymmetrical collar gave your ankle room to move while still feeling locked in.
- The Hologram: It wasn't just for show. It symbolized the "Black Cat" theme—Michael’s ability to see everything on the court.
The weight was the only real downside. Compared to a modern Kobe or a LeBron NXXT, the 13 feels like a boot. It’s heavy. But back then? That weight felt like quality. It felt like you were wearing a piece of armor.
The Resale Reality and "The Last Dance" Tax
Ever since the documentary The Last Dance aired, the market for Jordan 13 original colorways went absolutely haywire.
A deadstock pair of OG 1997 Flints or Breds can cost you a mortgage payment. Even the retros—which Nike pumps out every few years—don't sit on shelves. If you’re looking to buy, you have to be careful. The "Bred" 13 has been retroed in 2004, 2013, and 2017. Each version has slight differences. The 2017 version brought back the reflective mesh, which made collectors happy, but the "shape" of the 2004 pair is often considered the closest to the original '98 silhouette.
If you're buying an actual 1998 pair? Don't wear them. Seriously. The foam in the midsole will crumble like a dry biscuit. These are "display only" pieces at this point.
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Sorting Fact from Fiction
You'll hear people say the 13 was the last shoe MJ ever wore as a Bull.
Technically, that’s wrong. He famously switched to the Jordan 14 "Last Shot" midway through the '98 Finals. But the 13 did the heavy lifting. It got him through the grind of the 82-game season. It got him through the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s the "workhorse" of his final championship.
How to Style Them Without Looking Like a Middle Schooler
Styling 13s is tricky because they are so bulky. You can't really do the skinny jean thing—it makes your feet look like boats.
Go for a relaxed or straight-leg pant that hits just at the top of the shoe. Cargo pants work surprisingly well because the utilitarian look matches the "pod" aesthetic of the 13. If you’re rocking the "He Got Game" colorway, keep the rest of the outfit muted. Let the black and white contrast do the talking. Honestly, the 13 is a "main character" shoe. Don't try to outshine it with a loud shirt.
What to Do Next
If you are looking to start a collection of Jordan 13 original colorways, do not rush into it. The market fluctuates.
- Check the Hologram: On older retros and OG pairs, the hologram can get cloudy. Look for "clear eyes" when browsing eBay or GOAT.
- Verify the Mesh: If you're buying "Breds," take a photo with a flash. If that mesh doesn't light up, they aren't authentic (or they are the weird non-reflective version from 2013).
- Size Up (Maybe): The 13 runs a bit snug in the toe box because of the tapering. If you have wide feet, going up half a size will save your pinky toes.
The 13 represents the peak of 90s sneaker technology and the end of the greatest dynasty in sports. Whether you want them for the nostalgia or the "Black Cat" aesthetic, they are a fundamental piece of history. Start with the "He Got Game" or the "Bred"—they are the foundation. Everything else is just icing on the cake.