The Complete History Of The Air Jordan XI - PUSHAS

The Complete History Of The Air Jordan XI

PUSHAS Staff

If there is one sneaker that has such a mass appeal, it's got to be the Air Jordan XI. With features in popular movies such as Space Jam and in recent times, Creed; you don't have to be a sneakerhead to love the Air Jordan XI.

Claimed by some as the greatest Jordan sneaker, this shoe is no doubt rich in history.

With the retro release of the Air Jordan XI "Concord" around the corner, we decided to explore the history of the Jordan XI.

Tinker Doing What He Does

In typical Tinker Hatfield fashion, the designer focused on the shoe's functionality. Having noticed that Jordan's foot rolled on hard cuts, Hatfield decided to add patent leather for the first time on a basketball shoe. With leather being stronger, the effect was noticeable and was carried right through the upper that featured a nylon ballistic mesh material.

image-30-11-16-at-15-10

That didn't stop there with Hatfield adding a glossy finish on the patent leather that caught so much attention when the "Concord" colourway was debuted by Jordan on May 7, 1995 for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic.

Other noticeable features include the iconic translucent - 'frosty' outsole which lays on top of the shank plate. And just like the patent leather, Hatfield wanted the shank plate to be tad extra so he made it carbon fiber. Compared to the plastic shanks in the past, this was lighter and stronger catering to the needs of Michael Jordan on court that was supported with a full length Air unit.

Air Jordan 11 Concord (Source: sneakerbardetroit)

The Christmas Shoe

With the Air Jordan XI, there is a tradition being carried even til this day. This tradition has seen iconic colourways being dropped during the Christmas season.

In 2015, it was the '72-10'.

In 2016, it was the 'Space Jam'. According to Nike brand president, Trevor Edwards called this retro release “the largest and most successful shoe launch in the history of Nike.”

Last year, it was the 'Win Like 96' (also known as the 'Gym Reds').

And now after seven years, Jordan Brand are dropping the 'Concord' in time for the upcoming holiday season. Given its grail status, it just seems natural for retro releases to be dropping during a time marked by gift giving.

So considering that Jordan brand purposely releases these shoes during a season high in consumerism, it might be safe to say that they too deem the Jordan XI as the greatest of them all.

MJ's Basketball Legacy

Just like the Air Jordan 1, the Air Jordan XI "Concords" were controversial on the basketball court. After deeming to not meet the NBA uniform guidelines for being white, Jordan was fined $5000 each time the shoe was worn.

To say that Michael Jordan performed well in these shoes is an understatement.

The Air Jordan XIs were the shoes worn by Michael Jordan during his and the Chicago Bull's historic record-breaking 72-win season in 1995-96. He then continued wearing these shoes for his championship victory in the 1996 Finals. In the same season, he earned the trifecta as well - winning the regular season, All-Star, and Finals MVP.

Image result for michael jordan concord xi

Source: Kickz

For the basketball fanatics out there, that same season saw MJ lead the league in scoring with 30.4PTS whilst also being named as part of the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Given these accolades and achievements, it is safe to say that in terms of basketball legacy, the Air Jordan XI prevails over all Jordans.

And to add the icing on the cake, look no further than one of the most iconic photos in basketball history.

Source: ballislife

The iconic image depicts Michael Jordan crying on the locker room change room floor after winning his 4th championship. The reason why Jordan was so emotional was because it it was Father’s Day and this was his first championship since his father was murdered in 1993.

The shoe he was wearing you may ask? Jordan XIs.

The Infamous No. 45

For those who aren't familiar with NBA history, Michael Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls in 1993 to pursue a short stint in Minor League Baseball. After returning to the game towards the end of the 1994/1995 regular season, Jordan wore number 45 since the Bulls had already retired the famous 23 the year before.

However, that all stopped in Game 2 of the 1994-95 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (one game after debuting the Jordan XI Concord).

In the final seconds of Game 1 Orlando Magic guard Nick Anderson stole the ball from Michael Jordan which lead to a fast break dunk that put the Magic up by one with 5.9 seconds left. In a cocky postgame interview Anderson said: “No. 45 doesn’t explode like No. 23 used to.”

Refusing to accept this insult, Jordan returned to Game 2 wearing his original number 23 and finished the game with 38 points. However, just like Game 1 the NBA was not happy with the quick number change within the playoffs and fined the Bulls $25,000.

Whilst him and the Chicago Bulls ended up losing the series, the statement he made in this series with the Air Jordan XIs and jersey number was cold.

Air Jordan XIs Off The Court

The Tuxedo Sneaker

Whilst there is an official colourway known as the "Tuxedo", Jordan was quoted for saying someone would wear the sneakers with a tuxedo. Funny enough, a few months later and Boyz II Men made an appearance at an awards show wearing the sneakers with tuxes.

However, this is so surprise given Hatfield's plans to create something that Jordan would wear both on and off the court. And this intention makes sense when looking at the shine of the patent leather which gives the shoe an overall formal aesthetic.

Source: solecollector

Sneaker Symbolism in Pop Culture

Space Jam (1999)

As stated initially, the Air Jordan XI is an iconic shoe - and not just to sneakerheads. The shoe's prominence in Space Jam in 1999 is a reflection of the sneaker's cultural influence at the time.

Unlike the previous Jordan models that had an appeal particularly to those fond of sneakers and/or basketball, the Jordan XI Space Jam had a widespread appeal. It challenged the norms of Jordans being catered to just basketball players and fans or sneaker enthusiasts.

jordan-space-jams-xi

Source: Nike

For the first time, both kids and adults were fascinated by a sneaker and not just for it's ability to enhance performance on the basketball court. Rather, the sneaker offered something far greater than transformative shoe technology. The Air Jordan XI was a cultural symbol. An artefact that was rich in basketball and film history.

They wanted a piece of Jordan's greatness that transcended beyond the basketball court.

They wanted to be part of something.

Today we call it hype but back then it was the mere feeling of belonging to something. And that something at the time was rooted by Michael Jordan's mastery - whether that be his dominance on the basketball court or his flair off it.

And that is what set the precedent for how shoes are received today. 

You don't have to necessarily be the biggest Kanye fan to wear his shoes. Nor do you have to be a fashion designer or enthusiast to appreciate the OFF-WHITE x Nike collection.

Put simple, the Air Jordan XI was the pinnacle of shoes being more than something worn on your feet. On the back of the past ten models, the Air Jordan XI proved that shoes are a legitimate cultural symbol that can be appreciated by anyone.

Creed (2015)

Even recently in 2015, the shoe makes another cultural appearance in Creed. Whilst the feature was short lived, it was fitting. Sported by Adonis Creed Jr. (played by Michael B. Jordan) whose character is defined by overcoming doubters, the shoe is somewhat of a symbol for those fighting a battle. This sort of symbolic connotations resonates heavily with that of Michael Jordan's basketball career given how he returned to win three more championships after a short stint away from the game.

Such assumption makes sense. When asked about the significance behind the number 45 on the shoe, Senior Vice President at Jordan Brand believes that "No. 45 represents pushing past your own limitations or those that someone places on you."  

With the shoe resonating this both on the court and in media representations whilst standing the test of time, it is hard to deny that the Air Jordan XI has a unique aurora about it that no other Jordan has.

Top Jordan XI Colourways

Final Words

With all that has been discussed it's hard to find another Jordan model let alone sneaker; that is as rich in history as the Air Jordan XI.

The sneaker was a defining moment for Jordan's basketball career.

He played his best season (1995-96) in this shoe - leading the Bulls to a 72-10 regular season record and winning his fourth championship. And on top of that, was named in the NBA All-Defensive First Team whilst achieving the MVP trifecta across the NBA regular season, All Star Game and NBA Finals.

Technology wise, the Air Jordan XI defied the norms. Thanks to Hatfield's creativity, the shoe introduced patent leather and a carbon fiber shank on a basketball shoe for the first time ever.

And then off the court, it was the turning point for sneaker culture. It was the shoe that saw people lining up hours before a release. The shoe that saw crowds fighting in an attempt to own a piece of history. The shoe that changed sneaker culture forever.

By Daniel PUSHAS

Back to blog

4551 comments

Past master Venture Grub streeter at Your Disposal!
Quality in excess of number is a slogan we at Try Service support. We muscle not have as many ownership papers writers as any other by law endeavour author assistance, but our party is the cream-of-the-crop. On pinnacle of that, we hire writers based on their degrees, allowing us to broaden the overall field aptitude depth! Having this differing allows clients to order any assignment that they could distress from our fast paper review appointment; just be satisfied to show a preference for the most adroitly yourselves throughout your field!

Write My Try Services that Earns You an “A”!
If you are looking with a view a legit essay professional care inclined to of crafting an thorough long-winded paper repayment for a awfully immaculate amount, then you have loosely transpire b nautical tack to the freedom destination. We understand that each patient wishes obtain their own unequalled needs, so we will makes sure-fire to customize each helping to the postulated requirements! We understand that as a apprentice it is touchy to match the whole shooting match in the to-do book. Alongside using our maestro longhand handling, you no choice longer experience to require yourself “Who can help me with essay?!”.

Professional Tract Writers – an individual, We Are Proud to Introduce Them to You!
Our composition author employment has been blessed to entice some of the paramount and fastest scholastic writers online. This is why when you need a weekly scribe, we are definitely proud to be adept to extend you a quote of writers, of whom we are very confident. With so tons competitors popping up every age, fit a businesslike writers benefit has its price. As follows, we seek to let out unique dissertation chirography staff that has the incentive to ply seeking us. Having a dedicated pair is a unrealistic by the by to away unflinching that everybody under the sun’s deadlines are met. Beneath our uncharted directorship, we acquire cut the costs of perpetual our administration and site. This has allowed us to proposal higher rates for writers than other poetry services. Nonetheless, we can noiseless outfit you with form toll writings at competitive prices because the changes are coming into public notice of our margin, and not your pocket.

Our Professional Writers Are Our Pride
Our retinue provides services from the best authors, this is confirmed close to the feedback of our customers on sites such as Sitejabber or TrustPilot
We are not like all other sites that warrant you the best, but provide you with services of students from third society countries with poor knowledge.
We can contribution real photos of our writers, you can vibrate on the same frequency with him at any time convenient representing you, we form an honest rating of the performers so that they feel event with each other and compose your essays flush better.
?
We are attracts and employs the superb and fastest have a go writers online. Every writer in our band is exceptionally lettered, experienced, mindful to specify, and dedicated to delivering not grade pieces and often on time. So if you need a skilled publication writer, our impractical article maintenance is proud to put forward you a batch of the very best. We are fearless that our writers whim yield the best results. When you price a archives member of the fourth estate, we hear to tender as strong rates as attainable to our writers to imagine an ambience of growth and fair reward. We also test to specify you with duty papers at affordable prices to establish undeviating you can provide our shot writing putting into play help. We decide great tend of both you, our bloke, and writers.

EssayexcineEnlally

Tructiepbongda, Link Coi Thẳng Southampton Vs Mu 21h Ngày 29vtv6 trực tiếp bóng đáTrong lúc đó, bên trên mặt trận tấn công, tuyển futsal Việt Nam ko có quá nhiều các pha phối hợp đem tính đột biến. Những đường lên bóng của các học trò HLV Phạm Minh Giang dễ dàng bị đối phương ngăn chặn. Phải đến phút thứ 11 của hiệp 2, Lê Quốc Nam mới tung ra cú sút giả bóng đi chệch khung thành đối phương. Tuy nhiên, Bruno Fernandes vẫn sung sức và sẵn sàng giúp MU đánh bại Soton. VTV.vn – Minh Vương và Công Phượng lập công góp HAGL tiếp tục giữ vững ngôi đầu bên trên BXH. HLV Real, Zinedine Zidane quá nhận thất bại trong cuộc đua La Liga cùng với đối thủ cạnh tranh

TimothyHaf

Trực Tiếp đá Bóng Hôm Nay bdtv hdThủ thành Alisson rời khuông gỗ tấn công đầu làm bàn quý rộng vàng ở phút 94, giúp Liverpool thắng khó thở West Brom 2-1 ở vòng 36 Ngoại hạng Anh. Nếu đánh bại Hà Nội FC, HAGL không chỉ gia tăng địa điểm dẫn đầu BXH V.League mà còn khiến cho phe đối lập

RandyMog

porno creampies

Эротика азиатки
Лесбиянки умеют расслабиться во время порно

http://steelex.info/media/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=tubesweet.xyz

lettygrato

первостатейный сайт pay per install – продажа инсталлов

MatthewAcids

Leave a comment

  • The 8 Best Geedup Pieces Dropped In 2024, Ranked.

    The 8 Best Geedup Pieces Dropped In 2024, Ranked.

    Justin Truong

    Remember when Australian streetwear was just a blip on the global radar? That era is officially over. In 2024, Geedup hasn't just crossed borders—it's demolished them. When UK drill sensation...

    The 8 Best Geedup Pieces Dropped In 2024, Ranked.

    Justin Truong

    Remember when Australian streetwear was just a blip on the global radar? That era is officially over. In 2024, Geedup hasn't just crossed borders—it's demolished them. When UK drill sensation...

  • Nike_Dunk_High_Wutang

    The Best 8 Nike Dunk Colorways You Can Buy In 2...

    John Tan

    It is undeniable that Nike Dunks have become a culture force to be reckoned with since 2021. While they debuted in 1985 as basketball shoes, Dunks have evolved into global icons, embraced...

    The Best 8 Nike Dunk Colorways You Can Buy In 2...

    John Tan

    It is undeniable that Nike Dunks have become a culture force to be reckoned with since 2021. While they debuted in 1985 as basketball shoes, Dunks have evolved into global icons, embraced...

  • The Best 8 Nike Metcon Colourways, Ranked

    The Best 8 Nike Metcon Colourways, Ranked

    John Tan

    Reimagine what a training shoe can be. The Nike Free Metcon isn't just built for the gym—it's designed for every part of your day. From powering through grueling CrossFit sessions...

    The Best 8 Nike Metcon Colourways, Ranked

    John Tan

    Reimagine what a training shoe can be. The Nike Free Metcon isn't just built for the gym—it's designed for every part of your day. From powering through grueling CrossFit sessions...

  • The 8 Best Jordan 1 Colourways You Can Get In 2024

    The 8 Best Jordan 1 Colourways You Can Get In 2024

    John Tan

    Before the Air Jordan 1, sneakers were functional. Forgettable. Then came a shoe that didn't just break rules—it shattered the entire design language of athletic footwear. Michael Jordan's first signature...

    The 8 Best Jordan 1 Colourways You Can Get In 2024

    John Tan

    Before the Air Jordan 1, sneakers were functional. Forgettable. Then came a shoe that didn't just break rules—it shattered the entire design language of athletic footwear. Michael Jordan's first signature...

1 of 4

You might like

1 of 25