Share This:

Back once more, the Air Jordan III returns in a clean palette inspired by one Jordan’s Bulls’ biggest on-court rivals, the New York Knicks. But before we go into that, a quick look back at the heritage of the Jordan III silhouette.

Originally hitting the hardwood in 1988, Michael Jordan’s third signature sneaker continued to push boundaries and maintain Nike’s streak of innovation within the sporting world. With Tinker Hatfield unleashing his creative flair on his first Air Jordan release, it was inevitable that he’d bring something new to the table.

Following the successful introduction of visible air in his 1987 masterpiece, the Air Max 1, Nike made the sensible decision to start integrating the cushioning tech into other categories. Debuting on the basketball court inside the Air Revolution in 1988 – also designed by Tinker – the same Air-bubble midsole tooling was transferred over into the Air Jordan III and remained firmly in place for many years to come.

Looking at the colours of one of the Chicago Bulls most significant rivals in ’88, Jordan opts to paint the Air 3 in a Knicks-inspired palette, with a white leather base offset by blue and orange accents throughout. The 3’s signature elephant print overlays remain up top, while below an air injected midsole offers you supremely supportive cushioning, with a rubber outsole for lasting traction on and off the court.

One last thing for all you Jordan connoisseurs: the date “04.08.88” sits behind the tongue, referencing one of the biggest games at the height of the Bulls’ and Knicks’ rivalry, the “Virus Game”. Taking place in the late ’80s, MJ, unfortunately, took ill with a stomach virus the evening before. But being the professional athlete he is, Jordan continued to play the game, adding a whopping 47 points to the Bulls’ victory in the process.

Share This: