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The Air Jordan 11 took the world by storm when it was debuted on live TV by Ahmad Rashad during the 1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals when Michael Jordan wore them as the Chicago Bulls faced off against a young Orlando Magic team. The first for a basketball sneaker, the sneaker featured patent leather accents alongside carbon fiber and a translucent rubber outsole. Designed by the legend Tinker Hatfield, people became enamored with the Air Jordan 11 instantly. For some of us, it was love at first sight, literally. While MJ's Chicago Bulls would fall to the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway in that playoff matchup, Jordan would return better than ever the following season, leading the Bulls back to the promised land and capturing the NBA title for a fourth time.
When the Air Jordan 11 came to retail, three colorways were initially released: Concord, Columbia, and Bred. Each pair was well-received, marking the AJ 11 line solid from its first release to its last. Due to its popularity, this pair crossed over to the mainstream, seen on the feet of musicians such as Boyz II Men and actors like the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith. This trend continued when the Air Jordan 11 Retro dropped in 2000. A staple in the history of sneakers, 2008 saw the birth of holiday releases of the AJ 11, which continues today, with the Air Jordan 11 Retro Gratitude dropping in December 2023. Countless colorways have dropped, with all the OGs getting numerous re-releases. While some of the new colorways aren't as sought after as the originals, a few have captured the hearts of millions, literally. That said, follow along as we break down the best Air Jordan 11's of all time.
Images via Nike, Flightclub, &Â StockX
10. Air Jordan 11 Retro Cap &Â Gown
In celebration of all the graduates, Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 11 Retro Cap and Gown edition in May 2018. Based on the super rare AJ 11 Blackout, the Cap and Gown iteration takes the sleek, classy look of the Air Jordan 11 and makes it more elegant. Premium suede dresses the upper, highlighted by shiny patent leather. Its all-black design makes it a perfect fit for all graduation gowns. Beyond grads, this is the first all-black Air Jordan 11 Retro to release, with the AJ 11 Gamma Blue a close second from a few years prior.
9. Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue
For the annual Air Jordan 11 Retro holiday release in 2013, Jordan Brand debuted an all-new colorway. The Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue was the closest thing we got to an all-black AJ 11. When the Air Jordan 11 Retro Blackout surfaced a few years prior, people were hoping and praying they would released. Unfortunately, they were samples and remain unreleased to this day. The Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue was given to us as a consolation prize. It features an all-black design with gamma blue and varsity maize accents via the branding. While it was not initially love at first site for these AJ 11s, the more time passes, the more they are appreciated. So much so that rumors about a comeback appear every year. No return for the Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue is currently in the works, but with Jordan Brands' track record, we can expect to see them return within the next ten years or so.
8. Air Jordan 11 Retro Win Like 96
For Holiday 2017, Jordan Brand gave us not one, but two new colorways of the Air Jordan 11 Retro. These two pairs pay homage to two historic years of Michael Jordan's career. First up was the Air Jordan 11 Retro Win Like 82, coming in a UNC colorway, commemorating his NCAA National championship with the Tar Heels. Second was the Air Jordan 11 Retro Win Like 96, seen above. This pay pays tribute to the Chicago Bulls' first NBA championship for the start of their second 3-peat. A colorway that we all would've loved to have during the AJ 11s initial run in the mid-90s, the all-red upper perfectly matches the Bulls uniforms. Subtle black accents and an icy blue translucent outsole provide the finishing touches to this Air Jordan 11 Retro.
7. Air Jordan 11 Retro DMP / Gratitude
In January 2006, Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan Defining Moments Pack (DMP). This two-shoe pack featured an Air Jordan 6 Retro alongside an Air Jordan 11 Retro. Each pair came in classic colorblocking but in new colorways. The AJ 6 DMP represented Michael Jordan's first NBA championship in 1991, while the AJ 11 DMP represented his fourth in 1996. MJ wore both pairs on-court during the beginning first title of each 3-peat. Limited and highly sought after, both pairs were originally only available in this pack and not separately. In 2020, JB brought the Air Jordan 6 Retro DMP back, releasing it solo for the first time. For Holiday 2023, the Air Jordan 11 Retro DMP is coming back with a twist. An all-new Gratitude iteration is dropping, featuring a premium leather upper in place of ballistic mesh.
6. Air Jordan 11 Retro Pantone
Jordan Brand celebrated the Gift of Flight in December 2014 with the release of the Air Jordan Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack. This two-shoe collection featured an Air Jordan 11 Retro alongside the latest signature sneaker at the time, the Air Jordan XX9 (29). Both pairs came in UNC-themed colorways, with the AJ 29 white-based and the AJ 11 university blue-based. Dubbed Pantone, the AJ 11 resembled an unreleased sample of the Jordan Pantone284 Collection, made for display purposes in 2010 for the Silver Anniversary of the Air Jordan. The Air Jordan 11 Retro Pantone was highly coveted, so fans were excited to see it released at retail, even if it was limited, priced at $500, and came with a pair that most people didn't want, the Air Jordan 29.
5. Air Jordan 11 Retro Bred
The last colorway of the Air Jordan 11 released during its initial run from 1995-96, this pair has gone by many names. Out of all its nicknames over the years, Bred has remained the go-to, with Playoff coming in a close second. Nevertheless, this black, red, and white colorway of the Air Jordan 11 Retro is the colorway you'd want to see paired up with a Chicago Bulls uniform. So popular, it has been retroed four times, in 2001, 2008, 2012, and 2019. Five, if you count its low-top counterpart in 2015. The most recent iteration of the Air Jordan 11 Retro Bred, released in 2019, is the closest version to the OG, complete with high-cut patent leather.
4. Air Jordan 11 Retro Cool Grey
During the Air Jordan 11 Retro's first run from 2000-01, two new colorways of the traditional look were released. The first was the AJ 11 Space Jam, originally seen on the feet of Michael Jordan in the feature film but never released at retail. Second, the AJ 11 Cool Grey. Featuring a two-tone, grey-based design, the Air Jordan 11 Retro Cool Grey was highly coveted upon its initial release in March 2001. Its popularity has soared over the last 20+ years, spawning two more retros, one in 2010 and the most recent in 2018. Speaking of the 2018 pair, this one featured high-cut patent leather, mimicking the OGs, something that wasn't seen on the 2001 and 2010 versions. A pair you can wear with anything, this Air Jordan 11 Retro is so perfect that it ranks right up there with the classics.
3. Air Jordan 11 Retro Columbia / Legend Blue
Worn by Michael Jordan during the 1996 NBA All-Star festivities in San Antonio, Texas, the Air Jordan 11 Retro Columbia threw it back to MJ's UNC days. Columbia Blue accents and small black hits complement the clean all-white upper of this AJ 11. The icy blue translucent outsole was this pair's icing on the cake. Retroed in 2001 and then again in 2014, the latter was renamed Legend Blue, featuring a slightly different shade of blue throughout. Much like the Air Jordan 11 Retro Gamma Blue, the AJ 11 Columbia is rumored to return year after year, but as it is always speculated and never confirmed, each year passes, and its return becomes more and more sought after.
2. Air Jordan 11 Retro Space Jam
One colorway was missing from the lineup when the Air Jordan 11 was released in 1995-96. A pair laced up both on-screen and on the NBA hardwood by MJ was the Space Jam edition. This pair featured a black-based design accented by concord purple and an icy translucent outsole. Originally a player exclusive for Michael Jordan, the Air Jordan 11 Retro Space Jam was first released in December 2000. This iteration replaced the concord for varsity royal. Selling out instantly, it has since become one of the best Air Jordan sneakers of all time. 2009 saw the Air Jordan 11 Retro return again, followed by another re-release in 2016. The most recent Air Jordan 11 Retro Space Jam edition sports high-cut patent leather, concord purple accents, an icy blue translucent outsole, and the number 45 on the back heels. Bangers.
1. Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord
The cream of the crop for the Air Jordan 11, without question, is the Concord edition. Highly regarded as one of the best Air Jordans of all time, the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord changed the game in terms of what a basketball sneaker could look like. Designed to look good with a suit as much as it performed well on the court, the Air Jordan 11 Retro became a pop culture sensation overnight. The first AJ 11 released in 1995; it's white-based design, black patent leather detailing, and translucent outsole make it iconic. They were re-released in 2000, 2011, and then again in 2018. Each version is slightly different than the other. The 2018 edition of the Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord is the best one yet. It featured a higher cut patent leather, just like its 1995 predecessor, and the number 45 on the back heels, mirroring MJ's original player exclusive pair when he first donned them on the court wearing the number 45 for the Chicago Bulls. The Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord is the GOAT, hands down.
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In this article
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Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
