The $4500 Basketball Shoe

In January 2008 a pair of classic 1985 Nike Air Jordan basketball trainers sold online for $4500. These original Air Jordans were in mint condition, with tags attached, still in the box, and had never been worn. Astounding? Probably not, contemplating the Air Jordan sneaker is just as famous today as it’s ever been.

A Strong Start

Back in 1985, people were actually robbed at gunpoint for their Air Jordans. Prior to the signature shoe’s start, Nike signed Michael Jordan to a then unheard of 2.5 million dollar endorsement deal. The shoe’s bold black and red styling clashed against the NBA’s then ordinary color scheme of team colours on white and was banned by authorities. Jordan continued to wear the footwear on court and was fined $5000 per game. Nike happily picked up that tab and has been cashing in on the sneakers acceptance ever since.

On the roads, the footwear was the very first ever to be priced at $100 and was desirable by children everywhere. Thus the gunpoint robberies reported in some cities. If you had Jordans, you had status. There were even favorite television ads focused by and featuring director Spike Lee with the tag line: “It’s Gotta Be The Shoes.”

Still Going Powerful

The Air Jordan line is presently at the landmark edition Jordan 11 matching the now retired number worn by Jordan throughout his championship years with the Chicago Bulls. The shoe was presented in constrained version at only 23 locations countrywide at a cost of $230. Just one month later, pairs of the limited edition version XXIII (23) sell for up $1500.

Over the 23 years since the original introduction the Jordan 1, the Air Jordan has seen a new release each year. It’s also expanded beyond the shoes to apparel, fragrances, and jewellery. In recent years, with no decreasing in the lines attractiveness, Nike has re-issued some Air Jordan types in limited edition and presented a “retro” line of Air Jordans to cash in on the demand shown by collectors.

Is this the end?

The Jordan brand, with it’s “Jumpman” logo of a silhouetted Jordan, has now been spun to it’s own division of Nike. Some current NBA players are being signed on to the Jordan brand rather than to their own signature lines as is regimen with other vendors. Jordan himself is now part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats and Nike will not opinion on the information of their current contract with the legend.

With the Air Jordan line currently at the milestone version XXIII (23) and still preferred as ever with fanatics and fans, neither Nike nor Jordan will confirm or deny gossips that the line may end with version the Jordan 8. As profitable as the line has been for Nike and Jordan, I wouldn’t bet on it ending any time soon. This is business, after all, and who kills a thriving brand? Either way, the sneaker will live on even after Nike and Jordan have cashed their checks and moved on as collectors continue to purchase and sell them in the flourishing resale market.