One of the Most Important Michael Jordan Sneakers Is Coming Back for the First Time in 10 Years
One of Michael Jordan’s most important yet sometimes overlooked sneakers is coming back this fall for the first time in 10 years.
Jordan’s fourteenth signature sneaker, the Air Jordan 14, was the last shoe he played in with the Chicago Bulls. Famously, Jordan wore the black-based “Last Shot” Air Jordan 14 colorway on June 14, 1998 when he hit the game-winning shot — hence the shoe’s nickname — as the Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz for their third straight NBA championship.
The moment remains one of the sport’s most legendary, and the “Last Shot” style is etched in NBA history, but it almost didn’t even happen. According to Nike, designer Tinker Hatfield had provided Jordan with an early prototype version of the Ferrari-inspired sneaker and asked him not to wear it. But Jordan liked the new design so much he couldn’t help but debut the shoe during the historic “Last Shot,” the only time he laced up the pair in an NBA game.
Following the shoe’s premature reveal, the Air Jordan 14 was formally released on October 31 of ’98 (long before themed Halloween sneakers were a thing) in its white, black and red “Black Toe” colorway. One of many original Air Jordan 14 styles, the “Black Toe” was significant for being the first retail release of the model and donning a Bulls-centric color scheme. It was also the only Air Jordan 14 to launch in ’98, and the remainder of the sneaker’s original looks, including the “Last Shot,” were released in 1999.
Since its debut, the “Black Toe” Air Jordan 14 has been rereleased twice: first with a slightly revamped look in 2006 and most recently, in 2014. After ten years, the classic sneaker is finally set to return with true-to-form details. Nicknamed for its two-tone color blocking, the “Black Toe” colorway carries on a legacy started by the Air Jordan 1.
Official product images of the “Black Toe” Air Jordan 14 Retro have arrived, and the expected release date for the sneaker is Nov. 2 at a retail price of $210. The shoe has a SKU of 487471-160 and its full colorway is “White/Black/Varsity Red/Metallic Silver.” Readers can find a detailed look at the upcoming style below.