You know the story by now.
In 1984, Michael Jordan sat down with Nike to finalize his first sneaker deal: a five-year contract worth half a million dollars annually, and Jordan would receive his own signature shoe, the Air Jordan 1. Since Jordan hadnāt even played an NBA game yet, his market was unclear. Nike saw superstar potential but wasnāt sure that would translate to sneaker sales. Nike placed an initial sales goal of three million dollars for the first three years. When the Jordan 1 released in the spring of 1985, Jordan absolutely shattered projections, grossing $126 million in the first year alone.
Itās been 35 years, and Jordan Brand continues to release some of the best selling sneakers in the world. In 2019, Jumpman brought in over three billion dollars in revenue, and just as in 1985, the Jordan 1 Retro still ranks as its most popular silhouette. The popularity of Air Jordans, which originally stemmed from Michaelās supernatural abilities on the court, has taken on a life of its own. Michaelās legacy and the actual Jumpman brand are now synonymous.Ā
With the summer season approaching, a lot of new Jordans have shown up on our radar. Some Jordans are already considered near unattainable because of how exclusive they are. Others are sleepers that have the potential to ignite any rotation.
These are the best new Jordans in 2020.
Available Now
Jordan New Beginnings Pack
The 35th Anniversary of the Jordan 1 coincided with this yearās NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, and it couldnāt have been a better opportunity for Jordan Brand to bring back the classics. In typical Jumpman fashion, one of the most hyped releases of the weekend (and year) came in the form of a package. Jordan package releases in the past usually include two Jordan silhouettes that are connected by a moment in Michael Jordanās career. This yearās package, the Jordan New Beginnings Pack, focuses on the start of Michaelās journey to stardom and for the first time ever, reintroduces the 1984 Nike Air Ship in its original design.Ā
The Jordan New Beginnings Pack is one of the best new Jordans this year because it delivers a history lesson that tends to fly under the radar. Yes, the Air Jordan 1 is the first in its lineage, but the first basketball shoe that Jordan laced up as a Chicago Bull is actually the Nike Air Ship. The New Beginnings Pack dresses both silhouettes in a popular white and red colorway that was primarily seen on the Air Ship. White leather uppers with red detailing emphasize the beautiful design structure of both the Air Jordan 1 and Air Ship included in the package. The exclusive SNKRS Pass release of the New Beginnings Pack being limited to New York, Chicago, and Atlanta added an extra level of exclusivity, boosting its claim to be the best drop of the year.
Jordan 5 Retro Off-White Black
With three Jordan 1 collaborations in the books, Virgil Abloh decided to switch things up this year and add his spin to the first pair of Air Jordans that he ever owned: the Air Jordan 5 Metallic. The Jordan 5 silhouette was built for the future, and is as beloved today as it ever has been. Abloh made it his mission to maintain the original design elements of the Jordan 5 and alter them slightly to create a new dialogue. With a few tweaks here and there, the Jordan 5 Retro Off-White came to fruition.
The Jordan 5 Retro Off-White Black channels Ablohās nostalgia through a brand new design language. Its reconstructed black textile upper with 3M reflective tongues gives a new life to this original colorway. Circular window inserts add a DIY element, enabling consumers to let āairā into their shoes by way of opening the windows to create holes (and flex those beautiful socks). Aged yellow soles add a vintage feel to this design while also eliminating all worries of new icy soles going to waste. Attention to detail has made this Jordan 5 one of the most coveted releases this year, and one of the best new Jordans in 2020.
Jordan 4 Retro Black Cat
Michael Jordan is a man of many nicknames. His Airness, Air Jordan, and even the rare Black Jesus (sorry Reggie Miller) have all taken their turn as MJ aliases. But one nickname that stuck with Jordan since he was a child was Black Cat. With that as inspiration, the Jordan 4 Retro Black Cat became one of the best new Jordans in 2006 and has finally returned for its first retro this year.Ā
The Jordan 4 Retro Black Cat is one of the most popular non-OG Jordan 4 colorways, and for good reason. Itās simple yet sophisticated. A muted black nubuck upper emphasizes the netted insert and winged lace cage detailing. The structure of the silhouette falls to the forefront, using a glossy black midsole as a foundation. With all this detailing, the Black Cat 4 is primed to be a staple in any rotation. Itās as versatile as ever before and ready to be put to the test.
Jordan 1 Retro Court Purple White
Everything about the Jordan 1 Retro Court Purple screams future grail and the fact that it is still available for under $300 in most sizes is baffling. Like seriously, itās not rocket science. This Jordan 1 has all of the key components that the best new Jordans have and executes them effortlessly.Ā
The Jordan 1 Court Purple White features OG color-blocking taken directly from the Jordan 1 Chicago. Its white leather upper with purple leather overlays and black detailing spins the original design, inviting comparison to the Shattered Backboard 2.0 – a Jordan 1 that has recently resold for as much as $1000. The Court Purple 1 is nothing but untapped potential, with a ceiling as high as some of its popular predecessors.
New Jordans On The Way
Jordan 13 Retro Flint
ESPNās The Last Dance docuseries shed light on many slept-on silhouettes, but one shoe that was highlighted in every single episode was the Air Jordan 13. Michael wore the Jordan 13 throughout his entire final season as a Chicago Bull. From the He Got Game 13 to the Playoff 13, all but one OG colorway spent time on the hardwood in Jordanās last dance. That missing colorway? The Jordan 13 Flint.Ā
After a ten year hiatus, the Jordan 13 Retro Flint is back for the third time and the timing couldnāt be better. Worldwide demand for Jordans is stratospheric right now with most silhouettes seeing their all-time highest sales in the past two months. Hype from The Last Dance shows no sign of slowing down, clearing the way for the Jordan 13 Retro Flint to become one of the best new Jordans of the summer.
Image by @Earlygvng
Jordan 1 Retro High CO.JP Neutral Grey
For the first time since 2001, Jordan Brand is bringing back the Air Jordan 1 Retro High CO.JP Neutral Grey. The original release was a Japanese exclusive limited to only 2,001 pairs. It served as part of Nikeās ongoing CO.JP project that brings new colorways to popular silhouettes in Japan. Now almost 20 years later, the Jordan 1 Retro High CO.JP is receiving its first-ever retro.
The Jordan 1 CO.JP Neutral Grey features the original high-top Jordan 1 silhouette dressed in panels of grey and silver. While the original release arrived with metal briefcase packaging, it is unclear whether the 2020 iteration will follow suit. What we know for sure is that the Jordan 1 CO.JP is one of the most anticipated releases of 2020 and will likely rank as one of the best new Jordans this year.
Image by Sneaker Bar Detroit
Jordan 1 High Satin Snake (W)
Satin Jordan 1s have been among the best new Jordans in recent years with hugely popular releases like the Satin Shattered Backboard and Satin Black Toe. Both boast average resale prices over $650 and values that continue to trend upward. In 2020, Jordan Brand is upping the ante by adding new luxe materials to a leather and satin silhouette with the Jordan 1 High Satin Snake (W).
The Jordan 1 High Satin Snake (W) arrives with the reversed color blocking Black Toe releases. It consists of a white leather upper with red overlays around the toe and forefoot. Black faux snakeskin materials are featured on the ankle overlay and Swoosh. While red satin may not be featured on the side panels of the upper, it is prominent on the tongue of this Jordan 1.
Image by @konas94
Air Jordan 4 Off-White Sail (W)
The grand opening of Virgil Ablohās Figures of Speech exhibit at the MCA in Chicago opened a pandoraās box of āwhat ifā Nike samples from his now three-year-long relationship with Nike. Images of the unreleased Off-White Nikes took the internet by storm and among the numerous Nike and Jordan samples, the Air Jordan 4 Off-White Sail (W) shined like a beacon of light.Ā
It wasnāt until the Off-White Fall / Winter 2020 womenās runway show that the Jordan 4 Off-White Sail (W) made its first appearance outside of a museum. Excitement grew with buyers anticipating that the Off-White 4 was on track to become one of the best new Jordans in 2020. The shoe comes composed of a sail leather and textile upper with translucent plastic overlays on the wings and heel tab. Off-White quote insignia are scattered throughout the upper, appearing in labeling over the silhouetteās Air unit and on the shoelaces. Living up to the sky-high expectations, the Jordan 4 Off-White Sail (W) will be a force to be reckoned with when it drops as scheduled this summer.
Rumored New Jordans
Image by J Balvin
Air Jordan 1 High J Balvin
During the Super Bowl LIV half-time performance, J Balvin hopped on stage in a pair of Jordan 1s that no one had never been seen before. Of course, it’s hardly unusual for a major musician to get a PE. For Justin Timberlakeās Legends of Summer Tour in 2013, Jumpman supplied no less than three Jordan 1 PEs. But as news continues to develop, it seems like the J Balvin Jordan 1s that danced across the Super Bowl 50-yard line might be available to the public as soon as late this year.
The Air Jordan 1 High J Balvin shatters the existing rules of Jordan 1 design. Once pristine lines are creatively distorted- a tribute to Balvinās untamed spirit. Tie-dyed canvas replaces traditional leather color-blocking throughout the upper to take this classic silhouette on a truly psychedelic journey. Considering this is only the second musician after Travis Scott to collab on a publically-released Jordan 1 silhouette, expect the Jordan 1 J Balvin to easily rank among the best new Jordans in 2020.
Image by Virgil Abloh
Air Jordan 5 Off-White Sail
Almost immediately after the Jordan 5 Retro Off-White Black released, Virgil Abloh took to Instagram to declare that black wasnāt the only colorway to touch one of the best new Jordans of the year. In a few stories and photos, Abloh unveiled the Air Jordan 5 Off-White Sail.Ā
The Sail Off-White Jordan 5 is very similar to its predecessor. It features the same textile upper, minimal ankle padding, and covered window inserts as the black colorway displayed. Hits of fire red in the midsole give off a Chicago home jersey vibe, fitting given Ablohās ties to the Windy City. There is no official drop date set for the Jordan 5 Off-White Sail, but fingers are crossed for a release later this year.
