Since dunking from the free throw line in 1988, Michael Jordan has been considered a person not bound to gravity or physics, making his shoes products of magic. The sneakers producedĀ by Nike for the five-time MVP helped Jordan become the greatest basketball player to ever live. He performed air defying dunks in the Jordan 3s, scored his career best 68 points in the Jordan 4s, and brought the Bulls to a 61-21 season in the Jordan 5s. Jordanās achievements continue to live on through these legendary shoes even after his retirement. New stories are told through collaborations with artists, special edition colorways for other players, and unique localized releases in different countries. Each release dropped in limited quantities and are known in the sneaker community as rare Air Jordans. Check out our list of the rarest Air Jordans to hit StockX.
Air Jordan 4 UNDFTD
The Air Jordan 4 UNDFTD hits many lists; Best Jordan 4 Colorway, Most Expensive Air Jordan, Best Jordan Collaboration. Released in 2005, this Jordan sneaker became the first exclusive collaboration done between Jordan Brand and a sneaker boutique. With only 72 pairs made, the military-inspired sneaker released through an online charity auction and in-store raffle. From its scarcity to its sometimes five-figure price point, the UNDFTD 4 is classified as one of the most rare Air Jordans.
Air Jordan 2 Eminem The Way I Am
Similar to the Air Jordan 4 UNDFTD, the Air Jordan 2 Eminem is another sneakerhead favorite. Eminem collaborated with Jordan Brand back in 2008 on a special edition Air Jordan 2 to compliment the release of his upcoming book, The Way I Am. Only 313 pairs were made, to commemorate Eminemās hometown area code of Detroit. The Air Jordan 2 Eminem sold out instantly, likely due to its hype, uniqueness, and affordable price point of $110. 12 years later and the sneaker is still highly sought after, with resale prices varying between $3-12k, which we know is a huge range. The sneakers are so rare that the resell price varies widely, which is just a part of the game.Air Jordan 8 Ray Allen PE Home & Away
During his time in the NBA, Ray Allen was one of Jordan Brandās top athletes, and his status in the league added more value to his limited edition Player Exclusive Air Jordans. These two pairs of Air Jordan 8s are themed after his five year long career with the Boston Celtics, both in home and away colors. Released in 2008, these shoes exclusively dropped at Harlemās House of Hoops in limited quantities for $140. Donāt expect to find these sneakers anywhere below five figures, as the rare Air Jordan is selling for $10K in both colorways.
Air Jordan 1 Retro Dave White Wings For the Future Gold
In 2011, artist Dave White released a special version of his Air Jordan 1 āWings For The Futureā collaboration for WINGS, Jordan Brandās community outreach program. With only 23 pairs made, the sneaker dropped during All-Star weekend that same year and instantly raised over $23,000. As one can imagine, due to its limited quantity and localized release, this sneaker is cemented as one of the most rare Air Jordans of all time.
Air Jordan 3 Seoul
Not only did 1988 give Michael Jordan his āAir Jordanā nickname after his All-Star dunk, but it was the same year he played the Summer Olympics in Korea. The Air Jordan 3 āSeoulā celebrates both of these moments in history. For those living in the United States, it was extremely difficult to secure a pair, as the Air Jordan 3 Seoul only released in South Korea and Nikeās Korean website. After selling out at a retail price of $225, this rare Air Jordan can be yours for around $1,100.
Air Jordan 7 Miro
The Air Jordan 7 Miro draws inspiration from the 1992 Summer Olympics in Spain and Barcelona artist Juan Miro. For the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the now rare Air Jordans released to commemorate MJās award winning Dream Team and Miroās world renowned artwork. The Air Jordan 7 Miro features colorful hearts in the same style as Juan Miroās Woman and Bird sculpture, while paying homage to Jordan as the heel replaces the usual ā23ā tag with a ā9ā, the same number from his Dream Team jersey. Less than 1,000 pairs of the Jordan 7 were made and it was only sold in Spain, solidifying its spot on the Rare Air Jordans list.
Air Jordan 3 Interscope PE
Nike rarely collaborates with record labels, as Shady Records and Roc-A-Fella are two of the few to get their own Air Force 1. But in 2017, Interscope Records was tapped for their own Air Jordan 3 collaboration using the fan-favorite Black Cement colorway. The sneaker features the labelās āiā logo and laces with āInterscope Recordsā printed on them. The Air Jordan 3 Interscope did not see a release at all, as the shoe was made solely for marketing purposes to promote the labelās appearance at the 2017 All-Star Game. Unless you worked for Interscope or were one of their artists, getting a pair of these was borderline impossible in 2017, but you can snag a pair on StockX for $3,500!
Air Jordan Solefly 1, 3, & 10Ā
Air Jordan and Miami boutique, Solefly, drop noteworthy collaborations every year during Art Basel, South Beachās yearly art festival. Not only do hundreds of people flock to the city to view art, but they also gather at the store for a chance to cop some exclusive Air Jordan heat. The Air Jordan 3 Lotto and Air Jordan 1 Black Patent Leather have all conjured huge amounts of hype during the yearly festival, bringing a lot of attention to the local shop. Soleflyās extremely exclusive releases can all be thanked to the store ownerās personal relationship to Michael Jordan, allowing the store to create some of the most sought after kicks in the game and make Solefly a Miami staple for sneakerheads. Due to their small releases, these sneakers have been classified as rare Air Jordans, costing you anywhere from $1,500 to $3,600.