Sneakerheads unite as we take on a trip down memory lane at some of the greatest times that MJ wore some of his signature Jordan shoes on the court.

When we often think of Michael Jordan, we think about his biting on-court play that has stood the test of time. From being coined as one of the best rookies to have ever graced our hardwoods to winning 6 NBA championships at the Chicago Bulls, there is something in common with every heritage-defining moment... what MJ wears on his feet.

Now, at Crep, we know there have been countless head-turning moments throughout his 13-season reign at the Bulls, but we have handpicked our favourite on-court sneaker moments - just for that extra slice of nostalgia!

1. Jordan 1 ‘Chicago’ High OG (1985 )

It would be a crime not to start our Jordan line-up with the shoe that started it all. The Jordan 1 was first sighted on courts as early as 1984, as young rookie Michael Jordan prepared to face Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers. Upon his arrival was the first time we had witnessed the ‘Chicago’ colourway, one that landed in a crisp leather upper, dipped in titular shades of white, red, and black - as the ultimate homage to the Chicago Bulls. Peter Moore was the mastermind behind this extroverted basketball shoe, which happened to land on our shelves in 1985, and retailed at a hefty price tag (at the time) of $65.

Find out everything you need to know about the Jordan 1 High ‘OG Chicago’ here

2. Air Jordan 3 ‘White Cement’ (1988 Slam Dunk Contest)

One of the most memorable moments etched in the Jordan history books was the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest where Michael Jordan was seen wearing the Air Jordan 3 ‘White Cement’. Surpassing his rival Dominique Wilkins with 4 out of 6 perfect scores of 50, the fit boasted a new look and welcomed young designer at the time, Tinker Hatfield, to create an all-new feel to the lauded basketball line.

This basketball shoe also prevented Michael Jordan’s near departure from Nike. The Air Jordan 3 was an evident stray from its early predecessors, full-grain tumbled leather, elephant-printed laterals, and Nike-stamped heels all featured for a court-defining finish. The silhouette was also the first to feature the iconic ‘Jumpman’ logo.

You can keep those full-grain leather Jordan 3’s pristine with our Crep Protect Cure kit.

3. Jordan 6 ‘ Black Infrared’ (1991 NBA Champion Win Against The LA Lakers)

Arguably a time in Michael Jordan’s career when he became the greatest of all time. Securing his first NBA Eastern Conference Championship against the LA Lakers and his second MVP award, while on his feet, a pair of Jordan 6 ‘Infrared Black’ aided his seminal court play.

For this one, Tinker Hatfield took an unconventional route of design; angular panelling made up the leather upper, 23 branded accents nodded to MJ’s renowned team number and this silhouette was also the last model to feature the Nike Air branding.

4. Jordan 2, 1986 (Short-lived But Sharp)

Taking on a more sophisticated route of design, the Jordan 2 was first seen on MJ’s feet during the 1986 game hosted in Madison Square Garden, where Jordan secured 50 points against the New York Knicks, leading the Chicago Bulls to game victory. However, due to a foot injury during his second season with the Bulls, Jordan only played in 2’s for a short-lived 18 games.

Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore’s ultimate vision for this design was to create a basketball shoe that was equally stylish as it was functional on the courts. With uppers comprising of Italian leather, complimented with faux leather skin and a Swooshless sidewall, which retailed at a stealthy price of $100, $25 greater than its Jordan 1 predecessor.

Give those Italian leathers a touch-up with our Crep Protect wipes

5. Jordan 4, ‘Fire Red’, 1989 (The Inglewood Defeat)

Following the success of the Jordan 3’s, the 4’s joined MJ in another perennial moment in his career - the NBA All-Star game which took place in February 1989 in Houston. However, the Jordan 4 ‘Fire Red’ colourway first dominated our courts a month later (March 21st, 1989) in Inglewood, with the Bulls taking the mere victory by 1 point.

In terms of design, Hatfield traded in the elephant printed overlays for a lightweight and synthetic leather makeup. Plastic-coated mesh offered breathability to the sidewalls and triangular winged accents acted as lace eyelets. The newly crafted midsole now boasted a visible Air cushioning for seamless transitions on the court. The Jordan 4 was featured in many lucrative endorsements, one being featured in Spike Lee’s seminal 1989 film ‘Do The Right Thing’.

6. Jordan 11 ‘Concords’, 1995 (A MJ favourite)

It has been no secret that the Jordan 11 is one of Michael Jordan’s favourite silhouettes to date. Providing us with an on-foot preview as early as the 1995 Conference Finals against the Orlando Magic, before the 1995-1996 season started. Alike many renowned Jordan 11 iterations ( Space Jam 11s, True Reds and Cool Grey), the Jordan 11 ‘Concords’ stood out for its glossy patent design, ballistic mesh and carbon fibre torsional plate underfoot. The fits translucent midsole with a purple tint, also made it one of the most definitive features from its lineage.

What is your favourite Jordan on-court moment of all time? Let us know in the comments

Also don’t forget to check out our top drops of 2023 so far.