Few sneaker narratives have become as deeply ingrained in basketball culture as the infamous ‘banned’ story surrounding Michael Jordan’s first signature line. Now, the Air Jordan I Low ‘Banned’ revisits that mythology via a low-top iteration that nods back to the elusive 2011 release while continuing to blur the line between fact and folklore.
And well, to be precise, the NBA’s warning letter technically arrived before MJ ever laced up the Air Jordan 1 on court – with the actual October 1984 ‘violation’ involving the Nike Air Ship instead – but some stories are simply too good not to retell.
Draped in the iconic black and red ‘Bred’ color blocking, the AJ I Low ‘Banned’ keeps things timeless with premium leather construction and bold contrast detailing throughout. An embroidered “X” stamped onto the heel taps directly into the legendary ban narrative, while insoles featuring lines from the original Air Jordan commercial add another layer of storytelling:
One insole reads “On September 25th, Nike created a revolutionary basketball shoe,” while “On October 18th, 1984, they were thrown out of the game.” can be found on the other. “Imagine if…?” graphics hidden on the inner tongue labels reference last year’s 40th anniversary campaign and round out the pair.
The Air Jordan I Low OG ‘Banned’ releases at BSTN on Saturday, May 16th. Pick up your pair via the button below!
