Why We Love the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs”
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By Stadium Goods |Why We Love the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs”
An in-depth look at the classic Air Jordan 8 colorway upon its 30th anniversary retro release.
Matt DeSciora
In the pantheon of Air Jordans, few models hold more significance than the Air Jordan 8. And if you want to talk more specifically, few colorways are more closely tied to Michael Jordan’s legacy on the hardwood than the “Playoffs.” That’s because the black-and-red sneaker was what Jordan was wearing when he completed his first of two three-peat NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls in 1993.
Tomorrow, Jordan Brand will be bringing back the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs” for the first time since its last retro release in 2013 in honor of the silhouette’s 30th anniversary. This time around, the sneaker will come designed to the exact specifications of the original version from ‘93—red pull tab on the heel and all. The Jordan 8 “Playoffs’” return to OG form will not only tickle collectors with nostalgia but also give the retro basketball shoe a much-deserved moment in the spotlight.
Shop Now: Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs”
Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Jordan 8 was the last shoe that Jordan wore before his first retirement from the NBA. That alone makes it a footnote in the eyes of many collectors who, in the mid-90s, assumed that the Air Jordan legacy ended with the Jordan 8. The Jordan 8 was only released in three original colorways: the “Aqua,” the “Bugs Bunny,” and the “Playoffs.” Jordan wore all three in the NBA, with the “Aqua” appearing on his feet at the 1993 NBA All-Star Game and the white-and-red “Bugs Bunny” and “Playoffs” being his sneakers of choice for the ‘92-93 NBA regular season and Playoffs, respectively.
On the court, the Jordan 8 helped “His Airness” achieve new heights. Jordan posted averages of 32.6 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game in the ‘92-93 regular season while wearing the Jordan 8. He was selected to his 9th NBA All-Star team, and won 3rd Finals MVP Award in the sneaker, too. Off the court, the Jordan 8 was a fashion icon in the ‘90s and again when the shoe’s “Aqua” colorway returned in 2007. The model’s signature straps, a first for any Jordan sneaker at the time of its original release, allow for a customizable design feature, which in effect gave the Jordan 8 a casual vibe.
With the release of the Jordan 8 “Playoffs” for 2023, Jordan Brand will be bringing back yet another popular and iconic sneaker from its archives—in true to original form for the first time since ‘93. The modern “Playoffs” features the same premium jet black synthetic nubuck crafted upper as the OG version. It also has the same chenille Jumpman branding on the tongue, the same tribal-inspired graphic pattern on the liner and white-based graphic on the sidewall and, unlike the 2013 pair, the same True Red nylon pull loop on the heel—just like the ‘93 version had.
Thirty years after its debut, the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs” is just as unique-looking as it's ever been. In a day in age when collaborators are adding that bell and those whistles to nearly every retro Jordan sneaker, the “Playoff” Jordan 8 remains an icon of style and symbol of Jordan’s dominance in the NBA.