An Early Look at the Air Jordan 4 "Lightning"
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By Stadium Goods |An Early Look at the Air Jordan 4 "Lightning"
Detailed look and history behind the anticipated colorway.
Matt DeSciora
Michael Jordan’s retirement from basketball opened up new avenues for sneaker storytelling. Freed from the constraints of having to appear in Chicago Bulls-friendly colors or honor any specific on-court moment, the Air Jordan colorways of the mid-2000s often explored Jordan’s interests away from the game he once dominated.
One of the best examples of what we’re talking about is the original Air Jordan 4 “Lightning” from 2006 that saluted Michael’s love of motorsports.
The “Lightning” was one of the Air Jordan 4’s first non-original colorways, joining classics like 1999’s “Oreo” and “Columbia,” and 2000’s “Bling” to appear in casual “lifestyle” designs meant to be worn away from the court. It was also the first Air Jordan shoe to honor Michael’s Jordan Motorsports club. And it wasn’t without a peer.
Joining the original “Lightning” was the Jordan 4 “Thunder,” a reverse black and yellow Air Jordan 4. Together, they created the “Thunder & Lightning” pack. “Packs” were a big deal in the 2000s, their hype on par with the kind of excitement a high-profile collaboration brings to the table in the present day, so Jordan Brand did something unique at the time by releasing the “Thunder” and “Lightning” exclusively on Jumpman23.com. Both were among the highest-priced retro Air Jordan releases when they dropped in ‘06 due to their limited nature (only 500 pairs of the original “Thunder” were said to be produced) and their accompanying apparel. An Air Jordan “Flight” Tee came attached to the “Lightning,” a buttery varsity jacket with the “Thunder.”
In 2012, Jordan Brand brought back the Air Jordan 4 “Thunder” as a solo release, but curiously decided against re-issuing the “Lightning.” Rumors of a possible “Lightning” return have been circulating since. Finally, on August 28, 2021, the “Lightning” will be released for the first time in 15 years.
Shop the Air Jordan 4 “Lightning” now at Stadium Goods.