History of the Air Jordan 5

The Air Jordan 5 was one of Michael Jordan’s most popular signature shoes when it debuted in 1990. Designed by Tinker Hatfield and inspired by a World War II Mustang Fighter jet, the Jordan 5 was both stylish and high-performing in its basketball shoe life. Incredibly, though, the retro basketball shoe may be even more popular today than it was once upon a time. Collaborations, a strong collection of non-original colorways, and other factors have all helped the Jordan 5 live a successful second life as a premier casual lifestyle shoe in the present day.

As mentioned before, the Jordan 5 was released by Nike in 1990 and was designed by the legendary Nike footwear designer Tinker Hatfield. The style debuted in four original colorways: the “Fire Red - Silver Tongue,” “Fire Red - Black Tongue,” “Black/Metallic,” and “Grape.” Jordan wore the first three colorways in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls, but not the “Grape,” which was instead famously rocked by Will Smith on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Jordan’s versions of the Jordan 5 were slightly different from the pairs that were released at retail by Nike in that they featured embroidered “23” branding on the lateral side of the heel. Jordan Brand eventually released retro versions of this former Player Exclusive makeup in the early 2000s.

In terms of style, the Air Jordan 5 was the first-ever Jordan shoe with reflective detailing on its design. The shoe’s tongue was dipped in silver reflective material, which was done purposely by Hatfield because he wanted to bring attention to the shoe as flashbulbs popped. Only two of the Jordan 5’s original colorways had the reflective accenting: the “Fire Red - Silver Tongue” and “Black Metallic.” The Jordan 5 was also the first basketball shoe with a clear rubber outsole. The design is commonplace now, but truly groundbreaking when it appeared on the vintage basketball shoe in 1990.

The Air Jordan 6 may have been Jordan’s first “championship” shoe, but he got pretty close to winning an NBA title in the Jordan 5, as he made it all the way to the ‘90 NBA Eastern Conference Finals in the shoe. He and the Bulls succumbed to the Detroit Pistons, but that doesn’t dilute the Jordan 5’s luster: Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in the shoe.

Today, the Air Jordan 5 is used in collaborations with Off-White, DJ Khaled, and other high-profile brands, creatives, and celebrities. Moreover, the shoe has been released in some of the most popular non-original Air Jordan colorways ever, like the “Raging Bull,” “Laney,” and more.

Amazingly, the Air Jordan 5 is one of the few sneakers that has only gotten more popular over time. Shop the iconic sneaker’s most essential releases at Stadium Goods.

FAQ

When did the Air Jordan 5 first come out?

The Air Jordan 5 was originally released by Nike in 1990 in four different colorways: the “Fire Red - Silver Tongue,” “Fire Red - Black Tongue,” “Black/Metallic,” and “Grape.”

How much do Air Jordan 5s cost?

The Air Jordan 5 retail price varies depending on a few factors. It has a standard MSRP of $190 for adult sizes. Prices vary on the secondary market depending on model, sizing, colorway, collaboration, and other factors.