History of the Air Jordan 4

The Air Jordan 4 was Michael Jordan’s fourth signature shoe released by Nike back in 1989. Worn by Jordan with the Chicago Bulls during the ‘88-89 NBA season, the Jordan 4 is considered one of the greatest basketball sneakers ever due to its classic styling, memorable moments tied to Jordan’s on-court play, and now-famous commercials starring Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, a sneaker-obsessed Jordan fanatic. Jordan didn’t win an NBA Championship in the Jordan 4, like he did with six other classic Air Jordan shoes, but that has never once cast doubt on whether the Jordan 4 belongs on the “Mount Rushmore” of Air Jordan sneakers.

The Jordan 4 was originally released in four colorways: the “White Cement,” “Bred,” “Fire Red,” and the “Military Blue,” the latter of which was the only shoe from the initial run that Jordan didn’t wear in the NBA. Jordan debuted the retro basketball shoe in its “Bred” colorway at the ‘89 NBA All-Star Game before switching to the sneaker for the second half of the ‘88-89 regular season. Jordan again wore the Air Jordan 4 during the ‘89 NBA Playoffs, specifically its “Bred” colorway. The black-and-red sneaker was on Jordan’s feet during “The Shot,” one of the most iconic moments of the Basketball Hall of Famer’s historic career.

In recent years, the Air Jordan 4 has been released in dozens of casual, lifestyle colorways like the Air Jordan 4 “Lightning,” “Oreo,” and “Military Black,” and more. It’s also been introduced in women’s-exclusive designs like the “Canyon Purple,” giving sneaker collectors even more opportunities to own the classic shoe. Of course, the Jordan 4’s story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the many collaborations the model has been used in since the 2000s. The likes of Off-White, Union, Travis Scott, Kaws, Levi’s, plus Eminem and Undefeated, back in the day and many, many more, have all created legacy-defining colorways of the vintage basketball shoe. The Jordan 4, perhaps more than any other Air Jordan model, has more high-ticket items in the Stadium Goods Trophy Case, which says all you need to know about the shoe’s place in sneaker culture.

Looking to add the Air Jordan 4 to your collection? You’ll find a colorway that speaks to you at Stadium Goods.

FAQ

When did the Air Jordan 4 come out?

The Air Jordan 4 was originally released by Nike in 1989. The shoe was debuted by Michael Jordan at the ‘89 NBA All-Star Game in its “Bred” colorway, which was the same design Jordan wore during the ‘89 NBA Playoffs with the Chicago Bulls.

Do Air Jordan 4s run true to size?

Yes, the Air Jordan 4 fits true to size. Most take their standard Air Jordan sneaker size when purchasing the Jordan 4. If you have a narrow foot, and we mean a very narrow foot, you could probably comfortably size down half a size from your regular Air Jordan shoe size. Otherwise, we advise you stick with whatever size you commonly wear with athletic shoes.

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