Jordan Got the Sneaker of the Year Win & Dropped Four AJ ...

Thirty years ago, Nike released one of the most important sneakers of all time. The Air Jordan 11 came wrapped in a patent leather rand, with a ballistic mesh ankle and clear outsole that revealed a carbon fiber plate built into the midsole. Its elegant, streamlined design was wholly new and suitable for the hardwood or a ballroom. That the AJ 11 came out the year Michael Jordan returned to the NBA after a hiatus where he played professional baseball helped, adding to the shoe’s mystique.

Now, Jordan Brand is marking the AJ 11’s 30th anniversary by releasing an array of special models, experimenting with materials and colorways, and shouting out a variety of constituencies who helped make the shoe what it is today.

Shortly after they dropped at retail, Jumpman brought four of those AJ 11s—the “Pearl,” “285,” “Mojave,” and “H-Town”—to Las Vegas for ComplexCon weekend, where it also gave attendees a look at the new Assouline book, Air Jordan: 40 Years of Style and Legacy. To cap it all off, Jumpman closed the weekend with Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4 “Brick by Brick” winning Sneaker of the Year.

Here’s a look at how it all went down.

On Friday, October 24, the afternoon before ComplexCon officially kicked off, Jordan brand was already in Vegas, enticing sneakerheads to come to the city’s infamous Little White Wedding Chapel. For those who attended, it wasn’t an elopement that awaited them. Instead, it was a celebration of the Women’s Air Jordan 11 “Pearl,” which notably features a pearlescent leather rand and ribbon shoelaces in place of the original model’s patent leather and sport laces. Those design tweaks augured the kinds of updates ComplexCon attendees would find on the other AJ 11 models showcased at ComplexCon.

At the event, attendees were able to pick up a pair of “Pearls,” while enjoying a DJ, wedding-appropriate floral displays, and shoe customization. LA Sparks forward and Jordan Brand Athlete Dearica Hamby was also on hand, and would later appear at Jordan activations throughout ComplexCon weekend.

Many brands claim to “pull up” to ComplexCon, but none have ever done it quite like Jordan Brand. On the morning of Saturday, October 25, the first day of ComplexCon, Jumpman drove up a semi truck and a custom Chevrolet El Camino up to the roundabout outside the Las Vegas Convention Center where the event was being held. The truck trailer was packed with boxes of the Air Jordan 11 “285.” Designed as a love letter to Atlanta, the shoe references Interstate 285, which rings the city, and is one of three models in the brand’s North American AJ 11 pack.

Like the “Pearl,” the “285” has a less-traditional rand, this time in premium, white pebbled leather. A translucent outsole and colorful ankle detail complete this shoe’s balanced look. The design had ComplexCon attendees lined up to cop a pair off the truck, with hopes of meeting Atlanta streamer Duke Dennis who was there to hype the crowd and give out a free pair of the “285” or two.

Jordan Brand would never come to Las Vegas without something special for the locals. This year, that meant the Air Jordan 11 “Mojave,” a luxurious, purple nubuck take on the shoe that evokes the desert sunsets that bathe Las Vegas every evening. To release the shoe at ComplexCon, Jordan brought another semi truck, this time a Tesla in Mojave purple. Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby was also there to gift the shoe to attendees, while Dearica Hamby showed up once again to support.

For more local flavor, Jumpman also rolled out Tyler Reddick’s 23XI Racing “Mojave” 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Camry. With purple and pink wrap inspired by the Jordan 11 “Mojave,” Reddick had recently raced the car at the South Point 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s South Point 400, where his pit crew also wore the shoe.

Between the truck, Crosby, Reddick’s Camry, and of course, the “Mojave” 11 itself, there were photo moments, sneakers secured, and lots of love exchanged between Jordan Brand, Las Vegas locals, and out-of-town ComplexCon attendees.

Rounding out Jordan’s North America pack ComplexCon moments, the brand came through to big-up Houston with its Air Jordan 11 “H-Town.” The shoe draws inspiration from Houston’s hustle and innovative car culture, with a silky, suede upper that resembles the trunk of a custom slab, a chrome Jumpman logo, and an icy blue midsole that recalls platinum jewelry.

To show the sneaker off at ComplexCon, Jumpman cruised another custom semi truck up to the Family Style Food Festival parking lot, along with a custom blue Houston slab on swangers, all accompanied by city legend Slim Thug. In keeping with the Houston theme, Family Style partnered Jordan with that city’s beloved barbecue staple, Truth BBQ. One of the best such spots in the country, Truth BBQ’s chef Leonard Botello IV is a world-renowned pitmaster. With more Jordan 11s given out and crowds clamoring to cop the release and meet Thug, the Family Style parking lot pop-up was a fitting tribute to one of the most influential cities in hip hop culture.

Jordan 11s weren’t the only thing Jumpman had for ComplexCon attendees. It also took time to celebrate its new Assouline book, Air Jordan: 40 Years of Style and Legacy. The book had its own booth at ComplexCon, allowing attendees to get a look at it and take it home, offering an artistic retrospective of the Air Jordan’s legacy in sports and style.

The ComplexCon Sneaker of the Year Panel is the culture’s biggest annual moment. This year, Jordan had a strong showing across the panel, with the Awake NY x Air Jordan 5, Infinite Archives x Air Jordan 17 Low, Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic,” and Air Jordan 4 Retro x UNDEFEATED all appearing in the top ten. But Jordan Brand also took home the top spot, winning Sneaker of the Year 2025 with its Nigel Sylvester Air Jordan 4 “Brick by Brick.” Jordan Brand also translated that huge win into a victory for ComplexCon attendees, with Sylvester himself appearing on the panel screen to announce that he was pulling up the Brick truck to the Las Vegas Convention Center to offer up a restock on the coveted model. The ensuing pandemonium and satisfied customers eventually holding “Bricks” were a fitting end to a weekend of victories for Jordan Brand at ComplexCon.

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