Air Jordan 6 ‘Bin 23’ History of Bin 23 Air Jordans

“Bin 23” Air Jordans, much like Michael Jordan interviews, are almost impossible to secure. Both NBC execs and OG collectors will tell you as much.

Unfathomable fame in the ‘90s made MJ understandably reclusive, rarely speaking publicly and almost never in longform fashion.

However, nine years ago he chatted candidly for just over an hour with Cigar Aficionado. Subjects spanned LeBron James’ popularity potential to the turbulent times of Tiger Woods.

It was a love of cigars that got MJ to sit down and open up.

Every Air Jordan Releasing in 2026

“Partagás Lusitanias are my favorite,” Jordan noted in the interview. “I like a big cigar, a smaller cigar, I like variety.”

Said to smoke six stogies a day, Jordan’s cigar infatuation caught fire in 1993 when he’d take down a Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona ahead of each home game, hot boxing his slantnosed Porsche 911 with a Habana hanging out of his mouth.

Through both his playing prime and country club seclusion, cigars have epitomized MJ the competitor and connoisseur, elevating his edge and mystique on back 9s and front offices.

By 2010, MJ’s tobacco taste buds bloomed into a premium series of prized retros: the Air Jordan “Bin 23” Premio collection.

Upgrading deep cuts from Chicago with lush materials, cedar shoe trees, and thematic dust bags, the “Bin 23” line bled MJ’s passion for puffing with his multi-billion dollar footwear empire.“Out of all the things I’m involved in, the most important is the Jordan Brand,” Jordan told Cigar Aficionado. “Because it is my DNA. It is who I am.”

Retailing for a then-lofty $175—roughly $25 more than the average GR retro release—the “Bin 23” line predated sneaker culture’s looming love for designer high tops and appealed to dedicated collectors who considered themselves connoisseurs.

“The key is they were all numbered,” said LaVelle “V-Dot” Sykes, co-owner of Chicago’s Succezz. “People wanted the No. 23, No. 1, or the last one. There was a chase, a thrill.”

But the thrill didn’t last long. Within ten months and less than 9,000 pairs produced, the “Bin 23” line was gone, existing only as relics that could later fetch upwards of 12x their MSRP on resale sites.

In 2026, that changes. Jordan Brand is breaking back into the humidor with the “Bin 23” Air Jordan 6: a limited, luxury retro release rooted in the coveted cigar story, with elevated materials and sophisticated taste level that also lean heavily into the 6’s original automotive inspiration.

Set to retail at $355 to the tune of 2,300 pairs, the Premio revival is not a one-off but rather a trend set to touch the Air Jordan 3, Air Jordan 8, and Air Jordan 4 later this year.

But how did we get here in the first place? Complex spoke to the power players who were inside Jordan Brand in 2010 and outside at lineups to uncover the untold stories and forgotten folklore surrounding each “Bin 23” release.

The Land Before Bin

Over 14 years at Nike, Astor Chambers did everything from seeding shoes to Fabolous to help the Air Force 1 become a billion-dollar business.

Around the time he was rolling out the Goadome and building Nike Sportswear, Retro Jordans were hot—perhaps too hot. By the mid ‘00s, the marketplace was oversaturated with archival products, forcing Jordan Brand to shelve OGs in favor of cross-pollinated AF1 hybrids.

“Fusions gave space for Retros to build their demand back up for a two to three year window,” said Chambers.

All the while, Chambers moved over to Jordan Brand with the intent of reviving retro to the pinnacle status it once was. As a New York kid in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Air Jordans signaled power and prestige.

“It was the drug dealers or the number one guy on a team,” said Chambers. “It was always aspirational. So to come in and lead the charge? I tasked myself and the team with how do you take something that’s great and make it greater?”

Displaying the discipline to pull traditional retro releases off the market, Chambers tasked his team with elevating Air Jordan icons through luxury materials and stealth storytelling.

“Everything is not meant for everybody, but there is somebody for everything,” said Chambers. “I knew we could carve out a space for something at a premium that can’t go to every door.”

In parallel, the most tapped in boutiques and buyers were asking Astor for high end heat.

“We had been requesting a more elevated Jordan line in brand meetings for some time,” said Danny Waserstein, owner of Miami’s Shoe Gallery. “Back in 2007, we were one of the few retailers to receive the Crocodile and Anaconda Lux Air Force 1, which retailed for $2,000.”

That $2,000 Air Force 1, also attached to Astor and his work on the Uptown’s 25th anniversary campaign, created a buzz across boutiques and amongst collectors, raising the bar on exclusivity and status.

“You had to have some money to have those shoes,” said Sykes. “People who wanted to be fly had to have them. Street guys or the guy with style who had a job. It wasn’t the reseller. You bought that shoe to wear it.”

Those that had it on foot felt the juice attached to the premium pair. Those who had it under their roof felt it even more.

“We experienced firsthand how the perception of Nike and Shoe Gallery shifted,” Waserstein said of the Lux AF1s, the shoes that would pave the path for Astor’s Air Jordan passion project.

“The [Bin 23] collection definitely hit the mark.”

Air Jordan 2 ‘Bin 23’

Release Date: April 10, 2010
Original Retail Price: $175
Current Resale Range: $800 to $2,999
Number of Pairs Released: 1,097

Chocolate brown Air Jordan 2s backed by crocodile panelling and waxed laces were a far cry from Fusions, Flywire, or any Air Max model that saturated malls 16 years ago.

It was exactly what Duk-ki Yu, owner of Major DC—a Georgetown-based boutique and east coast staple since 2006—wanted.

“In 2010 you could walk into a boutique and see things you’d never seen before,” said Yu. “The ‘Bin 23’ 2s blew me away. The price tag dictated that it was for the ballers.”

The individually numbered “Bin 23” 2s with their elevated price point leaned into Chambers’ work on lux Nikes.

“The first one was the AJ2 because it was the 23rd anniversary,” said Chambers. “Nobody ever did a 23 year anniversary, nor could they. The 2 was done in Italy so that’s how all of that story came together.”

Yu, experienced enough to know the lore of the Italian 2s in ‘86, was brought in early on the “Bin 23” conversation that was essentially a secret between Jordan Brand brass and select boutique owners.

“There was a lot of mystery surrounding the 2s,” said Yu. “We were initially told they only picked 23 stores.”

From Major DC to West NYC, the 2s touched down at the tipping point of online forums giving way to blogs. Seasoned collectors camped out for the “Bin 23” 2s, ranging in occupation but most of a certain age.

“We had street guys, ex-athletes, doctors, and lawyers,” said Yu. “Guys who wanted to collect the stuff because they missed it when they were kids.”

Out west, a mere 33 pairs made it to Nike Town San Francisco. The Bay Area flagship had to institute a lottery system resulting in lineups, size swaps, and high ticket resale.

“When somebody said, ‘You can’t get these anywhere,’ they really meant that,” Yu said. “It wasn’t going to slip through the backdoor or end up on Stadium Goods early. You had to earn it.”

All the while, those boxed out of the inaugural release wondered when the next launch would happen and if the costly concept would be repeatable.

Air Jordan 9 ‘Bin 23’

Release Date: June 5, 2010
Original Retail Price: $175
Current Resale Range: $799 to $2,000
Number of Pairs Released: 1,331

A brown Air Jordan 2 was never meant to muster mass appeal. A Midas makeup on an Air Jordan 9? That’s another story.

“I remember customers saying there was ‘no way’ they would pay the Bin 23 price point,” Waserstein said. “But once we posted our photoshoot showcasing the details of the Jordan 9, that sentiment changed almost instantly.”

Long believed to reference a 2002 Air Jordan 9 Low Player Exclusive made for Marshall Faulk, the “Bin 23” 9s connected immediately with collectors worldwide.

Despite never being worn by MJ as a Bull on court—only in statue form—it was an instant ‘yes’ inside Jordan Brand offices.

“The 9 was an easy one because of the ‘Olive’ colorway,” said Chambers. “You think about how rich that is and that it has the [red] sign off that already felt like a Bin 23 on the heel? It was a no-brainer.”

While the “Bin 23” 2 spoke to Italian composition and appealed to Midwest ballers, the “Bin 23” 9 quickly gained favor at Far East boutiques and West Coast accounts.

China’s Colour Shop, Nike Harajuku, and House of Hoops locations all saw campouts or 100+ person lines for the golden AJ9s with most spots getting less than 50 pairs. If the “Bin 23” 2s were a flare for connoisseurs, the 9s were wildfire for highrollers.

“It was an event shoe,” said Sykes. “You wanna be seen? You’re going to wear that shoe. That’s when exclusive really meant something.”

From ESPN to VH1, the “Bin 23” 9s outfitted Gilbert Arenas and Ray Allen in nationally televised games and Nelly on stage at award shows.

In turn, early skeptics of the “Bin 23” series soon sought what was coming next, or just how far Jordan Brand would reach back.

Air Jordan 13 ‘Bin 23’

Release Date: August 20, 2010
Original Retail Price: $175
Current Resale Range: $1,400 to $2,500
Number of Pairs Released: 1,734

A 2008 Sole Collector interview entitled “Gentry Humphrey’s Closet of Dreams” captured the creative exec inside his showroom office littered with Air Jordan oddities in which the world had never seen.

Nestled between cleated “Concord” Air Jordan 11 PEs and sample “Chambray” Air Jordan 14s was an unreleased rarity of which the world had seen: the elusive “Desert Clay” Air Jordan 13.

Debuted on the red carpet of the 2004 Source Hip-Hop Awards by BET host Big Tigger, the mix of metallic burgundy and rich tan suede captivated collectors who were weeks away from the Air Jordan 13’s first ever retro release.

Four years later, they were merely a toy in Gentry’s attic.

On August 20, 2010, that all changed. Well, kind of. The Air Jordan 13 “Bin 23” revived the Big Tigger b-side in Premio fashion.

“That’s Tigger’s shoe and they flipped it,” Sykes said. “He always says that. The materials they used were so good, mine still look nice.”

Lush leather, tumbled nubuck, and velvety lining led to a titanic upgrade, miles beyond 2005’s divisive but acclaimed “Altitude” 13, doubling down on the “Bin 23” mission statement of dusting off deep pulls positioned as better with time.

“This is where experimental and imagined Air Jordan designs, now aged to perfection, finally spring to life,” Chambers said in 2010. “In essence, Bin 23 holds lost stories, resurrected by passion, that are finally ready to be whispered again. Each pair is a treasure, worthy of greatness.”

On forums and outside, the “Bin 23” 13s held weight due to the growing esteem of the series and beloved nature of the AJ13.

So much weight that fans were often fooled. The “Bin 23” 13s are alleged to be the most faked of all “Bin 23” Jordans—a testament to their popularity and demand.

They’re also perhaps the second best “Bin 23” Air Jordan 13 to ever surface, and even had moms camping out.

“The Grey sample that Gentry wore had the softest leather on it,” Corporate Got ‘Em owner Matt Tomamichel recalled. “Now you bring those out? That’s a $400 sneaker. $175 was a steal.”

Air Jordan 7 ‘Bin 23’

Release Date: November 26, 2010
Original Retail Price: $175
Current Resale Range: $700 to $2,076
Number of Pairs Released: 2,059

Due to its extremely limited nature and intention to warm up Retro Jordan as a category, “Bin 23” launches typically took place at relatively quiet times for retail.

The Air Jordan 7 “Bin 23” was entirely the opposite.

A Black Friday release, the “Bin 23” 7s had collectors skipping seconds on Thanksgiving despite the fact that some stores had less than two dozen pairs.

“We had people camping out for over 15 hours,” Tomamichel said. “Close to 50 people. And I made it very clear we had only 18 pairs.”

In Cincinnati, fans flocked from as far as Philly to line up even if the odds were against them. In turn, the energy elevated Jordan Brand’s broader Black Friday release, the first-ever retro of the White/Red Air Jordan 13, into an instant sellout.

“The people that waited that didn’t get the Bin used it as a consolation prize,” Tomamichel said.

Amplifying the West African tribal art inspiration seen on the sole of the original Air Jordan 7, the “Bin 23” AJ7 possessed pop and personality, pulling from archival sketch drafts done by Tinker Hatfield.

“You look at Bin releases and think of wine, cigars, whiskey,” said Sykes. “But that Bin? That was like, ‘Bam!’ It was more for the fashion dude.”

From Wish ATL to House of Hoops Paris, fans fought November rain and holiday commitments to cop the contemporary homage to tribal expression. The likes of Ludcaris, Drake, and PJ Tucker would all attain and rock their precious pairs.

Air Jordan 5 ‘Bin 23’

Release Date: February 18, 2011
Original Retail Price: $175
Current Resale Range: $1,100 to $2,998
Number of Pairs Released: 2,133

The origin of the “Bin 23” Air Jordan 5? Justin Timberlake.

Let us explain.

In 2006, former Cincinnati Bearcats guard Alex Meacham e-mailed Jordan Brand’s Gentry Humphrey for a line on the “Lightning” Air Jordan 4s. Humphrey sent Meacham a big box of promo pairs originally intended to be sent to the pop star. As a thank you, Meacham helped Humphrey find and hire future Jordan exec, Jamaal Lucas.

Years later, Meacham met Humphrey, Lucas, and Jordan PLM Josiah Lake in Beaverton to talk shop. Meacham had on Black/Metallic Air Jordan 5s—Lake’s favorite shoe—only with white laces.

The lace swap was a nod to Jordan’s 48-point playoff performance against the Bucks as immortalized on his bedroom’s box TV.

“He had on white socks, black Jordan 5s, and white laces,” said Meacham. “It popped on a black-and-white TV like some Michael Jackson shit.”

The nostalgic swap was also an homage to Meacham’s own journey.

After that playoff performance, a young Meacham attended a high-level basketball camp with the best of the best. It was there he found out he wasn’t the only one trying to be like Mike aesthetically and not as close to his dream as he thought.“I walked into the camp and like six people had on black 5s with white laces,” said Meacham. “I was getting cooked. I went back home and cut the white laces out of my shoes. I said I wouldn’t wear the white laces until I earned it. And eventually I did.”

The story moved Jordan Brand brass so much they called MJ to find out why he wore white laces with his black 5s for one lone playoff series.

“Because I fucking could,” the GOAT laughed, reflecting on a flow state prime where wardrobe edits were often forgotten.

Meacham’s story and IRL exposure to virality inspired the first consumer collaboration—sans Doerbecher drops or NIKEiD derivatives—to be released at retail. Jordan’s Brandis Russell revived the OG 5s in premium black leather with icy white laces.

“The 5 was absolutely beautiful,” said Yu. “Looking at that shoe? That’s MJ. When he laced up the black 5s for the first time in a playoff game? It brought back that same nostalgic energy.”

Ahead of launch, pairs flipped for $600 at Flight Club NYC, causing Jim Jones to do a double-take. Out in LA, fans were camping out for 16 hours to secure the shoes allocated to All-Star Weekend as a celebration of MJ’s birthday.

Before long, it was a $1,000+ shoe all over the world, and still is to this day.

It was the last “Bin 23” Air Jordan release for 15 years.

Air Jordan ‘Bin 23’: The Aftermath

The Air Jordan Premio “Bin 23” series only spanned five models and ten months upon arrival.

Today, it exists in memory across abandoned YouTube accounts and dead NikeTalk threads.

“There was so much talk of that series continuing, but it launched the Energy program,” said Tomamichel on the countless collabs and elevated ranges that followed. “They knew it would be successful off the heels of the Bin program.”

Whether Energy or inline, “Bin 23” ashes appeared all over eventual Air Jordan retro releases.

From 2015 to 2017, the “Pinnacle” series introduced $400 retro releases ranging from suede Air Jordan 11s to pony hair Air Jordan 4s. Stingray, snakeskin, and vachetta tan takeovers mirrored the material upgrades seen on the “Bin 23” line, yet lacked the signature stamping seen on its forefathers.

Just the same, luxury labels like Hender Scheme and Saint Laurent leaned into high-end ‘homages’ to adored Air Jordan silhouettes.

Thematically, the “Bin 23” story had spinoffs by way of “Cigar” colorways of the Air Jordan 6 and Air Jordan 7 in 2014 and 2015. Each iteration used elements akin to the Premio series, but without “Bin 23” branding or allocations.

While production numbers weren’t publicly positioned on “Pinnacle” pairs or “Cigar” styles, the feeling evoked on said shoes was much more mass than the notably limited nature of “Bin 23” releases.

So why did “Bin 23” go away? Sources for this story suggest that corporate re-orgs within Nike, Inc. are to blame for the end of the line. Even in its absence, its presence peered through.

Beloved by DJ Clark Kent and revised via Flyknit for LeBron James, the “Bin 23” Air Jordan 5 has continued to hold court as a rarity revered by footwear elite.

“There was a small conversation about doing another ‘Bin’ 5 when the anniversary came up,” said Meacham. “Virgil [Abloh] loved that shoe so much he wanted to do the Off-White version of it. If you look back at photos, Virgil was big on lace swaps of black shoes with white laces.”

Unlike Abloh’s Off-White homage to Rasheed Wallace, a retooled “Bin 23” Air Jordan 5 never happened, nor did the retail release of a “Bin 23” Air Jordan 12 sample that surfaced in 2023.

Even in a world where costly kicks were the norm, “Bin 23” updates were assumed to be too expensive to produce.

Air Jordan ‘Bin 23’: The Return

The Air Jordan 6 “Bin 23” will be released on Feb. 14 at select Jordan Brand stockists for $355, and limited to 2,300 pairs.

Fans will note that the in-line “Salesman” Air Jordan 6, releasing the same day, retails at $215. This $140 markup is much more than the last iteration, leaning into the luxury proposition seen on its predecessors.

Like previous entries, wooden shoe trees, dust bags, and a red wax stamp denote this “Bin 23” revival, with the return of retro cards—a “Bin 23” series exclusive this time around—also included. Premium black leather encompasses the upper and wraps the midsole, with suede panelling, red contrast stitching, and shoelace aglets all aligning with luxury craftsmanship.

For store owners attached to the inaugural “Bin 23” launch, the return is a welcomed nod to the core collectors who have kept the chase alive.

“I’m definitely excited,” said Yu. “My selfish desire is that we’re included in the execution of it to bring that premium feel to our customers. Nike, like everyone else, has been hammering youth. But people buying sneakers tend to be older. Having a product geared toward that segment is exciting because it pays homage to what it really means to be a Jordan head.”

Across the board, each store owner tied to the original “Bin 23” launch believes three things: the new pairs will attract that same seasoned collector, not having accompanying apparel is leaving money on the table, and the first “Bin 23” launch literally and figuratively stamped their accounts.

While the original “Bin 23” collection was enveloped in mystery, the reality of modern leaks already have store owners and shoppers looking ahead.

“The 3s are going to be the ones that everybody goes after because nothing’s a secret anymore,” Sykes said. “People are salivating over that 3.”

Much like 2010, reviving retro remains paramount for Jordan Brand and its retail partners. Sykes hopes the AJ9 gets a second run through the “Bin 23” treatment while Waserstein wants the AJ23 next up.

Entering an era where OG oversaturation is prevalent and old feelings are harder to restore, does the “Bin 23” relaunch scratch an unattended itch? Better yet, should it have even disappeared in the first place?

“That’s a great question,” said Chambers. “Some things are done before their time.”