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Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the best NBA player ever, and so is his signature line of sneakers.
The first Air Jordan was released in 1985, and in 2025, we saw the launch of the Air Jordan 40. But for this list, we’re looking at MJ’s best original Air Jordan styles, meaning the colorways during the initial run of the respective silhouettes.
As expected, this list heavily favors pairs from Michael Jordan’s early days and championship runs with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. A majority of the pairs on this list not only have historical significance, but are also just some of the best-looking Air Jordans to have ever been released.
Now that we explained the criteria, here is our ranking of the best original Air Jordan colorways of all time.
Every Air Jordan From 1 to 40, Ranked
The Best Team Jordans of All Time, Ranked
Year: 1997
We’ve said it a million times before, but what makes the Jordan Brand truly special is that most of the sneakers that Michael Jordan actually played in can be linked to an iconic basketball moment. There’s no better example of that than the Flu Game 12s. I’m not going to tell you the bad pizza story for the 573rd time, but there’s no doubt these shoes owe the majority of their legend to that game. The black upper combined with a red mudguard, outsole, and heel piece create a clean, Bulls-friendly colorway that continues to stand the test of time. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1992
Michael Jordan wore the Black/Dark Charcoal/True Red colorway of the Air Jordan 7 (now commonly known as the “Raptors” 7) for his third straight NBA Championship in 1992, but it’s the “Olympic” version of the model that’s always stood out the most. As big of an accomplishment as completing a three peat was, the original Dream Team was a cultural moment for a generation that’s still used as a measurement for greatness. Sure, it’s always been a bit weird that silver was so prominently featured on a shoe that was so focused on winning gold, but the look still stands out as one of the more unique original Air Jordan colorways. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1993
I remember when I first saw these sneakers clear as the day. Second grade. 1993. Walking into Foot Locker in the Fox Run Mall in Portsmouth, NH. The shoe popped off the shelf—or the table they had it on. The Aqua 8s. I had never owned a pair of Jordans at that point, but like every other kid my age, Michael Jordan was the coolest thing on the planet. The ultimate stamp of cool. And having a pair of his sneakers, you felt like you had a piece of his greatness. For me at the time, that meant Aqua 8s. It was his sneaker from that year’s All-Star Game, when the players could wear whatever they wanted. It wasn’t the first non-Bulls colored shoes, but it’s one of the most memorable. It had the same energy as the Air Raids, but in a swirl of purple, aqua, yellow, and red, with a puffy Jordan logo on the tongue. It literally popped out at you. —Matt Welty
Year: 1990
Unlike the majority of original Air Jordan colorways, this pair is not Bulls-colored, and most people associate it with someone other than Michael Jordan. Will Smith is without a doubt the poster child for the “Grape” 5s. He wore them all over the set of the Fresh Prince, and he even got a retro dedicated to him that came laceless to match the way he rocked them on the show. The colorway is bright and bold (especially for 1990), and represents something slightly different than the usual at the time for the Jumpman. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1988
This is another rare Jordan model that isn’t associated with MJ’s days as a Chicago Bull. When I think of this pair I actually think of Kobe during the 2003 All-Star Game in Atlanta going head-to-head with the GOAT. While the “True Blues” aren’t quite on the same level as the other two 3s on this list, it’s hard to argue against them being in the top 15. Any time this pair returns, it makes headlines and dents in my wallet. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1996
Some will say that “Bred” is better than “Concord” on the Jordan 11s. That it’s their favorite sneaker ever. And they’re not wrong. It’s crazy that we’re all cool with calling it “Bred.” There was a time, when I first started in sneaker journalism, when the word “Bred” was taboo. It was black/red or Playoff. But not “Bred.” “Bred” is what you ate, not what you wore on your feet. There was even a meme about that. But when the shoes came back out in 2019, they were “Breds.” And no one cared. —Matt Welty
Year: 1988
The “White Cement” Air Jordan 3 is the one with all the history, so why isn’t it higher? It was the shoe worn by Michael Jordan in 1988 to clinch his second consecutive Slam Dunk Contest, and captured in those iconic images of his free throw line dunk. Quite simply, it doesn’t look as cool as the black-based version. But number nine on a list of all-time original Air Jordan colorways isn’t too shabby, and that history is exactly what got it here. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1991
The “Infrared” Air Jordan 6 is this writer’s favorite Jordan ever. We’re not just talking about the design of the silhouette, which does have elements inspired by Michael Jordan’s Porsche 911, but it being his first championship shoe as well certainly adds to the allure. It’s also a bit bolder than the traditional Bulls colors with its vibrant infrared accents, but its black nubuck upper still makes it versatile enough to wear for any occasion. —Victor Deng
Year: 1989
‘White Cement’ 4s aren’t Black Cement 4s. So it’s not the greatest version of its own silhouette. But it’s still in the Top 10. That means it’s pretty dang good. It’s also the first time we saw Cement print, which is one of the most defining elements of an Air Jordan. So in some regards, it’s more important than the “Black Cement” 4, because Jordan Brand has flipped it so many more times. Jordan wore them on court and did great things in them. But not elite things, like his six-ring run. Some could make the case that these should be higher, and I’m not mad at it. —Matt Welty
Year: 1990
The “Black Metallic” 5 has long been an icon of the Air Jordan line. The 3M tongue, clear sole, and shark tooth detailing all played a major role in the development of the franchise’s legendary status. 2025’s “Reimagined” edition of the shoe, honoring its 35 anniversary, brought new life to the colorway with subtle changes that seemed to actually enhance its legacy, and solidify its status near the top of this list. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1985
While there are more significant colorways when you talk about the history of Jordan Brand, like the “Banned” pair, the “Chicago” Air Jordan 1, being a sneaker that directly ties to Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, is still one of the best. The sneaker has a nice balance of Bulls colors throughout, starting with a white base, red overlays, and black accents. Throughout the years, the brand has released different versions of the shoe, but nothing beats the original. —Victor Deng
Year: 1995
We already know how beloved the Air Jordan 11 is in general, but when you start to break down the individual colorways, “Concord” easily stands on top. Every time the style makes its way back to retailers, it’s almost guaranteed that this simple yet versatile white and black-colored Air Jordan 11 will fly off shelves. Who can forget the frenzy of the 2011 release that led to the involvement of police after fans trampled and damaged stores trying to secure their pair? —Victor Deng
Year: 1985
At another point in time, this would easily be number one on this list. It’s the sneaker that started it all. It’s probably the most important sneaker ever created, and it’s the reason I get to write about sneakers for a living, and the reason that any of you guys are reading about them. But in 2025, Jordan 1s just aren’t what they used to be. 4s have taken over the Jordan world, 3s have jumped the 1, and honestly, the 5 might have surpassed the icon as well. Bred 1s even returned earlier this year and the release was a disappointment. However, it’s still the Bred 1, it’s still a legend, and it’s still a top 3 OG Air Jordan colorway of all time. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1989
The more I think about it, the “Bred” 4s aren’t really a groundbreaking colorway, but more so just a good sneaker. But they’re not just a good sneaker—they’re the best sneaker. Or one of them, depending on who you ask. I think the “White Cement” 4s, as far as the trajectory of Jordan Brand goes, is a more revelatory colorway, with the introduction of “Cement Print.” But the “Bred” 4’s colorway itself has been emulated across the board. Nearly every Team Jordan has come in this color scheme. It just looks good. And sometimes that’s all you need to make a good shoe. —Matt Welty
Year: 1988
This is the sneaker that changed it all for Michael Jordan. Some could say it was the 1. But he wanted to leave Nike after the 2, and the 3 brought him back. It was radically different from the 2 and the first sneaker designed by Tinker Hatfield. The most notable design language on the sneaker is the Elephant print on the toe and heel, and the “Black Cement” colorway is the most bold example of the look. You’ve seen it on a million Jordan Brand things since, but this is where it all started. —Matt Welty
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