Any pair of basketball shoes that carry the iconic Jumpman logo is bound to be expensive. The signature sneaker line of Michael Jordan, probably the best basketball player ever to play the game, the Air Jordan Brand has embedded itself as an important piece of basketball culture and history. From the first time Jordan laced up the “Banned” model up to the moment when he took the game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, Jordan became the face of high quality performance sneakers and his shoes have become the stuff of legend.Long after he hung his jersey for good, Michael Jordan is still active in the basketball sneaker landscape, implementing a hands-on management on his alive and flourishing sneaker business. Today, Jordan shoes are among the most expensive regular-priced basketball footwear.The first time an Air Jordan model breached the $200-mark was the Air Jordan XVII, released in 2003. Almost a decade later, the Air Jordan 2012 came along and demanded a price of $223 a pair.
The average price tag of Air Jordans since 2003 is around $160 to $180, a huge amount in today’s standards. But with all the sneaker innovations and technologies that are now commonplace, it is quite easy to think that such price point is very much justified.But looking back, the most expensive Air Jordans ever sold are not the ones we see today, sported by modern basketball superstars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. These are models that existed during the reign of His Airness, an indication that basketball and Michael Jordan are two inseparable entities.Check out the most expensive Air Jordan sneakers ever sold.The first Air Jordan model to feature the all too familiar Jumpman logo, the Air Jordan III model was introduced in 1988. It is also the first model to employ a visible air unit at the heel. Jordan had a stellar year with this particular model, as he won a very memorable slam dunk contest against the legendary Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks, bagged the All Star Game MVP honors the next day, and got named as the Most Defensive Player of The Year.Jordan is a rare specimen of an athlete, as he is one of the select few who nabbed an NCAA championship
, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. The latter he won together with the renowned “Dream Team” and with the special edition of the Air Jordan VI on his feet. Today, the white-carmine-black 1992 Olympics edition of the Air Jordan VI fetches $7,200 a pair.Released in 1990, the Air Jordan V’s design was inspired by the World War II fighter planes that showcased a gaping shark’s mouth painted at the nose. The Air Jordan V sported lace locks, the first basketball sneakers to have the said functionality. A special edition was made specifically for Jordan, which featured his jersey number 23 at the side. This specially crafted sneaker now carries a price tag of $10,000 a pair.The Air Jordan 11 is one of the most popular models of the Air Jordan line and is highly coveted among sneaker collectors. When a pair of the rare Air Jordan 11 “Blackout” version went up for sale on eBay, some fan was just too willing to part ways with more than $11,000 just to own this special pair.
Naturally, this pair is probably better off in a display box than in the basketball court.This rare pair of a special edition Air Jordan 10 was given to Drake and his crew, October’s Very Own (OVO), as Jordan Brand’s symbol of partnership with the group. The pair was later given to a fan at the Toronto Raptors’ ‘Drake Night’ extravaganza. Needless to say, the fan immediately cashed in on the gesture, putting the shoes up for sale and bagging $20,000 in the process.A valuable piece of history for the avid basketball fan, this pair of autographed Air Jordan 1s gets it worth from the fact that it was worn by the great MJ in the 1985 NBA All Star Game. Although Jordan was not a firecracker that night, it was hard to blame him when he played alongside basketball legends Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Isaiah Thomas and Julius Erving while rocking this pair.The first Air Jordan has proven to be a huge fan favorite and has been re-released ever since it was first introduced. A limited edition that featured a black-and-metallic gold colorway was soon ushered exclusively in Asia back in 1985.
Only 12 pairs were produced and the price today can go as high as $25,000.While not exactly a popular model among basketball fans and sneaker lovers, this particular pair of Air Jordan 2 surprisingly netted $31,000 on eBay. Images of the sneaker showed it aged poorly and clearly did not receive avid care from its former owners. Still, it is a 28-year old pair of basketball history that will probably grace the insides of a glass case and find a spot in a sports or sneakers museum.This pair has the same back story as the Air Jordan OVO 10 that sits at #6. Thrown to a lady fan during Drake’s Extravaganza Night at the Toronto Raptors, the shoes was immediately placed on the selling block and reportedly nabbed $100,000.Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Series tied at 2-2, with Utah Jazz winning the last two games and third straight win can give Utah the momentum. Potentially disastrous time for the Chicago Bulls if they lose. Jordan got the flu. Too weak to play, His Airness mustered all strength he had left and went all out.
Jazz had the lead all night long until Jordan exploded for 15 points in the last quarter. Clutch shot after clutch shot, Jordan finally gave the Bulls a much-needed victory in a game that will go down as one of the most memorable in basketball history. And his shoes will go down as the most expensive pair of Air Jordan shoes ever sold. Category: Financial News, Money & EntertainmentThe 25 Best-Selling Air Jordans In the summer of 1984, Michael Jordan’s agent, David Falk, met with Nike executive Rob Strasser. Falk wanted a signature shoe called the Michael Jordan. Strasser said it needed a better name. “In the middle of this meeting, I had this brainstorm,” Falk recalls. “Nike had just started coming out with running shoes that had this new Air technology. And because of the way Michael played …” Like no product before or since, the Air Jordan reshaped the footwear industry. Basketball shoes became everyday wear; Nike, the runaway market leader. Thirty years later—with Jordan’s last NBA game more than a decade behind him—his sneakers still dominate.