Jordan Brand closes the year on a high with the release of the iconic Air Jordan II ‘Chicago’ – returning in the original Bull’s colourway.
The Origins
Originally released in 1986, the Air Jordan II was designed by Bruce Kilgore and Peter Moore. The most notable feature of the Air Jordan II is the absence of Nike Swoosh branding anywhere on the shoe. The heel tab and the insole did feature Nike Branding, but the prominent wings logo on the tongue were dominant.
The model was also constructed in a clean, streamlined design in premium materials in Montebelluna Italy to set is apart from all other basketball shoes at the time. The use of exotic faux lizard skin across the quarter panel seemed to foreshadow the even bolder elephant print on the Air Jordan III, but it was clear that the Air Jordan II laid important foundation for the Jordan Brand line.
MJ and the Air Jordan II
In the third game of the 1985-86 season Michael Jordan broke his left foot against the Golden State Warriors on October 29, 1985. The shooting guard went up for a lob and landed flat-footed. Jordan missed 64 games and grew irritated since he couldn't do anything.
In the 1986-87 Season Michael Jordan was fully healthy and tore through the league with a vengeance, scoring 3,041 points that season, averaging 37.1 points per game and marking the first time a player had eclipsed the 3,000-point mark since Wilt Chamberlain in 1963. Jordan had 37 games of 40 or more points and had eight 50-point games during the season, all donning the Air Jordan II.
One of the most Iconic Jordan II moments is the 1987 All Star Dunk Contest. Flying like Superman, it was Michael Jordan’s first Dunk contest win.
Click here to also the view of the 1985, 1987 and 1988 Dunk contest.
Given we are enjoying this release over the festive season 2022, we have to mention the Michael Jordan’s first Christmas Day game which came during the 1986-1987 season, his third year in the NBA. Here Michael Jordan was rocking the Air Jordan II.
On that day, the Bulls were in the iconic basketball Mecca of Madison Square Garden, playing against the New York Knicks and it was quite the dramatic affair.
The teams went back and forth throughout. In the final frame and the Bulls held an 85-84 advantage when Knicks guard Trent Tucker threw up a long jumper from the left wing with four seconds remaining. The shot missed badly but the ball was tipped right to Patrick Ewing, who caught it and shot in mid-air. The ball hit the front of the rim and bounced in, giving the Knicks the 86-85 victory.
Michael Jordan had 30 points in 41 minutes in the loss. It was the first of what would turn out to be three 30+ performances on Christmas Day.
Click here for great highlight footage of the Jordan vs Ewing Christmas duel.
The 2022 Air Jordan II Retro
Over the past year we have seen a massive injection of Air Jordan 2 colourways and collaborations, including Virgil Abloh, A Ma Maniere, J Balvin, Maison Château Rouge, and Union LA setting the hype and interest level for the Air Jordan II at an all-time high.
While the Air Jordan 2 is possibly one of the more polarizing Jordan models, it can’t be disputed how crucial it was in Jordan’s career. The risks Nike took by radically changing its Air Jordan design, after the monumental Air Jordan 1s, set the tone for more risk-taking, pushing the envelope and ultimately success and world domination. The Air Jordan 2 might not be the most popular model, but it was still an important milestone.
We are all excited to see these on foot and are very happy to see the Air Jordan II come back in its remastered OG colourway and format, including the iconic wings logo tag and amazing OG Air Jordan II wings box.
