Image via Complex Original
11.
It's that time of the year. You know it. My favorite part of these past 12 months. It's the moment where we count down all the best Air Jordans of the year. From recreations of sneakers that Michael Jordan played in, new models, and new colorways and collaborations. We have it all.
It was a big year for Travis Scott. Also a big year for the Air Jordan IV and O.G. versions of Jordans in general. There's plenty more on the way, from the reissue of the Air Ship and Dior x Air Jordan 1. But let's talk about that next year. Let's also talk about the flagship Air Jordan model, the 34, and the impact it's had on the NBA. It's also been a good year for women's sneakers, specifically Air Jordans, and we'll talk about that, too.
As you guessed it. We'll talk a ton about Air Jordans. So if you like Air Jordans or talking about Air Jordans. Read this list. Here are The Best Air Jordans of 2019. —Matt Welty
10.Air Jordan 34
How boring would sneaker culture be if we only appreciated sneakers from 20 years ago? Sure, a lot of hype around Jordan Brand is driven by retro, but it's still a core performance basketball brand. The latest in the flagship Air Jordan line marked a new chapter for the brand by debuting with the new face of the Jumpman -- Zion Williamson. Even though Zion hasn't been able to wear the sneaker much on the court, other Team Jordan members like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kemba Walker have taken the court in exclusive colorways. Blake Griffin even debuted a PE inspired by “The Office,” replete with a “Prison Blake” illustration on the sockliner. —Gerald Flores
9.Trophy Room x Air Jordan V
When you get Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus, designing one of MJ’s most memorable shoes, the Air Jordan V, it’s going to be something good. They only made about 7,000 pairs of these shoes. They resell for over $1,000. The friends-and-family pair goes for over $4,000. You probably don’t have a pair. And the suede is really good on them. —Matt Welty
8.Aleali May x Air Jordan VI
It’s been a great year for women’s sneakers in 2019. A lot of the colorways were so good that men were even envious. One of the best examples was Aleali May’s Air Jordan IV. No stranger to Air Jordan collabs, this was her third in three years, May delivered an OG-inspired take on the model that Michael Jordan captured his first championship in back in 1991. Originally labeled a friends and family exclusive when it first surfaced back in 2017, many were especially excited that they would have the chance to get their hands on a pair after all. Many have criticized the women’s footwear space in the past for its frequent “shrink it and pink it” designs, but the Rust Pink nubuck upper works this time around. The Bright Crimson accents on the tongue, heel, and midsole alluding to the original “Black/Infrared” color scheme MJ wore back in the day are a perfect finishing touch. —Mike DeStefano
7.Air Jordan 1 "Blue Chill"
Before delivering the UNC-inspired “Obsidian” Jordan 1 in August, Jordan Brand heated things up with this women’s-exclusive All-Star Weekend drop. A patent leather treatment gave the OG-style color blocking an elevated feel, which makes it stand out from the aforementioned standard leather version—the women’s exclusive resells for nearly twice the amount, too. —Riley Jones
6.Air Jordan VI "Black/Infrared"
The first sneaker that Michael Jordan won an NBA ring while wearing. That should be enough of a reason for people to like these. The Air Jordan VI in the Infrared colorway has always been a mythical shoe for sneaker dorks and cool guys. They’re finally back in their true form, complete with Nike Air on the heel. Love to see it. When Jordan Brand takes the time to get things right, you need to applaud it. —Matt Welty
5.Air Jordan XI "Playoff"
Any time an Air Jordan XI releases at the end of the year, it’s sure to be a big deal. The one that started it all, the “Playoff” Air Jordan XI, last dropped in 2012 and 2008 in a Countdown Pack, is back. Jordan Brand will probably make over a million pairs of these, and they’ll still sell out. Kids will wear them. Dads in bootcut jeans will wear them. Hypebeasts will wear them. Everyone will wear them (except me, and that’s OK). Michael Jordan went 72-10 in these sneakers. Nothing more needs to be said. —Matt Welty
4.Travis Scott x Air Jordan VI
It’s hard to dispute the fact that Travis Scott won 2019 in sneakers. I mean, not many collaborators out there can say they released five sneakers that all sold out right away in the manner that Scott’s did. As you’ll find out in a few hundred words, Scott's Jordan VI will not be the rapper’s last entrant on this list. While the VI is not quite as iconic as the revere-Swooshed AJ1, its familiar olive and orange color scheme combined with both Nike Air and Cactus Jack branding makes this one of the clear standouts of the year. They even have a stash pocket to house your extracurricular activities. —Ben Felderstein
3.Air Jordan 1 "Black Satin Toe"
One of many noteworthy women’s sneakers from 2019, this satin-tinged take on the OG “Black Toe” Air Jordan 1 was a welcome addition to this year’s line up. It was less liberal in its use of satin than previous releases, using the shimmering material only on the heel, but it was enough to add a new spin on the otherwise familiar look. Like many of this year’s women’s releases, guys found themselves hunting down pairs of these, which regularly flip for over the $400 mark regardless of size. —Riley Jones
2.Air Jordan IV "Black/Red"
“The Shot.” Everyone reading this blurb already knows exactly what moment I’m talking about and what sneaker MJ was wearing during it. Without The Shot, the Air Jordan IV “Black/Red” is as clean as they come, a classic black, red, and grey color combo, a premium nubuck upper, and one of the top models in the Jordan Brand’s history. But add this iconic memory into the fold and it puts this shoe in contention for the greatest Jordans of all time, not just this year. Pairs rolled out a couple of times this year via SNKRS stash and every other special drop that wonky App puts us through and they damn near flew off the shelves every time. —Ben Felderstein
1.Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1
No surprises here. Travis Scott’s Air Jordan I is at the top of another list. The praise is warranted though. Few collaborations felt as big as this one in 2019. The release broke the SNKRS app, and caused numerous rants on Twitter the same morning from droves of disappointed ragers and resellers. The design cannot be overlooked either. In the endless sea of Air Jordan 1s that dropped this year, even the mid is selling, Scott’s pair stands out. An unconventional brown suede upper, giant backwards Swoosh, and stash pocket wrapping the heel for discretely storing goods of your choosing make it one of the more unique Is in quite some time.
Love him or hate him, chances are you wanted to cop this sneaker. Nowadays it will set you back over $1,000, so consider yourself lucky if you were able to on release day for only $175. Scott’s star power has grown massively in the past two years, and the hysteria around this sneaker is one of the handful of things that indicate just how big he has become. —Mike DeStefano