The story of the Nike Air Jordan series began in 1985 when Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan 1 as his signature shoe. In the almost four decades since, Air Jordan sneakers have become one of the most successful sneaker series, with the expansion of the lineup (the 37th Air Jordan model debuted this year) and Jordan Brand contributing to its presence on court and in street culture.

With the release of the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Lost & Found” driving the sneakersphere and MJ fans into a buying frenzy, all eyes are back on the storied series. 37 years after the first AJ1 was released, which are the most popular models and colorways from the series? We crunched the numbers to find out the 2022 top sellers on our SNKRDUNK App. Here are the results.

*Calculated from 1st January to 13th October 2022

As expected, big brother Air Jordan 1 tops the list, followed by Air Jordan 4 and 6, reflecting the popularity of Michael Jordan-worn shoes and the versatile quality of these heritage sneakers amongst basketball fans and sneakerheads. Below, in descending order, the best-selling Air Jordans on SNKRDUNK.

10. Air Jordan 13

Inspired by MJ’s nickname “Black Panther”, the Air Jordan 13 features a unique stitching pattern on the uppers, alongside a paw-like outsole design that resembles the black cat. The shoe made an on-feet appearance in the documentary film “The Last Dance” and has been gaining popularity as a legacy model of His Airness.

9. Air Jordan 7

The Air Jordan 7 debuted in 1992, the year MJ and the “Dream Team” played at the Summer Olympics. The “Barcelona Nights” iteration of the model that he wore during the games was inspired by the sights and lights of the Olympic venue. Attention towards the silhouette was renewed when the colorway was given a general release in 2015.

8. Air Jordan 12

Known as the first model to be introduced after Jordan Brand was established, the Air Jordan 12 holds the title of “the most durable model” in the Jordan lineup, complete with a full length Zoom Air. Though it has seen little hype within the street scene, the utility aspects and its futuristic construction make this pair a go-to for many players.

7. Air Jordan 11

Designed according to MJ’s request for a formal shoe aesthetic, the Air Jordan 11 offers a dressed-up sports silhouette through utilizing patent leather on the uppers. At the time, the AJ11 also saw a spike in popularity within the US, following announcement of MJ’s return to the NBA in 1995.

6. Air Jordan 2

Released in 1986, the Italian-made Air Jordan 2 is known to feature high quality leather on the uppers while crafted to a unique and elegant form. With rumors of a reissue of the OG “Chicago” colorway this year, it is currently one of the most anticipated models from the Jordan lineup.

5. Air Jordan 5

Inspired by the North American P-51 Mustang, a fighter jet, the Air Jordan 5 represents the toughness of MJ and has played a big part in contributing to the rise in popularity of the Air Jordan series. In Japan, it is also known as the sneaker that the anime character Kaede Rukawa wore in the famous sports manga “Slam Dunk”.

4. Air Jordan 3

The first Air Jordan model to be designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 3, released in 1988, was a product of function and design. Equipped with Visible Air technology, it was also the first Air Jordan sneaker to feature MJ’s signature Jumpman logo, which then became an ubiquitous identifying symbol of the series.

3. Air Jordan 6

Designed for a “bare-foot” fit, the Air Jordan 6 is an honorable model that witnessed MJ’s first win in the NBA under the Chicago Bulls. Drawing design inspirations from sport cars, the silhouette was also spotted on-foot on Hanamichi Sakuragi, the main protagonist of the aforementioned “Slam Dunk” manga.

2. Air Jordan 4

When the Air Jordan 4 debuted in 1989, it was considered ‘revolutionary’ sneaker, crafted with an innovative mix of materials such as plastic and mesh on its upper. While the first few releases did not attract much hype in the community, a promotional video directed by Spike Lee brought the silhouette to public fame. Since then, the Air Jordan 4 has become one of the most sought-after models in the series.

1. Air Jordan 1

As MJ’s first ever signature shoe, the Air Jordan 1 marks the meteoric rise of the Air Jordan series. Even with 30 years past its sensational debut, it is still the most iconic silhouette that keeps sneakerheads hyped every season. The success of a multitude of AJ1 collabs and reissues has shown us the staying power of the OG sneaker icon. It is safe to say that AJ1s will continue to drive the movement of the sneaker scene.

Next Breakthrough Models?

*Calculated from 1st January to 31st September 2022

Diving into our sales statistics on our app, we have seen a steady rise in popularity of the Air Jordan 2, 8 and 36 models in the past year. There are many aspects to consider why there could be such a movement in the market. Below are some possible reasons.

1. Air Jordan 2

– An increase in releases from 2021 to 2022
– Regular collaborations with shops/brands
– Reissue of the OG model

2. Air Jordan 8

– A rise in popularity through Rui Hachimura’s Air Jordan 8
– Leaks of new 2023 models in celebration of the silhouette’s 30th anniversary

3. Air Jordan 36

– Collaboration model with Rui Hachimura
– Relatively new model in the series

Nike tends to take a different approach with their models each year, and while the Air Jordan 1 still occupies the number one spot on the list, what the footwear giant has in stores for us in the future proves to be the deciding factor on how the trend moves. In the meantime, sneakerheads can only wait and anticipate for what’s to come.