In the annals of the NBA, this iconic moment is simply called “The Shot.” And the player who made it — MJ, His Airness, arguably the greatest of all time — was wearing his black-and-red Air Jordan IV “Bred” sneakers.
Birth of a Legend
When Nike designer Tinker Hatfield devised the Air Jordan 4 back in 1989, he kept some of the design elements of its predecessor but plugged in some new ones as well. The new incarnation had multiport lace locks and wings, which sported holes on each side of the sneaker for a better fit. They also allowed wearers to lace the shoe in different patterns to create a more customized look. “Over-molded” mesh paneling was added for greater breathability. And a purely aesthetic addition was the upside-down stitching of the words “Air Jordan” inside the tongue; it could be flipped down so the iconic words could be read right-side up.
The first Air Jordan debuted in 1985, and the line has become one of the most successful sneaker brands of all time. The Air Jordan IV was released in 1989, and in the family of Air Jordans — which includes more than 30 different models in countless colorways, including the popular gym red, made between 1985 and 2019 — it remains one of the most popular and beloved of all the Jays.
It's All There with Jordan 4s
True, the Air Jordan Retro 4 has been re-released several times over the past three decades. But the Air Jordan 4 Retro “Bred” (also known as “Black Cement 4”), released in 2019, features a classic colorway that includes a remastered black upper with gray accents, a white midsole with black, white, and gray accents, and a fire-red outsole. Purists will be happy to see the Jumpman and “Flight” branding back on the tongue. And for the first time since 1999, the original “Nike Air” logo on the heel makes its return.
In other words, Jordan 4s look suspiciously like the sneakers MJ was wearing when he made “The Shot.”
