Goldin Elite Auction Closing August 22 10PM Est
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/24/2020
At the time of Michael Jordan’s rookie season of 1984-85, the NBA had strict guidelines on uniforms and sneakers. Even a budding star like Jordan was not immune to the long arm of the NBA’s uniform code. So much so that during Jordan’s rookie season of 1984-85, a pair of black and red Air Jordan’s did not conform to the NBA’s uniform code.
Despite the Bulls’ primary colors of red and black, the NBA mandated that players “must wear shoes that not only matched their uniforms, but matched the shoes worn by their teammates.” This apparently all came to a head when Jordan wore this style shoe during a preseason game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks on October 18, 1984. Following that game, the NBA notified the Bulls and/or Nike that the sneakers did not meet the uniform standards.
Offered here are a pair of original Air Jordan I black and red sneakers, the very designed that was banned by the NBA for use in their games. These red and black sneakers display tremendous wear and are a size 9 ½. “Nike AIR” is printed in red on the black tongues, while the toes and heels are red. The outsides have black trim with the Nike swoosh in red on both sides. The soles are red and the outside toes have a black border with a white rubber outer border. The Air Jordan logo is applied in black on the outside ankles and the right shoe has red laces, while the left shoe has black laces. A great piece of NBA and Nike history.
A video is attached to this lot from a 1986 taping of Late Night With David Letterman in which Letterman interviews Jordan about various marketing and endorsements the then-23-year-old Jordan had already signed. At about the 4:45 mark, David Letterman and Michael Jordan start talking about the banned design.
Also shown in this lot is a letter from then NBA Executive Vice President Russell T. Granik sent to NIKE, Inc. dated February 25th, 1985 that reads “Gentleman: In accordance with our conversations, this will confirm and verify that the National Basketball Association’s rules and procedures prohibited the wearing of certain red and black NIKE basketball shoes by Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan on or around October 18, 1984.” Please note that this letter does NOT accompany the shoes and is only presented for informational purposes.