With this year’s holiday Air Jordan 11 release just over a week away, Jordan Brand’s plans for next year’s festivities are already coming into focus.

The Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue” will become Jordan Brand’s annual AJ11 release in 2025, marking the first time the colorway has ever been brought back. Appearing almost entirely in black with the exception of its branding and translucent outsole, “Gamma” dropped in 2013 as just the second-ever non-original colorway for the Air Jordan 11 (the first being the all-white pair made for the 25th anniversary of Air Jordans in 2010).

Given how rare it was for Jordan Brand to mess with the Air Jordan 11 at the time, “Gamma” proved polarizing for sneakerheads when it hit stores just days before Christmas. That sort of preciousness is now very much a thing of the past, and the camp that rejoiced in the addition of “Gamma” should now be joined by an even bigger crowd anticipating the colorway’s return once again for the holidays.

News of the Air Jordan 11’s place in the holiday 2025 lineup comes from trusted leaker @zsneakerheadz, who also reported that the Air Jordan 11 “Black/Red/Grey” expected at the same time has been shelved. Although that brand-new colorway won’t see the light of day, another will with the Air Jordan 11 joining the “Rare Air” series that will also include the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4.

The Air Jordan 11 “Gamma Blue” will release during the holiday 2025 season through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing has not yet been confirmed but should come in at the standard $230 price tag for the model, barring another price increase.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Sneakerheads’ first chance to cop the Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” is about to come through Snapchat.

The highly anticipated sneaker will be available to purchase through the Snkrs app for Snapchat users who complete an augmented reality game. From now through November 29, users can tap a gamified lens to begin a series of four missions recreating the experience of waiting in line for sneakers.

Upon joining the line, talking to a fellow sneakerhead, retrieving a basketball and helping an old sneakerhead, players will then be given a link to the “Exclusive Access” page for the Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue.” There, they’ll then confirm that the game has been completed to receive a notification on December 6 to purchase the sneakers a week before the general release.

“Snapchat is transforming how sneakerheads experience the culture of ‘drops’ with our innovative AR Lenses,” Snap Inc. Americas vice president Sharon Silverstein said in a press release. Jordan Brand’s gamified AR Lens brings a nostalgic twist to the AJ11 release, giving Snapchatters a unique way to connect with the brand and even earn early access—showcasing the power of AR in reaching highly passionate audiences.”

Also known as “Columbia Blue,” this original colorway for the Air Jordan 11 first released in 1996 and was worn by Michael Jordan at that year’s NBA All-Star Game. Its baby blue invokes his alma matter, the University of North Carolina, and his Tar Heels shorts that he’d wear beneath his uniform for the Chicago Bulls. Since ’96, the sneaker has only been released again in 2001 and 2014.

Ahead of the release, seven people in California were arrested Friday after police discovered a U-Haul truck containing $200,00 worth of stolen sneakers, all of which are believed to be the “Legend Blue” 11s.

The general release for the Air Jordan 11 “Legend Blue” is scheduled for December 13 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $230.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

One of the holiday season’s most anticipated sneaker drops was allegedly the target of a brazen theft in a remote California desert town.

The California Highway Patrol announced Friday that seven people had been arrested in Anaheim, California after police discovered over $200,000 worth of stolen Nike footwear in a U-Haul truck. According to reports, the shoes were stolen Thursday from a stopped train container located near the Mojave Desert before being transported nearly 200 miles south to Anaheim. But the CHP Border Division’s Cargo Theft Interdiction Program had been tracking the truck’s route and pulled them over Friday morning.

Inside, highway patrol found over $200,000 worth of stolen Nike Jordan sneakers, all of which are believed to be this holiday’s “Legend Blue” (aka “Columbia”) Air Jordan 11 Retro. Images shared by the CHP show a U-Haul stacked high with shipping boxes and their contents along with the tools police say were used to gain entry into the train container. 

All seven suspects, whose identities were not released, have been charged with felony grand theft of cargo and are being held at Orange County Jail pending trial. 

“The swift actions of our CTIP unit and patrol officers demonstrate CHP’s commitment to combating organized cargo theft and ensuring stolen goods are recovered,” said CHP Border Division Chief Tommie Cocroft.  

This isn’t the first time the Air Jordan 11 Retro has been a target of a large-scale holiday theft ahead of its launch. In December 2017, a pair of men walked into a Manhattan Nike store and left with 30 pairs of the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Win Like ’96” sneaker. 

The Air Jordan 11 Retro “Legend Blue” is set to be released Dec. 14 at a retail price of $230. Assuming each stolen shoe was in fact the “Legend Blue” Jordan 11, this would put the total number of recovered pairs at just shy of 900. 

Travis Kelce’s weekly Air Jordan tunnel tradition continued Sunday prior to the still-undefeated Kansas City Chiefs’ 16-14 home win over the Denver Broncos.

Ahead of the win, which was the Chiefs’ 15th consecutive victory and pushed their season record to an NFL-best 9-0, Kelce strolled into the stadium wearing a marled red (not-quite-a-cardigan) overshirt by The Elder Statesman, Helmut Lang denim pants and a pair of Air Jordan 10s that haven’t been seen at retail since 2005. 

While some outlets have incorrectly identified Kelce’s sneakers as the 2016 Air Jordan 10 “Chicago Flag” release, the star tight end’s shoes were actually much rarer. Kelce dug back a decade further to lace up ’05’s “Red Steel” Air Jordan 10 Retro, a new-look style for the model which combined the striping of the Air Jordan 10’s original 1994 “Steel Gray” colorway with a red hue that’s equally suited for the Chicago Bulls and the Chiefs.

Due to their age, Kelce’s sneakers are the sort of pair that is increasingly hard to track down these days. StockX lists just a small handful of sizes available with asking prices ranging from $376 for a size 13 to $1,468 for a size 10.5. But tracking down the shoes isn’t the only challenge. Their age and materials make the sneakers especially susceptible to deterioration through hydrolysis, a chemical process in which polyurethane midsoles break down and eventually crumble. It’s generally accepted that athletic footwear is at a higher risk of hydrolysis after extended periods of nonuse. 

Earlier in the season, during an episode of his New Heights podcast with brother Jason, Kelce hinted that he would wear numbered Air Jordans which corresponded with each week’s game. He did so for the first four games of the season, wearing pairs including the “Varsity Red” Air Jordan 1 Low OG, “Ray Allen PE” Air Jordan 2, “Legends of Summer” Air Jordan 3 and the Kaws x Air Jordan 4. 

Then, in Week 5, Kelce’s plans appeared to change, as he showed up in the Air Jordan 8 “Playoffs.” Following the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce picked the theme back up with the “Miro” Air Jordan 7 ahead of a San Francisco road game, then was back in the “Playoffs” Air Jordan 8 once again on Oct. 27. Prior to the team’s Monday Night Football overtime win against Tampa Bay on Nov. 4, Kelce arrived wearing the “Doernbecher” Air Jordan 9. 

On the field, Kelce has been consistently wearing the Air Jordan 11 cleat, leading many to speculate that a deal between the NFL star and Jordan Brand is in the works. Currently a Nike athlete, Kelce’s deal with the Swoosh will reportedly end after the 2024 season.

Whether Kelce’s pre-game Air Jordans have been a good luck charm for the undefeated team or not, fans can expect him to continue the theme during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. 

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With ample time still to spare, Nike and Jordan Brand’s plans for Chinese New Year are already becoming more clear.

The Air Jordan 11 Low “Year of the Snake” goes with the natural route of incorporating snakeskin textures. The scaly treatment wraps around the mudguard in grey and appears to repeat in black where you’d usually see carbon fiber peaking out from beneath the outsole. A black snakeskin-textured leather hangtag with the Jumpman will also be included with each pair, and the rest of the shoe’s white leather upper matches the midsole. Capping off the Air Jordan 11 Low is a translucent outsole without color.

Both Jordan Brand and Nike go all out annually for Chinese New Year while incorporating the next animal in the zodiac cycle. The Year of the Snake is particularly well suited for the annual collection because snakeskin is already quite popular in sneakers, and leaks have already revealed the Air Force 1 Low and Dunk Low that will release for the holiday. Leaked SKUs have also indicated that two Air Jordan 1 Lows, the Air Jordan 5, Jordan Tatum 3 and Jordan Legacy 312 Low will be included in the collection — but none have yet surfaced through imagery.

Earlier this year, the two brands released more than 10 different sneaker for the “Year of the Dragon,” including a $365 silk Air Force 1 Low that dropped exclusively in China.

The Air Jordan 11 Low didn’t hit shelves until 2001, five years after the regular mid-top version of the model launched. It was also preceded, however, by the Air Jordan 11 IE Low, which featured an almost entirely redesigned upper that also went on sale in 1996. The later-arriving AJ11 Low is more like the original model, only with a lower cut.

The Air Jordan 11 Low “Year of the Snake” is expected to release early in 2025, likely through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $190.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Update: Oct. 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET:

One of Michael Jordan’s most famous sneakers will officially return to retail this holiday season with an updated twist.

New images of the anticipated “Bred Velvet” Air Jordan 11 Retro have hit social media roughly a month in advance of the shoe’s launch. As expected, the velvet veil is used on the entire upper, replacing both the Air Jordan 11’s signature patent leather mudguard, ballistic nylon underlay and leather heel. The result is a softer, deconstructed-like design which turns an already premium model into something even more luxurious looking. 

The latest looks reveal a few new details about this upcoming pair. In addition to the metallic red Jumpman badge at the heel, the tips of the shoelaces are also given a red coating. Meanwhile, the shoe’s rear embroidered “23” branding appears in red — a deviation from the iconic colorway’s usual white logo.

While it’s the first time this concept has appeared on the “Bred” Air Jordan 11, Jordan Brand has previously released the model in other velvet-adorned styles. A 2016 “Heiress” colorway mixed “Night Maroon” nubuck with a velvet mudguard. More recently, 2022’s “Midnight Navy” (aka “Blue Velvet”) Air Jordan 11  took inspiration from the “Heiress” pair with navy blue nubuck and velvet. Each velvet Air Jordan 11 Retro thus far has been a women’s exclusive.

Also on the way for the model this holiday season is the coveted “Columbia Blue” Air Jordan 11 Retro, which will be released in December for the first time since 2014.

After previously applying the velour material to only the shoe’s mudguard, the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Bred Velvet” goes all-in on the theme with a fully velvet build. The women’s exclusive colorway is expected to be released Monday, Nov. 11 for $230. Readers can find the latest look at the pair below.

What We Originally Reported on Sept. 22, 2024

Updating a classic, fan-favorite sneaker can be challenging. Some changes are met with open arms, while others don’t quite connect with consumers the same way the original shoes did. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out for one of this holiday season’s upcoming Air Jordan 11 releases, which just got its first look.

The Air Jordan 11 “Bred Velvet” reimagines Michael Jordan’s 1996 NBA Playoffs sneakers with a feminine edge. Gone are the model’s traditional patent leather mudguard and ballistic nylon upper, both of which are replaced with a full black velvet construction. 

The plush pair retains its red detailing on the translucent outsole, tongue label and heel Jumpman logo, which swaps its usual embroidery for a raised metallic look. Although the shoe looks considerably different without its signature patent leather, the velour-like material is luxurious in its own right, so it’s hard to consider this a downgrade.

Jordan’s eleventh signature sneaker was released throughout 1995 and 1996, with the black-and-red “Bred” style arriving in April of ’96. Sometimes nicknamed “Playoffs,” the “Bred” Air Jordan 11 was worn by Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ ’96 championship win over the Seattle Supersonics. Since the original, the pair has been rereleased in 2001, 2008 (as part of a two-sneaker “Countdown Pack”), 2012 and 2019. 

Other recent Air Jordan reworkings of note include this year’s Air Jordan 4 “Bred Reimagined” and the upcoming Air Jordan 1 High “Black Toe Reimagined.” Both of those pairs have a large amount of fanfare, but not every reimagined style has been as well received. 2021’s “Patent Bred” Air Jordan 1 High can be purchased now for only slightly more than its original price, while the suede-based “Royal Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 High from 2023 is actually available for less than its retail price.

In related news, the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred,” which was once a player exclusive for Jordan himself, is reportedly being released in 2025.

The Air Jordan 11 “Bred Velvet” will be released exclusively in women’s sizing with an expected launch on Nov. 11 and a retail price of $230. Its SKU is DB5457-061 and its full colorway is “Black/Gym Red/White.”

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One of Michael Jordan’s most important sneakers is getting a new look next year.

The Air Jordan 11 Retro — which has been a holiday release staple for nearly two decades at this point — is set to debut a new “Black/Red/Gray” look in 2025. The news comes by way of trusted leaker @zsneakerheadz, who added a speculative mock-up of the upcoming style. 

Based on the color description, the shoe is expected to be mostly black including on its signature ballistic nylon upper and patent leather mudguard. Red and gray accents fill in branding hits, and the shoe’s translucent rubber outsole takes on a smoky look. Despite the lack of in-hand images at this juncture, the pair sounds like it could resemble previous Air Jordan 11s including the iconic “Bred” (short for “Black/Red”), the “72-10” colorway from 2015 and/or the “Cap and Gown” look released in 2018. 

The original “Bred” Air Jordan 11 is one of the shoe’s most memorable iterations. Matching the uniforms of the Chicago Bulls, Jordan wore the colorway during the team’s championship-clenching 1996 playoffs campaign. Since its 1995 retail debut, the sneaker has been re-released in 2001, 2008 (alongside the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” as part of a Countdown Pack), 2012 and most recently, in 2019. It has also been given low-top and cleat-equipped updates.

A common occurrence nowadays, Air Jordan 11 Retro holiday releases began in ’08 with the aforementioned “Countdown Pack.” That was followed in 2009 with the return of the fan-favorite “Space Jam,” in 2010 by the second-ever release of the “Cool Gray,” and in 2011 with the original “Concord” style. 

Since then, the annual holiday releases have been some of the brand’s most anticipated —  and some of its most successful as well. During its 2020 third-quarter results, Nike Inc. called 2019’s “Bred” Air Jordan 11 Retro the largest launch in company history. 

This year will see the return of the Air Jordan 11 “Columbia” (aka “Legend Blue”), back for the first time since 2014.

As of now, this Air Jordan 11 Retro “Black/Red/Gray” is expected to release during holiday ’25 for a retail price of $230. This story will be updated with any changes.

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Nike Air Jordan 11 Retro Low Sneakers

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In the pantheon of Air Jordan Retros, there aren’t many original styles worn by Michael Jordan that have yet to see public retail releases. In Jordan Brand’s early days, the marketing around its releases was often centered around being able to wear the same shoes as Jordan himself — think the infamous “Banned” Air Jordan 1 ad, Spike Lee’s “it’s gotta be the shoes” tagline and so on. Yet even in Jordan’s on-court heyday, there were a handful of obscure pairs that never hit stores. According to new leaks, one such sneaker is finally set to launch.

The original Air Jordan 11 “Bred” (aka “Playoffs”) will reportedly receive a low-top makeover in 2025. The fan-favorite colorway is one of the most popular and significant Air Jordan 11s in the brand’s history, but its status as a low-top has been somewhat difficult to keep track of.

A player exclusive version of the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred” was worn by Jordan during game one of the 1996 NBA Finals against the Seattle Supersonics (embedded below), the only documented occurrence of Jordan lacing up the sneakers. For the rest of the postseason, Jordan wore his more traditional mid-top Air Jordan 11 “Bred.”

Over time, the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred” PE has gained a considerable amount of lore. In 2015, Jordan Brand released a modified version of the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred” with a red sockliner (below), resulting in a different look than the one the NBA legend wore in the ’96 Finals. It was close, but it wasn’t quite the same, and Jordan’s on-court PE remained relatively under the radar until earlier this year when auction house Goldin listed for sale what was presumed to be a game-worn pair. In June, bidding ended at $36,000, resulting in a total sale of $43,920 including the buyer’s premium fee. 

Now, for the first time ever, fans won’t have to spend five-figures to get their hands on this pair. According to sources including @zsneakerheadz on Instagram, the Air Jordan 11 Low Retro “Bred” will be released on June 21, 2025. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed and in-hand images of the ’25 version aren’t yet available, but this story will be updated as more details surface.

This year’s annual holiday Air Jordan 11 release will see the return of a colorway that’s been in the reserves for a decade.

The Air Jordan 11 “Columbia Blue” brings back the sneaker worn by Michael Jordan at the 1996 NBA All-Star Game. Last released in 2014 with the moniker “Legends Blue,” the predominantly white sneaker features sky blue accents to match Jordan’s alma matter, the University of North Carolina. The namesake hue is used for the Jumpman logo, tongue webbing and outsole, as well as the carbon fiber plate that can be seen underneath. Black then forms the sockliner and mustache.

The 1996 All-Star Game marked Jordan’s first since returning from retirement, and the “Columbia Blue” accents nearly matched the famous teal uniforms worn for the game. Prior to 2014, the Air Jordan 11 “Columbia Blue” and only been rereleased one other time in 2001.

Jordan Brand has been releasing Air Jordan 11s each holiday season since 2009, when the tradition began with the much-heralded return of the “Space Jam” colorway. The model is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, Air Jordan sneakers because of its singular design featuring patent leather, which had never been used before in a basketball shoe. Even Jordan himself considers it his favorite, and designer Tinker Hatfield has also singled it out as the “most remarkable” sneaker from the line.

The Air Jordan 11 “Columbia Blue” will release December 14 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $230.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

These days, it’s hard to keep images of sneakers from surfacing online. Whether it be blurry shots of clandestine origins or highly produced assets from the brands themselves, most noteworthy pairs pop up sooner or later. It’s even less common for images to show up on the Internet without any prior information or leaks circulating beforehand, but it looks like that’s exactly what has happened with these Air Jordan 11s.

Shared on Intagram by Filipino sneaker collector Christian “Bigboy” Chen, this previously unseen Air Jordan 11 has been given a “Michigan State” nickname due to its resemblance to the uniform colors of the Spartans.

The pair uses the Air Jordan 11 color blocking seen on classic original pairs such as the “Concord,” outfitting the ballistic nylon and leather upper in white, while the model’s signature patent leather mudguard is a Spartans-like green. The latter color also fills in the Jumpman logo, carbon fiber and rubber outsole portions, and the heel logo, which appears in a rare alternate “45” instead of the traditional “23.”

Air Jordan 11 “Michigan State” (Lateral).

An obvious wrinkle behind the sneaker’s nickname is that until the end of the year, Michigan State is a Nike-sponsored school and thus does not receive its own player exclusive Air Jordans. Meanwhile, the neighboring Michigan Wolverines, who have received a number of exclusive Jordans, are a Jordan Brand university through the 2027 season.

There’s currently no information regarding this pair releasing at retail (or if it has any official ties to Michigan State), but more details are likely to emerge soon.

Air Jordan 11 “Michigan State” (Heel).

Air Jordan 11 “Michigan State” (Outsole).