This classic Air Jordan 9 colorway has plenty of nicknames.
For this latest retro, the Playoff, the Chicago, or whatever you have grown up calling this ever-important colorway of the Air Jordan 9, is returning for a special celebration. That is, the celebration of Space Jam’s 30th anniversary.
Jordan Brand is going all out on celebrating Michael Jordan’s journey into Tinseltown with his iconic Space Jam Movie. This week’s Air Jordan 9 release is simply the kick-off party for a massive celebration that will take place through the rest of 2026.
Launching in 1993, the Air Jordan 9 famously debuted during Michael Jordan’s first sabbatical from the game of basketball. Tinker Hatfield’s design of the sneaker was meant to symbolize Jordan’s global icon status. No detail makes this more apparent than the sneaker’s outsole. With an assist from designer Mark Smith, the Air Jordan 9 featured words in German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, French, and Swahili. All done with the purpose of inspiring hoopers and fans around the world.
With Jordan away from the hardwood, the 9 found itself getting fitted for studs. The sneaker found a new home on the baseball field, as Jordan pursued his dream of playing professional baseball. With P.E.s that matched his Birmingham Barons’ colors, the signature found a new life. But the diamond wasn’t the only new home for the Air Jordan line.
Though we recognize the Air Jordan 11 more closely in the movie’s naming, the Air Jordan 9 is prominently featured in Space Jam as well. The sneaker is Jordan’s footwear of choice as he trains with the Looney Tunes ahead of the movie’s climax. The shoe is also in countless behind-the-scenes photos of Jordan filming the movie, further cementing its status as an important part of the movie and Jordan Brand’s history.
As Jordan Brand prepares to go all out to celebrate the movie’s 30th anniversary, the Air Jordan 9 in this classic colorway is kicking off the celebration. Ever the iconic sneaker, this will mark the 6th time Jordan Brand has launched the Air Jordan 9 in this special black-and-white colorway. Though it has carried with it its impact on the line and the Space Jam movie with every retro release in the past, this year’s launch puts that at the front and center with special packaging. Truly, this year’s retro is one that is overdue for such an important sneaker in Jordan Brand’s history.
The Air Jordan 9 Space Jam launches this Saturday, September 19th, via Nike and participating retailers like JD Sports.
Photos courtesy of Sneaker Politics
Movie screengrab courtesy of Sneakerbardetroit
