SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

Jordan X

It wasn’t just any Sunday. It wasn’t just any March. And although they had shared their squabbles, the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls were scheduled to meet for more than just a basketball game. Certainly, Michael Jordan wasn’t just any basketball player. With just a day’s notice and two simple words, Jordan sent the sporting world into a frenzy once again as he announced on March 18, 1995, “I’m back.” It was a perfectly blue-skied Sunday in Indianapolis when he once again donned Chicago Bulls red, though in an awkwardly uncomfortable number 45 jersey, and yet the media circus surrounding Michael never seemed to leave since he last left the court after winning a title in Phoenix.

Though he didn’t quite have the same lift we were used to, the same precision on his jump shot, or the reaction time, stamina, or awareness akin to the world’s most masterful player just a year and a half ago, it didn’t much matter, as Jordan had returned to the game for good, and once again fans would be treated to seeing Michael on court in his familiar Air Jordans. This time around, he would play himself back into shape while wearing the X. In the White/Black/True Red, or what’s commonly called the “Chicago” colorway, Jordan had rekindled fans’ obsessive passion towards his footwear once again. The X was a bit of a departure from the VIII and IX just before it, opting for a sleeker, more passive look fused with sharp performance design details. Along the tongue, elastic eyestay bands worked to snuggly fit the foot, and a full-length Nike Air unit at the midsole helped provide a cushioned ride. Thanks to the words of MJ himself, the X also featured a mid-production shift, as Jordan was not pleased with the toe cap on the White/Black/Light Steel Grey, and ordered it removed from all other upcoming colorways planned to release.

Ideated to be more of a celebratory shoe as Jordan was retired during the shoe’s design timeline, Tinker Hatfield used a series of stripes along the outsole, with each one briefly capturing a Jordan accomplishment for each year of his career. The X was received in full, festive mood, and five regional colorways were launched to help fuel the national demand, each worn by NBA players from the cities selected. Chicago, New York, Orlando, Seattle and Sacramento were all included in the ahead-of-its time launch plans, and the set remains the most valuable of the existing original Xs.

When the Retro bug hit the X in 2005, Jordan Brand decided to go with mostly striped tongue releases, as well as the all black and white Jumpman version. Leaving the regional X’s on deck for later, the Retro X sold out nationwide, with the White/Varsity Red/Light Steel Grey and White/Obsidian/Ice Blue colorways most clamored over. Though not the most breathtaking visual of the line, no thanks in part to being on the heels of the XI, the Jordan X did help to reaffirm Michael’s hold over our collective hearts as we saw him return to the game where he rightfully, and thankfully, belonged.