SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

Jordan XVIII

Robert “Scoop” Jackson’s “Sole Provider: 30 Years of Nike Basketball” was a treat to sneakerheads in and of itself, but the book also offered an additional reward to the most astute readers.

The jacket featured the Blazer and the Shox VC II – one of Nike’s first basketball shoes and one of its most advanced models at the time, respectively – but the hardcover book itself was emblazoned with a profile shot of the Air Jordan XVIII in the VC’s place. It was a sneak peek in late 2002 of the final sneaker that Michael Jordan would wear in the NBA, and once it launched in early 2003, the shoe was anything but under wraps.

Thanks to MJ’s return, Washington Wizards games were now often nationally televised, and the XVIII adorned his feet throughout the 2002-03 season as fans clamored to watch the end of an era. Jordan wore the XVIIIs when he dropped 20 points in his final All-Star Game and when he led his team on a late-season playoff run that eventually fizzled, but still added more drama to his swansong. The Wizards finished with a 37-45 record, and Jordan capped his career by playing in all 82 games and averaging 20 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Not bad for a guy who turned 40 shortly after the All-Star break.

The shoe also enjoyed a part in Jordan Brand’s “Love Supreme” ad campaign, a dramatic career retrospective where Jordan answers the question “What is love?” with such answers as “Love is silencing your critics,” “Love is playing on nothing but heart,” and finally “Love is playing every game as if it’s your last.”

Designed by Tate Kuerbis and modeled after the Lamborghini Murciélago, the XVIII featured a one-piece upper, side vents and a racing tire-inspired outsole. The automotive influence was further enforced with an included “driving manual” that explained the technical aspects of the shoe. The XVIII featured a carbon fiber Comfort Control Plate embedded in the sockliner, dual-layered Zoom Air cushioning and a hidden lacing system that added to the clean look.

While the packaging wasn’t as flashy as the XVIIs, the XVIIIs still boasted a unique silver box with a drawer and an embroidered Air Jordan towel. At $175, the XVIII was also cheaper than the previous model, which retailed for $200. The suede Black/Sport Royal colorway (the only version of the XVIII to use that material) also came with a Jumpman brush to clean the shoes.

Although it enjoys the significance of being Jordan’s last game-used shoe, the XVIII only received a brief mention – and a fairly mixed evaluation at that – in Jordan’s 2005 book, “Driven from Within.” In the book, Jordan and his associates, such as longtime Air Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield, delve into the story behind many of the shoes, but the XVIII is grouped with its predecessor and successor.

“You could probably say those three shoes (XVII, XVIII, XIX) maybe didn’t move the needle on the dial like some before, but you also can safely say they did well,” wrote Hatfield. “I think in their own way, those shoes were successful by virtue of keeping the lineage alive and pushing design.”

Hatfield’s tone is similar to the popular assessment of Jordan’s 2002-03 effort. It was far from his best season, but still a respectable addition to his legacy.