The shoes Michael Jordan was wearing when he took his last shot in the NBA—um, OK, his last shot as a Bull—were the Air Jordan XIVs. Normally they would have never been unveiled that early, but Jordan knew he would be retiring this time, and he (and Nike) thought it would be a good idea to get the next shoe out there. Especially on his feet.
You can’t fault the logic, because it worked out better than anyone could have possibly hoped, but even if MJ had never worn the XIVs in an NBA game, it would still be an all-time classic sneaker. Modeled after Jordan’s Ferrari 550 Maranello, the XIV was a sleek roadster of a shoe (the lowest “mid” yet) with swoopy lines, silvery mesh-backed air vents and a Ferrari-like Jumpman “shield.”
Since Michael Jordan wasn’t on NBA floors for the lockout-shortened 1999 season, it was up to others to carry the on-court legacy. Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, among others.
Air Jordan XIV
MOST RECENT
- Knicks Flip Ed Davis To Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Swaps Jalen Lecque for Indiana’s T.J. Leaf
- Lakers to Send JaVale McGee to Cavaliers
- Chris Boucher, Raptors Agree to Two-Year Deal
- Raptors, Aron Baynes Agree to Two-Year Deal
- Lakers Finalizing Deal with Marc Gasol
- Austin Rivers, Knicks Agree to One-Year Deal
- Celtics, Jayson Tatum Agree on Five-Year Extension
- Pistons Acquire Zhaire Smith in Trade with Sixers
- Bismack Biyombo Agrees to Return to Hornets
- Willie Cauley-Stein, Mavs Agree to Two-Year Deal
- Warriors, Kent Bazemore Agree to Contract
- Suns, Jevon Carter Agree to Three-Year Deal
- Bucks Agree to Deal with Torrey Craig
- John Konchar to Sign Four-Year Deal with Grizzlies
- Warriors Agree to One-Year Deal with Brad Wanamaker
- Mavs, Wesley Iwundu Agree to Deal
- Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Agree to Five-Year Extension
85
