Description

When Michael Jordan stepped onto the court for his third Slam Dunk Contest wearing the Air Jordan 3, he gave the world an image that would define a generation — soaring through the air as the Jumpman was born. That single moment didn’t just win him the contest; it introduced a sneaker that would forever change basketball and sneaker culture.
The Air Jordan 3 was full of firsts. It was the first Air Jordan to showcase visible Nike Air in the heel, the first to feature the now-iconic elephant print, and the first to carry the Jumpman logo that became a global symbol of excellence. It also marked the beginning of Michael Jordan’s partnership with legendary designer Tinker Hatfield, whose vision brought performance and luxury together in one bold design.
On the court, MJ made the AJ3 legendary. During the 1987–88 season, he won the Slam Dunk Contest, earned All-Star Game MVP, and claimed both Defensive Player of the Year and League MVP honors — all while wearing the AJ3. It was a season that cemented his dominance and made the Air Jordan 3 a cultural icon.
Design-wise, the Jordan 3 sneakers broke away from convention. As the first mid-top basketball shoe in the Air Jordan line, it offered the perfect balance of flexibility and stability — ideal for Jordan’s explosive playing style. Its midsole was shared with the Nike Air Revolution, but over time, that tooling became unmistakably tied to the AJ3 silhouette itself. Hatfield’s use of elephant print—inspired by luxury handbags—added an unexpected touch of sophistication, blending sport with streetwear before the term even existed.
Even though the Air Jordan 3 wasn’t the shoe in which MJ won his first championship, it was the one that defined his rise. Every leap, every dunk, every highlight from that season became part of the AJ3’s mythos. The shoe’s combination of innovation, design, and story has since influenced countless sneakers and apparel collections across decades.
And the legacy continues. In 2025, Jordan Brand reimagines the AJ3 with new editions like the clean “Pure Money” and the vibrant “Starfish” colorways — proving that nearly four decades later, the Air Jordan 3 still captures the same energy, style, and flight that first took off in 1988.