No matter how far we get from the days in which His Airness laced up his signature model on the court, the annual arrival of the latest Air Jordan will always hold substantial weight in sneaker circles. In the years since Michael Jordanâs retirement, new installments of his signature series have become moments in which cutting-edge footwear technology makes its debut. While not every silhouette is a hit and not every innovation holds longevity, the Air Jordan is the most reliable release on the sneaker calendar and has been since 1985. This week, the newest installment arrives.
2024 brings us the Air Jordan 39, hitting shelves (and apps) later this week. The 39 marks a new chapter of sorts in the line, stepping away from the design language thatâs dominated each new silhouette since the 34 way back in 2019. The silhouettes of that generation emphasized a lightweight, mid-cut build and (mostly) featured a piece dubbed the Eclipse Plate in the heel, which helped smooth the transition from heel to foot in stride and especially in jumpingâyou know, getting airborne.
Nike
The 39 steps away from the recognizable mid-cut that dominated the line for the last five years and instead opts for something that breaks a bit further down the ankle. Itâs not quite as low a cut as the majority of Kobeâs signature line (which most signature sneakers these days, especially under Nike, emulate) but itâs a noticeable departure, the design not dissimilar to some of the brandâs other current signature models for the likes of Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Zion Williamson.
The tech innovations so closely associated with the line are most present in the sole of the 39. It features a full-length ZoomX foam midsole, the same material present in some of Nikeâs most elite running shoes. It boasts an 85% energy return, perfect for catching air and, more crucially, boosting explosiveness when cutting and sprinting. The ZoomX foam is paired with a full-length Air Zoom unit, the signature cushioning material many of Nike and Jordanâs top-end hoops shoes. As always, the AJ39 will also feature plenty of easter eggs and homages to Jordanâs career in colorways and release. Dropping on July 23 (of course) is the Air Jordan 39 âSol,â the first of nine premiere colorways. That number is intentionalâthe shoe is dropping during an Olympic summer in which Team USA will be gunning for gold with an absurdly star-studded roster. 9 was MJâs number when he took the court with the Dream Team, the squad that ushered in Team USAâs reign of unparalleled dominance across decades of Olympic Competition.
This overall change from the last few iterations of the Air Jordan stems from a desire to build a shoe that lends itself to MJâs ground game (the brand notes itâs specifically inspired by his lethal crossover) rather than his accomplishments in mid-air. Itâs a wise pivot. When a signature line has run as long as the Air Jordan one has, it becomes more and more difficult to approach new shoes with a fresh point of view. With Jordan standing as one of the most complete ballplayers to ever grace a court, there are plenty of skillsets and storytelling beats to pull from other than his ability to take flight.
The Air Jordan 39 âSolâ lands at Nike tomorrow for $200.
