Arriving on the shelves in November of 1986, the Air Jordan 2 was the predecessor to the Air Jordan 1 released just a year earlier, having amounted to massive success. Considered to be one of the most polarizing Jordan Brand sneaker models, the Air Jordan 2 was a pivotal moment in time, and nobody can deny how important the shoe was in Michael Jordan’s basketball career. Nike took a giant risk by radically adjusting the Air Jordan design after the first shoe’s massive success. The Air Jordan 2 was an important milestone for the Jordan Brand and was on the feet of Michael Jordan while he continued to crush NBA records. Looking ahead at Friday, December 30th’s re-release of the Air Jordan 2 ‘Chicago,’ let’s take a look back at this iconic sneaker that threw a wrench in what the world knew of basketball sneakers at the time, and how Nike’s efforts in putting a spin on footwear set the stage for the brand’s future risk-taking along with the Jordan Brand in its entirety.

After Michael Jordan’s success in his 1985-1986 NBA season along with the notoriety provided by the debut of the Air Jordan 1, a then 23-year-old Michael Jordan began the next season sporting a pair of Air Jordan 2s on-feet. Michael Jordan took his game to a new level while wearing Air Jordan 2s. Michael Jordan’s first game of the season was against the New York Knicks, a game in which he scored a legendary 50 points, breaking the record at Madison Square Garden for the most points scored by an opposing player. During this season, Jordan averaged a career-best of 37.1 points per game. He became the first NBA player in history to achieve 200 steals and 100 blocks during a single season. While wearing Air Jordan 2s, Jordan became an NBA All-Star and joined the All-NBA First Team. He also won the Slam Dunk Contest in Seattle with his legendary foul-line dunk. The Air Jordan 2 also made waves in the film industry, as Bill Murray sported them on-feet during the film Space Jam.

When the Air Jordan 2 first made its introduction to the world, Nike wanted the silhouette to be viewed in a more ‘sophisticated’ manner than its Air Jordan 1 predecessor. Designed to be functional on the court but also stylish during everyday wear, one of the shoe’s most primary components is its lack of the Nike Swoosh. Everyone was wondering where the Swoosh went, as the sneaker was stripped of the traditional Nike logo for the Jordan Wings branding. The silhouette was first released in a classic White/Red colorway. Three additional colorways were released in 1987. The Air Jordan 2 was designed by sneaker designer icons Bruce Kilgore and Peter Moore. All original Air Jordan 2 silhouettes were made in Italy, which emphasized how premium and elevated this basketball sneaker was. Eight years later in 1995, the Air Jordan 2 was re-released as Air Jordan 2 Highs and Air Jordan 2 Lows. 

Nike’s intention was to create an exclusive sneaker with high-quality materials, and they did just that by implementing premium leather at the upper for superior support. No break-in was required with the Air Jordan 2s, and its faux lizard skin added a further dimension to the silhouette. The sneaker arrived in mostly white mid-cut and white low-cut colorways. Its speed lacing system allows for quick and even adjustment, while its extended polyurethane heel counter provided improvised stability during maneuvers the basketball court required. Additionally, the Nike Air unit at the heel and signature polyurethane midsole offered maximum cushioning. Rumor has it that the original Air Jordan 2 models were destroyed, so its models began to be ‘retro-ed’ for the first time in 1995. These retro silhouettes consisted of mid-top and low-top iterations, and although they weren’t perfect matches of the originals, their additional colorways caught the eyes of sneaker enthusiasts globally. Presented on silhouettes such as the Air Jordan 2 Retro Low, Air Jordan 2 OG, These include ‘Chicago’ (White/Varsity Red/Black’), ‘Grey Fog,’ ‘UNC,’ ‘Wing It,’ ‘University Blue,’ ‘Gym Red,’ ‘Detroit,’ and many more. Alongside the sneaker’s notable colorways, the silhouette has also presented collaborations such as Off-White x Air Jordan, A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan, and Maison Château Rouge x Air Jordan.

The Air Jordan 2 was more than just the second addition to what would become a legendary sneaker empire. Also representing a legendary point in Michael Jordan's career, the Air Jordan 2 represents elevation and sport into one singular design. Watch the YouTube video below for another look at the re-release of the Air Jordan 2 'Chicago.'