In the four decades since Nike launched the Air Jordan I to coincide with Michael Jordan’s NBA rookie season, the iconic sneaker silhouette has spawned a footwear empire worth billions. Air Jordan and MJ’s intertwined legacies are the subject of a new coffee table book by luxury publisher Assouline, and Jordan himself teases what readers can expect: “Sorry to disappoint you, but this is not a book about the game of basketball,” Jordan writes. “Instead, it’s a celebration. A celebration of 40 years of greatness.”
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Through six chapters—a nod to Jordan’s six NBA championships—the tome presents a treasure trove of exclusive content, including a curation of visuals and interviews with insiders like Howard “H” White and Larry Miller; Jordan Brand president Sarah Mensah; and trusted advisers to Michael Jordan. There are also myriad contributions from celebrities, such as Carmelo Anthony, Napheesa Collier, Luka Dončić, Jalen Hurts, Spike Lee, and Jayson Tatum. A never-before-published photo of Jordan by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz also appears among the publication’s 438 images and 360 pages.
As with other Assouline titles, Air Jordan will get a limited run of 1,000 hand-numbered copies featuring a host of exclusive touches, including an intricately tooled clamshell with an Air Jordan logo and elaborate Baroque-style ornamentation. Buyers of the “Ultimate Edition” will also be treated to Jordan Brand’s first bespoke non-sneaker fashion accessory: an Italian-made oversized silk scarf, exclusive to this limited-edition release and featuring the Jumpman logo.
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Priced from $2,300 for the Ultimate edition and $123 for the Classic format—the figures referencing Jordan’s No. 23 jersey number—Assouline’s Air Jordan is available to purchase now.
