The most devoted of Jordan obsessors believed that everything that there was to know about MJ was already known. That’s why the anticipation for ESPN’s “The Last Dance” has been swelling – because we’re all dying to dive deeper into the true myths that built up the GOAT’s legend. Despite his global status, Michael Jordan has always been on the more secretive end, only speaking and making experiences when it truly mattered. It’s this rarity that makes MJ’s vulnerability so fascinating.
While the documentary will focus on the entire Chicago Bulls and their championship run in the ’97-’98 season, Jordan will undoubtedly be the centerpiece. And while we too are desperate to learn more, we’d like to share a bit of our own input on “The Last Dance” – the shoes. Air Jordans have made a lasting impression on the legacy of Michael Jordan, and in the final season with the Bulls, it made its deepest marks as Michael branched off from Nike to form Jordan Brand.
When Michael Jordan first signed with Nike in 1984, the concept of the signature shoe was formed, introducing a brand new sneaker each and every season. That tradition persisted through MJ’s final season in Chicago as the Air Jordan 13, another Tinker Hatfield masterpiece, was introduced for the ’97-’98 campaign. Inspired by Michael Jordan’s alternate persona of the “Black Cat”, Tinker designed the midsole to look like a panther’s paw, while the jewel on the heel represented the fear-inducing stare of the cat’s eye. A total of seven Air Jordan 13s were available for retail – five “Mids” and two “Lows”, with all seven re-releasing on several occasions in following years.
