The Air Jordan 1 Black/Red — affectionately known as the “Banned” colorway and occasionally called “Bred” — is arguably the most significant sneaker ever.
Both the shoe and its endorser – a Carolina kid named Mike Jordan – would become both famous and infamous as the model’s predecessor – the Nike Air Ship – would be banned by the NBA.
In a savvy marketing move, Nike capitalized on the controversy by making a TV ad with Michael Jordan and his also “Banned” Air Jordan 1s, igniting a flame for high priced high tops that still burns today.
With news coming this year that the famed Air Jordan 1 “Banned” would be returning in true, OG high top form — though some reports dismiss that and claim it’s actually an updated React version — we decided to recount all the releases from Jordan Brand that either stayed true to the original Black/Red 1s or slightly altered the recipe.
Enjoy.
Air Jordan 1 Banned 1985
+ The one that started it all, Michael Jordan laced up the original Air Jordan 1 during his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls
+ In recent years, celebs and style gurus have been buying up OG pairs from 1985 and rocking them as relics
Air Jordan 1 Banned KO 1986
+ Very rare, the Air Jordan 1 KO released in 1986 sporting the famed Banned scheme
+ Losing leather, the shoe’s upper was completely canvas
Air Jordan 1 Banned 1994
+ When Michael left the game of basketball for baseball in 1993, Nike acted quick by releasing the first round of retros in 1994 and 1995
+ Whether the first retro run was inspired by retirement or the ten-year anniversary of Mike’s debut is uncertain
Air Jordan 1 Banned 2001
+ Once again gone from basketball, the Air Jordan 1 released in the famed Banned colorway in 2001 as retros were beginning to gain footing
+ OG heads will point out that the ’01 version is cut slightly lower than recent releases
Air Jordan 1 Low Phat Banned 2008
+ Back in ’85, skaters embraced the Air Jordan 1 OG thanks to its flexible forefoot, durability and rad aesthetic
+ In 2008, JB paid homage and also jumped on the SB wave by beefing up the AJ1 with Phat takes that mostly registered as unpopular
Air Jordan 1 High Strap Banned 2008
+ Blasphemous to some, the Air Jordan 1 Banned released with a strap in 2008
+ Unpopular at time of launch and downright controversial, the strap release was a one-and-done on the Banned motif
Air Jordan 1 Alpha Banned 2009
+ Updated for modern play with modern tech, the Air Jordan 1 Alpha was a performance revamp on the OG favorite
+ Chicago native Dwyane Wade laced up this model for the Miami Heat while signed to JB
Air Jordan 1 Banned 60+ DMP 2009
+ Paying homage to Mike’s 60+ game against the Celtics, the Air Jordan 1 Banned released in a package with a themed Boston colorway
+ The dual drop though only $200 total was too much for most with this package hitting sale racks
Air Jordan 1 Banned 2011
+ While the DMP 1s may have hit sale racks, the very literal “Banned” 1s from 2011 ignited a frenzy by releasing exclusively at Nike Outlet Factory Stores
+ Playing with the hearts of purists and appealing to hypebeasts, this variation returned Nike Air to the tongue for the first time in a decade while stamping the heels with thematic Xs
Air Jordan 1 High KO Banned 2012
+ Paying homage to the OG oddity, the Banned KOs retroed for the first time ever in 2012
+ The canvas kicks benefitted from wear from Kanye West and a new fever for AJ1s
Air Jordan 1 Banned 2013
+ Back again, the Air Jordan 1 Banned released to rave reviews in 2013
+ While Air Jordan 1 releases had somewhat flopped years prior on a mass scale, the Banned retro sold well and was worn often
Air Jordan 1 Low Banned Elephant 2014
+ More or less a mall shoe, the Air Jordan 1 Low launched with an elephant aesthetic printed over the red portions of the Banned blocking
+ Elephant and cut aside, the shoe also features a black outsole unlike the OG red
Lance Mountain x Nike SB x Air Jordan 1
+ Back in the ’80s, skaters used to paint and mismatch their OG 1s to make them last longer
+ The Lance Mountatin collab paid tribute to exactly that, showing both a “Banned” and “Royal” 1 under black or white painting once broke in
Air Jordan 1 Low Banned 2015
+ Feeding the fever for 1s, the Banned colorway dropped in low top form in 2015
+ Most would consider the 2015 run of AJ1 Lows to be sleepers as they were picked up but sold slow
Air Jordan 1 KO Banned 2015
+ Strikingly similar to the 2012 release, the Banned KOs returned in 2015
+ While AJ1s were still red-hot, the KOs never quite caught on like the leather proper
Air Jordan 1.5 The Return Banned 2015
+ Paying homage to Mike’s samples when returning from injury and moving to a new model, the Air Jordan 1 The Return featured the Banned 1 upper atop an Air Jordan 2 midsole
+ You be the judge as to whether or not this is superior storytelling or a top-notch troll
Air Jordan 1 Retro Ultra High Banned 2016
+ Adapting to the times and tech, the Air Jordan 1 Ultra High brought cozy materials and a new age cut to the ’85 classic
+ An interesting play in regards to the athleisure trend, fans still wanted the OG
Air Jordan 1 Banned 2016
+ In 2016, fans got the OG again with the return of the leather Banned 1s
+ Only three years removed from the last launch, it didn’t matter as these were bought up and worn well with the quickness
Air Jordan 1 Satin Banned 2016
+ Very rare, Jordan Brand paid homage to satin jackets with this slick flip on the Banned 1s
+ Still hard to get, these pretty kicks fetch a pretty penny
Air Jordan 1 Top 3 2016
+ Both Banned, Chicago and Royal, the Top 3 AJ1 paid tribute to the best OG takes on the Jordan 1
+ This pair would prove trendsetting for later launches of the AJ1
Air Jordan 1 Flyknit Banned 2017
+ Better received than the Ultra take, the Flyknit 1s redressed the Banned blocking in an entirely threaded upper
+ Generally speaking these were well recieved but would’ve hit harder years prior when Flyknit was crushing
NikeCourt Flare Air Jordan 1 Banned 2017
+ Anthing for Serenas, Mike teamed up with tennis’ GOAT for this hybrid take on both their signatures
+ The Black/Red take was limited as was a Black/Pink pair that also released
Air Jordan 1 “Homage to Home” 2018
+ Both “Banned” and “Chicago,” the “Homage to Home” 1s took the Air Force 1 “Scarface” aesthetic to the best in basketball
+ Years later, Tinker Hatfield would do Nike one better by gifting Leo Chang a “Banned” 1/”Concord” 11 hybrid
Jordan Apex Utility Banned 2019
+ Introducing Flight Utility ethos, the Jordan Apex Utility placed a modern cage over the OG classic
+ Would a proper Air Jordan 1 in leather with a React sole be even more popular?
Air Jordan 1 TD Banned Cleat High 2019
+ Set to be worn by NFL and NCAA players this coming fall, the Air Jordan 1 debuted as a football cleat
+ Mesh underlays make this Banned cleat a better breather than OG construction
Air Jordan 1 TD Banned Cleat Low 2019
+ Chopping the top off the mid version, this cleated take on the Air Jordan 1 Banned is crafted for speed and skill position players on the gridiron.
+ We’re pretty sure TO and Randy Moss wish these released while they were playing
Sky Jordan 1 Banned 2019
+ Like Mike for tykes?
+ The Sky Jordan 1 is the crib equivalent of the OG, offering a fully-wrapped Wings logo in the form of velcro closure
