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Learn the History Behind Nike's Legendary Air Jordan 3

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Learn the History Behind Nike's Legendary Air Jordan 3

Nov 13, 2025

Air Jordan 3 history is sneaker history. Without the AJ 3, the history and impact of Jordan sneakers would look entirely different — and Michael Jordan might not have stayed with Nike at all. We'd be living in a world without the Jumpman logo, without "White Cement" and without stunning colorways like the black-and-gold Air Jordan 3 BHM "Black History Month." But the AJ 3 did arrive, it kept Jordan at Nike and it changed basketball sneaker culture forever.

The Turning Point in Jordan History

Legend has it that Michael Jordan was late for the first AJ 3presentation because he was out golfing with executives intent on luring him away from Nike. In 1987, Jordan's contract with the brand was set to expire. He was disenchanted with the general design direction of his signature shoe line, and he was ready to go elsewhere. But then he saw the vision for the AJ 3, and everything clicked.



AJ 3s were the first Jordan sneakers created by Tinker Hatfield, working with Mike to design a shoe that met Jordan's needs and preferences. An eye-catching shoe got a powerful boost from the fact that it was on MJ's feet throughout the 1987-88 NBA season, when he was the league's leading scorer and won his first MVP award. And he was wearing "White Cement" AJ 3s for the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, when he soared from the free throw line with an epic, iconic dunk for the ages. Throw in the black-and-white "Mike and Mars" ad campaign that paired Jordan with Spike Lee's MJ-obsessed character, Mars Blackmon, and the Air Jordan 3 achieved a lasting cultural significance that nobody expected from sneakers in the late '80s.

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Legacy of the Jordan 3 — and Why It Still Hits Today

The signature elements of the Air Jordan 3 were all firsts back when the shoe launched in 1988. The AJ 3 is the first Air Jordan to feature a visible Air unit in the heel (an element Hatfield borrowed from one of his earlier design successes, the Air Max), the first to showcase the iconic Jumpman logo and the first mid-top basketball shoe. The latter feature was at Jordan's request, as was the use of machine-tumbled leather on the sneakers to make them "game-ready," so he could wear a new pair for every game without needing to break them in. The signature "elephant print" overlays on the toe and heel were also unique to the AJ 3 at launch. 



Nike has kept the AJ 3 relevant to modern sneakerheads with regular Jordan retro collection releases. These include fresh colorways like the almost all-white Jordan Retro 3 "Pure Money" shoe, launched in 2007 and re-released in 2025, and the black-and-gold Air Jordan 3 "Black History Month," launched in 2011.

Find Your Jordan 3 at Hibbett

From the iconic "White Cement" colorway to modern retro classics like the "Black History Month" Air Jordan 3, the AJ 3 matters to sneakerheads for its historical significance, collectability and timeless style. 

Whether you're fully engaged with Air Jordan 3 "Black Cement" history or simply looking for classic kicks to elevate your wardrobe, shop our extensive retro Jordan 3 collection online, via the Hibbett mobile app or at your local Hibbett store.

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