The Untold Stories Behind the Iconic "AIR JORDAN 11" Worn During Michael Jordan's NBA Comeback

Introduced in 1995, the "Air Jordan 11" was born from a concept of a simple design utilizing glossy materials. The combination of patent leather and mesh remains incredibly popular even after almost 30 years. We interviewed Katsushige Kamamoto, the representative of "Sneaker Shop SKIT," about the untold origin stories and history of the "Air Jordan 11," and its lasting charm.

The Designer is Genius Tinker Hatfield

In 1993, during his prime after achieving a three-peat with the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, Michael Jordan lost his beloved father and lost the motivation to continue playing basketball. He retired from the NBA to pursue a career in baseball but made a surprise comeback to the NBA in 1995. The "Air Jordan 11" graced his feet in that comeback season.

It's commonly believed that the "Air Jordan 11" was created at Michael Jordan's request for "a formal design that would look good even with a tuxedo," but Kamamoto reveals the facts behind this story.

"Since Michael Jordan was also challenging MLB, the 'Air Jordan 11' was originally being designed under Nike's baseball category. Although this information hasn't been featured in online articles, supposedly, by the time the shoes were completed and trademark registered, Michael Jordan had already decided to make his unexpected comeback to the NBA. In fact, the designer Tinker Hatfield was unaware of Jordan's NBA return.
 
"Initially, Jordan returned to the NBA wearing 'Air Jordan 10' engraved with number '45.' Later, witnessing Jordan's resurgence, Hatfield quickly began developing a basketball-specific 'Air Jordan 11.' This information comes from a Tinker Hatfield interview featured in a magazine at that time, so I believe it to be accurate."

It turns out that since around 1991-1992, Tinker Hatfield had been listening to Michael Jordan's requests regarding shoe materials. Kamamoto continues with these requests.
 
"Michael Jordan had been expressing a desire to use glossy materials in his shoes even before the creation of the 'Air Jordan 11' in 1995. Additionally, since Jordan loved sports cars, those elements likely inspired the design of the 'Air Jordan 11.'
 
"Initially, Hatfield tried using glossy enamel materials for the shoes but had to abandon the idea due to their delicate nature, which couldn't withstand intense movements. Instead, he discovered patent leather, which was both glossy and durable."

With a burning competitive spirit, Hatfield aimed to make the "Air Jordan 11" the most innovative basketball shoe to date. This was the dawn of the legendary "Air Jordan 11."

Not Just Design, But Exceptional Functionality

While the design often grabs the spotlight, its functionality also saw significant advancements. One key feature was the full-length carbon fiber plate embedded in the midsole.
 
It was noticed that some basketball shoes were too soft to support the weight and jumping impact of well-built NBA players. Additionally, Jordan struggled with his arch twisting upon landing and stepping after jumps. The carbon fiber plate addressed these issues.

"Tinker Hatfield's discovery came from his high school experience playing soccer. He noticed that soccer spikes were starting to become performance shoes. It is said that the slightly stiff wearability of the Air Jordan 11 is influenced by this carbon fiber plate.
 
"Of course, the upper made of patent leather and ballistic nylon mesh sets this model apart from previous series, but the major evolution wasn't just in the design."

Michael Jordan himself was so pleased with the refined and sophisticated design that used patent leather that he ended up wearing a prototype in a game, even though he was told not to. Since this happened before the shoes' release, it became a hot topic among some sneaker enthusiasts.
 
Tinker Hatfield received countless requests via phone and letters asking for 'the shoes Jordan is wearing.' Kamamoto continues,
 
"Reading articles on the internet, they often state that Michael Jordan requested 'shoes designed like formal shoes' during the development of the Air Jordan 11, but it seems this is not true.
 
"According to Tinker Hatfield's interviews at that time, it was accurate that he requested to 'use glossy material,' but the keyword 'formal shoes' came up during the development of the low-cut version of the Air Jordan 11, and these stories got mixed up in the narrative of the shoe's creation.

"There is another interesting story. The tale of the Air Jordan 1 violating NBA regulations and Nike covering the fines is famous, but it turns out Michael Jordan was also fined for wearing the Air Jordan 11.
 
"This was because he broke the NBA rule stating 'all players must wear the same color shoes as the rest of the team' by wearing the almost-complete Air Jordan 11, resulting in a fine. However, a black-based 'Bred' color was made soon after, so it wasn't like he paid fines for many games."
 
While some of these episodes are new to the ear, the many irregularities, like Michael Jordan's unexpected return to the NBA and the rush for shoe development, likely contributed to them.
 
According to Kamamoto, player models (special versions only for players, not for general sales) started appearing from the Air Jordan 11 onwards. Many rival players of Michael Jordan also started wearing the Air Jordan series, which proves the exceptional functionality of these basketball shoes.
 
Released when Michael Jordan returned to the NBA, the Air Jordan 11 continued to build its legend as the "supreme shoes."