While not one of the more popular sneakers in the line, the Air Jordan 18 has the unique distinction of being the last sneaker Michael wore in an NBA game. Tate Kuerbis took over design duties for Wilson Smith III, with the new designer steering directly into Mike’s love for race cars in creating the AJ18. The rubber heel wrap was added as a nod to race car driving shoes, while the carbon fiber plate was made to match the material build of Formula 1 cars. The premium touches were also done for accessories, with a suede brush, towel, and “driver’s manual” included with the AJ18.
Tech wise, the shoe featured a full-length Zoom Air unit with an additional heel Zoom unit stacked in the heel to help Mike during his last run in the league. MJ was definitely not as agile as his teammates, but there were flashes that showed that he still had it. A few weeks after his 40th birthday, Mike dropped 43 on the defending Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets to become the oldest player to ever score 40+ points in a game. More importantly was Mike’s last game in Philadelphia, wearing the white and blue colorway of the AJ18 to the standing ovation from the opposing crowd.
You can find the Air Jordan 18 at StockX, GOAT, Flight Club, and Stadium Goods.
