Out of Michael Jordan’s 6 championships, number 4 was probably most special. Rewind to a little less than three years before this moment, when Michael’s father, James Jordan was murdered in an apparent carjacking gone wrong. The tragic even led Michael to retire from the game of basketball to pursue his and his father’s dream career in baseball.
MJ returned to the NBA less than a year thereafter. After a series loss to the Orlando Magic, Mike and the Bulls put in the work to get to the 1996 NBA Finals against the Seattle Super Sonics. It was almost poetic that the ring-clinching win came on Father’s Day. Mike didn’t have the wild stats that fans are accustomed to. MJ only totaled 22 points for the game, but the feels hit once the Bulls secured the 87-75 win in game 6. Michael collapsed in the back with emotion, crying on the training room floor with a basketball in his hand. This one was for pops.
The sneaker that MJ wore for this moment was the Air Jordan 11. This combines Mike’s request for a “shiny shoe” with the philosophy of a lawnmower that designer Tinker Hatfield owned to ideate the Air Jordan 11. Aside from the patent leather, the shoe features the strong and lightweight carbon fiber shank plate for added support. The shoe also featured lightweight Phylon and a full-length Air unit for a cushioned ride.
The black and red “Bred” colorway he rocked for this moment can be found HERE.
You can find other colors of the Air Jordan 11 at StockX, GOAT, Flight Club, and Stadium Goods.
Cover image via Ebony News Today
