There were fears that Michael Jordan would retire from the public eye after selling the Charlotte Hornets. Fortunately, this couldn’t have been further from what actually happened.
Jordan is a very involved owner in NASCAR and is regularly seen at races. Not to mention, the NBA legend also appears at golf events like the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Jordan’s public appearances might as well be runway events for sneakerheads. The 62-year-old is setting trends by wearing the next sneakers from his legendary Air Jordan sneaker line.
This past weekend, Jordan attended the Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. The greatest basketball player of all time took the opportunity to throw the next Air Jordan 11 “285” colors.
In late September, Jordan Brand announced nine new colorways of the Air Jordan 11 that are expected to release over the coming months. Among the new models was the “285” colorway.
The “285” colorway pays homage to Atlanta with a new design that nods to Interstate 285, which surrounds the city and embodies its vibrant culture.
The silhouette sports a Sail leather upper, while a debossed outline around the mudguard offers a distinctly local look. The multi-colored sock liner and insole, which features newspaper and Sport Royal, pay further homage to Atlanta’s street art culture.
The Air Jordan 11 “285” will officially release for $250 in adult sizes on Saturday November 22. Unfortunately for fans, it will be difficult to purchase the shoes as they will be sold exclusively in-store at select regional partner stores in North America.
Fans who miss out on the limited edition will be able to find old-school basketball shoes online, but they won’t come cheap. Shoppers can expect to pay much more than the retail price on trusted sneaker resale websites like StockX and GOAT.
Jordan’s basketball career is defined by his dominance, which only elevates his iconic sneaker line. However, Jordan first released the Air Jordan 11 upon his return from Minor League Baseball.
The Chicago Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic that year in the NBA playoffs, but history is written by the winners, and Jordan has had plenty of victories during his career. 30 years later, the Air Jordan 11 is arguably the most popular model in the entire sneaker line.
Stay Locked in Sports Illustrated He kicks for all your shoe news from the world of sport and beyond.
