Jordans Daily History Lesson: Air Jordan XII ‘Playoffs’

With the 2012 NBA Playoffs right around the corner it only seems fitting that Jordan Brand is prepping to retro a classic ‘Playoffs’ colorway from the Air Jordan line. Think of it as a reminder of sorts, lest the younger generation lose sight of the dominance displayed by MJ in his heyday. The Air Jordan XII ‘Playoffs’ actually first showed up at the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, wherein Michael made them look good while also making history with the first triple-double in the history of the game. The sneakers of course again popped up on Michael’s feet during the Bull’s post-season bid of that same year, one that ended in yet another championship for the squad and landed Michael Jordan smack dab in the middle of another three-peat. The Bulls’ finals matchup against Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz saw Michael laughing in the face of detractors who touted the season as one where his age would begin to show, with Chicago emerging victorious in six games and MJ adding another Finals MVP Award to his resume to go with his new hardware.

This year’s version of the sneaker comes as the first in what promises to be a healthy year for the Air Jordan XII, with new colorways mixed in with a few that hold a bit more history like the ‘Playoffs’ shown here. The obviously Bulls-based sneaker lets black and white play the dominant roles on the upper, with the red aspects being decidedly more minimal than in previous ‘Playoffs’ colorways. Click through to get some beautifully detailed shots that show off the 2012 retro of the Air Jordan XII ‘Playoffs’ as well as photos from Michael’s tenure in the sneakers, and a highlight reel from his epic All-Star Game performance. When you’re done with that make sure you drop a comment to let us know if you’re picking up the Air Jordan XII ‘Playoffs’ this Saturday, April 21st. Photos: US10/Sneaker News

Air Jordan XII ‘Playoffs’
Black/White-True Red
130690-001
04/21/2012
$160

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ucpp3x72R0[/youtube]