The Daily Jordan: Air Jordan II – 1987

Still one of the most underrated shoes in the Jordan signature line, Air Jordan II broke new ground in footwear design and in sneaker luxury when it debuted in November 1986. The consensus is that the II was a design-by-committee project with Bruce Kilgore – father of the Nike Air Force 1 – heading up the team. The result was a fine leather, minimalist design with just a touch of flair delivered through the faux iguana skin overlay and flex point heel on the massive TPU heel counter. (Something of a prophylactic move given that Michael Jordan had just fully recovered months prior from a fractured navicular tarsal bone in his left foot.) No Swoosh logos anywhere, either – big deal in the ’80s when brand identity was king in a competitive marketplace.

Nike tried Air Jordan II again in 1995 along with its lowtop counterpart but both belly-flopped. As Marty told the dance kids in Back To The Future, guess the public wasn’t ready yet, but their kids are gonna love ’em – the 2004 retro, 2008 “Countdown Pack” edition, 2010 “Quarter Finals,” and 2014 “Home” all sold briskly. Jordan Brand is bringing the II back for Spring 2016 with the “Poster Collection” – classy materials and no piping on the iguana, just like the OGs. The 1987 II in these photos is surely one of the dwindling remnants, and unfortunately has to mark that status with a sole swap from a modern retro release. The foam of the original midsoles tends to become desert sand after 25-plus years, after all. You can find this collectible, as well as newer wearable pairs, now on eBay. A ton more photos below to check out as well. More Daily Jordan to come.