Air Jordan 2012: Year of the Dragon – Officially Revealed

A few weeks ago, we showed you the first look at the Air Jordan 2012 ‘Year of the Dragon’  and now we have a better look due to the official unveiling of the shoe by Nike Basketball. This is only the third colorway of the 2012 that we’ve seen to date, but one thing that we do know is that much like the Nike Zoom Kobe VII, the 2012 will feature an interchangeable sockliner. The new images show the higher cut inner bootie that features the dragon in the traditional Chinese art style. Continue reading for more images of the Air Jordan 2012 ‘Year of the Dragon’ as well as the inspiration behind the shoe and let us know what you think.

Chinese believe that dragon is a holy being, way above the mundane world. In the arena of basketball, Michael Jordan may be the only equivalent to that transcendence. As the largest single-digit number, 9 is appreciated as a sign of utmost power and achievements. Only emperors can wear robes with 9 dragons. A 9-dragon wall was exclusive for the royal family. 9 is also the lucky number for Michael Jordan. In his 9th season between 1992 and 93, Michael set personal and association record. Inspired by this mystical connection, the Jordan Brand design team, retouched AIR JORDAN 2012 for the new collection. The theme color of blue, in contrast with the yellow inner lining, underpins the message of supremacy, accentuated by the dragon pattern around JORDAN Logo on the tongue. The effect reaches its apex in the limited edition packaging, where red background is decorated with golden dragon and JORDAN Logo, bursting with Chinese features. Two cushions and three midsoles are available, offering functional and aesthetic benefits.