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The sneaker that started it all is coming back soon.
Jordan Brand posted a photo of a crumpled up letter to Instagram Friday that suggests the return of the Air Jordan 1 High “Banned,” aka “Bred.” Bits and pieces of the letter that can be read match that of the one sent from the NBA to Nike in 1985 informing the company that his black and red sneakers didn’t conform to the league’s uniform regulations. The date of that letter is February 25, 1985 — and the Air Jordan 1 “Banned” is widely expected to release in February 2025 for the shoe’s 40th anniversary.
For its return, the Air Jordan 1 “Banned” is expected to release with a more premium leather and construction truer to the original model including a higher cut.
The mythos of the Air Jordan 1 is partly built upon a lie. Michael Jordan wasn’t wearing his own sneakers when he drew fines from the NBA, but rather the Nike Air Ship in the same black and red color scheme. Jordan never even wore the Air Jordan 1 “Banned” in an NBA game, instead opting for the regulation-safe “Chicago” and “Black Toe” variants, the latter of which is also returning in 2025. The only NBA capacity in which Jordan wore the “Banned” sneaker was the 1985 NBA Dunk Contest, which he famously won as a rookie.
Such details didn’t stop Nike from leaning into the obvious marketing opportunity that the league’s stance generated. Nike even went so far as to insinuate that the Air Jordan 1 was too good of a shoe for the NBA, rather than merely appearing in the wrong colors, while pointing out that there was nothing to stop the public from wearing the sneaker.
The Air Jordan 1 “Banned” has only released six times in total, the last time being in 2016. The 2011 retro release added an “X” on the heel to lean into the ‘Banned” nickname, and reissues also followed in 1994 and 2013 following the original release in April 1985.
The Air Jordan 1 High “Banned” is expected to release February 14, 2025, through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing will come in higher than usual at $250.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
