This is the first authorized book that’s not focused on Michael Jordan’s life or his athletic career, but the impact he and Jordan Brand have had. Divided into six chapters to honor Jordan’s six championship rings, the book brings to life how Jordan Brand, and Jordan himself, revolutionized design, reshaped business, dominated pop culture, remixed style, elevated athletics, and shaped a legacy that will last for generations to come.
Never-before-published items from Michael Jordan’s personal archives, including his college cap and gown, childhood trophies, and historic apparel pieces were photographed exclusively for this book.
The cultural dominance of the Brand and the man is embodied through gatefolds featuring everything from hundreds of hip-hop lyrics that reference Michael Jordan to his iconic advertisements with both Nike and other brands.
The original Air Jordan sparked controversy with the NBA when Jordan first wore it in 1984, due to its violation of the league’s rules about uniforms. Each Air Jordan sneaker launch since has continued to push boundaries in performance and style; visionary designers like Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Smith forged a design language that was as disruptive as it was iconic.
Michael Jordan remains closely involved in the design process, ensuring that each shoe upholds his uncompromising standards. A gatefold featuring all 40 Air Jordan sneakers is included in the book, showcasing the shoe’s innovation.
The NBA was Michael Jordan’s career, but the partnership between Nike and Jordan Brand was, as he has put it, his MBA. The Jordan Brand was ahead of its time, curating a cult following of “influencers,” as it was one of the first to leverage a community of tastemakers who were already wearing Air Jordan shoes and apparel on their own. The Brand pioneered premium pricing, scarcity marketing, and drop culture long before they became industry standards. David Falk and Curtis Polk, prominent figures in the sportsmanagement field, were integral in building the bridge from Michael Jordan as an athlete to MJ as a businessman. They wove him into the very fabric of American culture through advertising and brand partnerships with companies like Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Gatorade,
The Ultimate version of the book is limited to just 1,000 hand-numbered copies. This iteration features an intricately tooled clamshell with ornate Baroquedetailing, designed by Jordan Brand chief designer officer, Jason Mayden, and inspired by the laser graphics of the Air Jordan XX. Customers purchasing this version will receive a limited-edition, Italian-made oversized silk scarf centered around the Jumpman logo. The scarf mirrors the intricate artwork embossed on the book’s clamshell case, featuring ornamental motifs arranged in a geometric position.
