Michael Jordan’s Top 10 Games And the Sneakers He Wore in Them

Michael Jordan turns 50 on Sunday, a milestone that marks a half-century of the greatest player ever to play the game. He’s been out of basketball for nearly a decade, but his legend remains whether on sneakers, memories or game tape. Dime explores the greatest aspects of the GOAT’s career for his birthday. Today: MJ’s top 10 games and the shoes he played them in.

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The G.O.A.T is turning 50. Michael Jordan and the brand that he carried built up an unprecedented value when it came to basketball sneakers because of his popularity. While people are willing to wait for days in line to cop the new “Concords,” they are also willing to dish out hundreds of dollars at Flight Club NYC to get the exclusive kicks that are no longer at Foot Locker. As we celebrate Jordan’s legacy, I wanted to examine Michael Jordan’s top 10 games a little closer than your average countdown. That means highlighting what kicks he was rocking during each of his legendary performances as a testament to not only his game on the court, but to the iconic brand that he built off of the court.

All Deadstock sneaker values provided by flightclubnyc.com.

Honorable mention: 1988 ALL-STAR GAME
Early on in the Jordan era, MJ stole the show at All-Star Weekend in Chicago when he posted 40 points, eight boards, four steals and four blocks. Jordan came through in the clutch in the final 6 minutes, as well, scoring 16 of his 40 during that stretch.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 3’s- Black/Cement
Retail: $160
Deadstock: $427 (2011 release), $600 (Original Retro)

10. 51 POINTS AT AGE 38 WITH THE WIZARDS
Jordan had already broken records of one franchise, but he couldn’t help himself on a December night in Washington. The G.O.A.T reiterated that he was just that, scoring a Wizards franchise record of 24 first-quarter points and 34 at the half on his way to dropping 51 on 21 for 38 shooting. This memorable night marked the 39th time during the regular season that MJ scored 50 or more points.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 17 (white/college blue-black)
Retail: $200
Deadstock: $400

9. 55 IN COMEBACK AT MSG
Jordan came back from retirement in style (as Jay-Z would say, “wearing the 4-5”, dropping 55 in his fifth game back with the Bulls. Jordan broke his previous record at the Madison Square Garden of 51 points, shooting 21-of-37 from the field en route to his 55 points. Jordan also dropped passed on the role of Superman late in the fourth quarter, connecting with Bill Wennington for a wide open dunk during the waining seconds of regulation. After shaking off the rust in his previous 4 games, the Jumpman let the world know, “I’m back.”

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 10 “Chicago”
Retail: $160
Deadstock: $310

8. 1986 ROUND 1, GAME 2 AT BOSTON GARDEN
In a game where a young Jordan was facing one of, if not the greatest team of all time in the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, Jordan went into a hostile Boston environment to drop 63 points. It was especially impressive since Boston was 40-1 at home that season. Unfortunately for MJ, the eventual NBA Champion Boston Celtics, came out on top, 135-131.

This legendary moment lives on through the “Chicago vs Boston AJ1 60+ Pack,” which featured the AJ1 Retro (Chicago) with a pair of 1’s in the Boston Celtics colorway of white/black-varsity green. This combo retailed at $225 when it was released in 2009.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 1 Retro (Chicago)
Retail: $110
Deadstock: $236

7. “THE SHRUG”: GAME 1, 1992 NBA FINALS
In a game where Jordan posted a playoff record 35 points in the first half, the Bulls decisively put away the Trail Blazers, 122-89. His Airness turned to the broadcasting table to give them a shrug, expressing his surprise after hitting his sixth first half three-pointer. Jordan posted 39 points for the game but didn’t have to do much after grabbing control of the match at halftime, 66-51.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 7 “Raptor”
Retail: $160
Deadstock: $300

6. 1991 NBA FINALS GAME 2
Two of the all time greats matched up in a series for the ages during the 1991 NBA Finals. While the series didn’t go 7, Mike and Magic squared off in a 5 game series, which saw a Bulls team down 0-1, steal all of the momentum in Game 2. A hungry Jordan shot a unbelievable 83.3 percent from the field, with 33 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and one block. The Bulls would go on to win the next three straight, earning their franchise’s first NBA Championship.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 6 Retro – Black/Varsity Red
Retail: $150
Deadstock: $541

5. FLU GAME
The infamous “Flu Game” was the game in which Jordan battled the flu during a very important Game 5 in Utah. After looking very sluggish and appearing just as weak, MJ scored 17 in the second quarter and started to get things going. While sitting on the bench during the third period, Utah reclaimed the lead, forcing Bulls coach Phil Jackson to put sick and fatigued Jordan back into the game. Jordan went on to score 15 in the 4th and came through with his usual late-game heroics hitting a big three-pointer with 25 seconds left. Jordan finished the game with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block, collapsing into Scottie Pippen‘s arms after securing the victory.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game”
Retail: $150
Deadstock: $448

4. A CAREER NIGHT IN CLEVELAND
Jordan went into Cleveland’s Gund Arena (a place where he loved to get buckets), and went for a caree- high of 69 points, leading Chicago to a 117-113 victory over Cleveland. “This would have to be my greatest game,” Jordan told the The New York Times. “When I scored 63 against Boston, we lost. It sure feels a lot better.”

While we agree that this game ranks higher than his 63 points at the Boston Garden, MJ said all of this in 1990 and had his whole career and a lot more meaningful accomplishments ahead of him.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 5 Retro
Retail: $150
Deadstock: $500 (2000 Release), $240 (2013 Release)

3. 1993 NBA FINALS VS. PHOENIX, GAME 4
In an already remarkable NBA Finals in which Jordan posted averages of 41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals, he sealed the title in Game 4. Jordan gave Chicago the upper hand against Charles Barkley and Phoenix with a 3-1 game advantage after putting up a series high of 55 points in Game 4. While the Bulls would lose Game 5 to the Suns, the loss wouldn’t linger: Jordan led to victory once more in Game 6, posting his first NBA Finals “Three-Peat.”

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 8 (Playoff)
Retail: $140
Deadstock: $429

2. GAME-WINNER AGAINST THE CAVS
The image of Jordan’s celebration after he hit a buzzer-beater to knock of Cleveland in Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals is forever embedded in every basketball junkie’s brain. Even the younger generation has been exposed to this clip dozens of times via his commercials, with Jordan leaping over Craig Ehlo once for the win, and twice for the celebration. Jordan’s 44 Points and spectacular late-game heroic, known as “The Shot,” pushed Chicago to a Game 5 victory to knock off a Cavalier team that posted a 4-0 clean sweep against those same Bulls in the regular season. This game was what many consider the beginning of the Jordan Dynasty.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 4 Retro- Black/Cement Grey
Retail- $160
Deadstock- $375

1. SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD
This is by far the one shot that forever cemented the legacy that is Jordan, because we all thought it was his last — for a second time. In Michael and the Zen-Master’s last game with the Bulls in the 1998 Game Finals, Game 6, the Bulls found themselves down three after a big three-pointer from John Stockton with under a minute left. Jordan would return the favor with a layup to cut the lead to one. Jordan got the defensive stop with a strip on Karl Malone and brought the ball upcourt. There was no question whose hands the final shot would rest in. Jordan hit what proved to be the game-winning jumper on Byron Russell with 5.2 seconds left. Jordan finished the game with 45 points, Finals MVP, six titles and a status that screams “legendary” even as he’s about to turn 50.

THE SNEAKER: Air Jordan 14
Retail: $160
Deadstock: $325

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