History of Air Jordan

Air Jordan XVII

Designer: Wilson Smith III

Released: 2002

When Michael Jordan resigned as the Washington Wizards' president of basketball operations and returned to the court, he did so in the Air Jordan XVII. Wilson Smith III made a return as well, as the designer of the AJ XVII. Smith had a couple of inspirations for this shoe. About the time sketching for the AJ XVII started, the Jordan brand signed jazz musician Michael Phillips. Smith elicited the smooth lines and flow of a jazz solo as his theme for the AJ XVII. He also incorporated the fine details of the luxurious Aston Martin automobile, and the outsole design is said to resemble the fairways, sand traps, and greens of a golf course - testament to one of MJ's favorite pastimes. The XVII featured a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) heel stabilizer, heel and forefoot Tuned Air (pods that adjust the amount of air they contain, a first for the Jordan line), a dynamic-fit sleeve, hidden quick-lace system, lace locks, a full-length composite shank plate, and variable-width lacing for a more snug fit. Among Smith's innovations was the inclusion of a removable midfoot cover, which allowed the wearer to choose whether the laces would be visible. This was a visual carryover from the AJ XVI. A CD-ROM and metal briefcase also were included, contributing to making the AJ XVII the priciest Air Jordan ever produced at the time, with a suggested retail price of $200. It was the first and only Air Jordan to break the $200 barrier for all versions until the XX8 in 2013. One slick innovation lay in the eyelets. If laced properly, the wearer could spell out "XVII" with the laces along the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the shoes. The AJ XVII had multiple versions. Three colorways were released for mids: White/Blue, Black/Black, and White/Red. Another AJ XVII featured metallic copper and faux alligator leather on the heel. Three lows were released, including a White/Lightning All-Star version. Capping the AJ XVII run were three colorways of super low mule slip-ons. In Jordan's first year back on the court with the Wizards, he averaged nearly 23 points per game. In January 2002, he scored his 30,000th point - fittingly against the Chicago Bulls - while wearing the AJ XVII. At his 13th All-Star Game, he wore the Air Jordan XVII Low in White/Lightning. During the 2001-02 season, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Mike Bibby, Michael Finley, and Eddie Jones were among the players who wore the AJ XVII.