Kicks and Colors: Jordan goes retro with Air Jordan 9 in anthracite

The latest in the long line of historic Air Jordan shoes was released over the weekend.

Kicks and Colors spotlights the variety of colorways—and the stories that go with—that brands’ unveil in key basketball sneakers.

Brand: Jordan

Sneaker: Air Jordan 9

Signature athlete: Michael Jordan

Colorway: Anthracite

Story: Sneaker aficionados await the retro releases of the Air Jordan line with eager anticipation. The latest in the long line of historic shoes launched on Sept. 5, as the Air Jordan 9 got a full retro in anthracite, with touches of black and white. The Air Jordan 9 originally used different languages and symbols on the outsole to signify how “His Airness” dominated the global landscape of basketball, an outsole that returns in the retro. The remastered edition also brings back the molded lace loop all the way to the bottom, a first for an AJ9 retro.

Tim Newcomb covers stadiums, design and sneakers for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.

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Courtesy Jordan Brand

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Courtesy Jordan Brand

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Courtesy Jordan Brand

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Courtesy Jordan Brand

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