Because for anyone who watched Jordan play in the 1980s and ’90s, that tongue was the signal that he was about to do something that no one was going to be able to stop. It usually preceded some combination of step, head-fake, spin, and either a shot or a dunk. And always with that tongue sticking out, a habit carried over from his childhood.

In any event, if you saw that tongue coming, your odds of appearing on a poster became exponentially higher.

An era of air

But it was the Jumpman logo that began appearing on MJ’s signature sneakers, with the Air Jordan III in 1988. That was the shoe he wore when he won the slam dunk contest for a second straight year. It was the first athletic shoe to feature elephant print, a nod to African culture by then-new designer Tinker Hatfield. And it kept MJ with the Swoosh when, after the designers of his first two shoes left the company, he’d entertained thoughts of moving on as well.

Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee joined the team for that 1988 release, as Mars Blackmon from his popular 1986 film “She’s Gotta Have It.” His character appeared with MJ in several TV spots and would ask the viewer why Jordan was so dominant on the court (“Do you know?”). And he’d answer with, “It’s gotta be the shoes.”

Jordan’s signature sneakers were such hot tickets that Nike began re-releasing popular silhouettes – “retros” – in 1994. And a quick search on Foot Locker will show you a variety of retro releases and mashups, in sizes for men, women, and kids. The Jordan name became so much larger than life that Nike spun it off into a brand of its own in 1997.

It’s also the apparel

But MJ’s shoes were just the start.

A quick browse of Foot Locker will show you that you could outfit yourself with a fresh look from the Jordan brand every day. You’re covered, from T-shirts and shorts for the gym, to hoodies and jogger pants for kicking back in the crib, to lightweight and puffer jackets to keep you comfortable anywhere in between.

Every colourway tells a story. And with the incalculable ways to mix and match Jordan’s kicks and clothes, you can tell your own story any way you like.

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