1999 Nike Air Jordan 14 Salesman Sample | Size 9

Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan 14 during his final NBA Finals appearance in 1998, leading the Chicago Bulls to another championship with his immortal “Last Shot.” Tinker Hatfield had provided Jordan with an early prototype, requesting that he hold off on wearing it. However, Jordan admired the design so much that he wore the shoes en route to his sixth and final championship, cementing their status as a cornerstone of basketball history.

The AJ 14 quickly earned a reputation as one of the most comfortable Air Jordans ever, with innovative technology distinguishing them from previous releases. Designed as a low-cut model for both speed and control, the shoes featured dual Zoom units and breathable mesh vents on the outsole. Released in 1998, the AJ 14 drew inspiration from luxury automobiles, fusing performance and style with a sleek Jumpman emblem that reinforced the concept of a car—or a car as a shoe. After securing a sixth Finals title, Jordan retired in triumph, leaving the Air Jordan line to continue shaping the game.

The sneakers are accompanied by a letter of Provenance from Diwa Ratnam, the former General Manager of Nike Form. It states: 

In the summer of 1998, I was planning to attend the Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance. Tinker personally gave me this pair of white/red Air Jordan XIV reference samples to wear at the event.

Knowing that I was a "gearhead", I think Tinker felt these shoes —explicitly inspired by MJ's Ferrari 550 Maranello-would be the perfect footwear to wear there.

To the best of my knowledge and recollection, this marked the very first time the white/red Air Jordan XIV was ever worn publicly outside of Nike's internal circle.

The shoes were worn by me for that single day at the 1998 Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance.

The light dust and minor marks visible on the soles and uppers are authentic traces from the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. They have not been worn since and have been carefully stored in their original box for the past 28 years.

These shoes have been one of the most cherished artifacts from my time at Nike, and it has been my privilege to steward them for nearly three decades. I now believe the time is right to pass them on to a serious collector or institution that will fully appreciate their historical significance as one of the earliest known wearable pairs of the Air Jordan XIV, personally provided by Tinker Hatfield and publicly debuted at one of the world's most prestigious automotive events.