1985 Nike Air Jordan 1 'Player Sample' Sneakers | Size 13 & 13.5

Purchased at Ronald McDonald House Charity Auction by the consignor's step-father,

Private Collection

The Nike Air Jordan 1 is one of the most iconic designs in the history of both streetwear and basketball and is a key part of the origin of the Air Jordan brand for Nike. Designed by Peter Moore, Michael Jordan wore Air Jordan 1s in 1984 and 1985, as well as modified versions in 1986 after a broken foot. These specific shoes are the iconic "Chicago" colorway, and perhaps the most recognizable for Michael, as well as the Nike brand.

In 1984, Nike gave Michael Jordan his own signature line of shoes and clothes, which was pivotal in Michael agreeing to sign with Nike. It was the first time the brand did anything like this, and it paved the way for many of the player collaborations we now see. The term "Air Jordan" was coined by Michael Jordan's agent David Falk, who came up with the name because Nike shoes had air in the soles and because Michael Jordan played basketball in the air.

In terms of the shoe itself, the original Air Jordan 1s were so popular and successful that Nike continued to make new signature Air Jordans each season. This tradition continued beyond Michael's retirement, and Nike is currently on the Air Jordan 40. From the day it launched, Air Jordans have always represented the pinnacle of sneaker design. The shoes are unmatched when it comes to quality, craftsmanship, materials, innovation, performance, and of course style.

The coding on the inside of the shoes states "850204 TYPS." 850204 refers to the date of production — these shoes were made in 1985 between the months of February (02) and April (04). TYPS stands for "Tong Yang Player Sample" and means that the shoes are Player Samples, produced from the Tong Yang factory. Nike only produced Player Samples of the Air Jordan 1 for Michael Jordan.