The Air Jordan 9 “Olive” Is Releasing On November 16th

The focus on the first retirement Air Jordan continues.

Sneaker News April 15th, 2024 (updated)

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Updated April 15th, 2024: Initially reported for an October release, the Air Jordan 9 “Olive” has been postponed to November 16th per @zsneakerheadz.

In 1993, Nike, Inc. was sent scrambling by Michael Jordan’s abrupt retirement from the NBA. The momentum built from three straight championships came to a sudden stop, but that didn’t stop Nike, Inc. from continuing the legacy of the Air Jordan through its in-depth storytelling. For the ninth model, Tinker Hatfield emphasized the global influence and stardom of Jordan, prominently displayed during his dominant performance and presence during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. With an emblem of the planet firmly affixed to the heel, the Air Jordan 9 stated that MJ transcended city lines and was an icon that knew no borders, even if he swapped his basketball shoes for baseball cleats.

The short-lived Air Jordan 9 only saw a handful of original colorways. The “True Red” and “Charcoal” were the sole representatives of the iconic Bulls aesthetic, while the “Dark Powder Blue” commemorated Jordan’s time at North Carolina. The polarizing “Olive”, however, took the unconventional series of off-the-court colorways to a new level of experimentation. At its time, the Olive 9s underperformed at retail, but as many of the more obscure original Air Jordans go, it grew a cult following in the 2000s that culminated in a first retro in 2002 and an under-whelming re-issue in 2012. While the ’02 version was impressive, the following 2012 issue had its problems due to its poor shape and sub-par materials. It was representative of a time when Jordan Retro quality just wasn’t anything to sing home about.

: Air Jordan 9 “Olive” 2002 Retro StockX

: Air Jordan 9 “Olive” Retro (2012) StockX

: Air Jordan 9 Boot “Olive” Retro (2017) @gc911

: Air Jordan 9 “Olive/Aqua” Retro (2022) Nike

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That’s not to say the Olive 9s were buried in obscurity. The infamous colorway reprised its role again in 2017 via the winter-ready Boot version — a modification that has been somewhat successful during the colder months of the year. And in early 2023, Jordan Brand trolled the community with the “Olive/Aqua”, a release that served little purpose other than to irk OG enthusiasts.

In Holiday 2024, the Air Jordan 9 “Olive” is intended to release, as reported by @zsneakerheadz. While a first look at the shoes elude us, it’s not hard to carry expectations given the detailed look we’ve seen at the Air Jordan 9 “Powder Blue”. A more accurate silhouette and materials true to the 1993 original seem to be the new standard for the Air Jordan 9 Retro.