A Collector's Dream: Introduction to the Air Jordan 7
When the Air Jordan 7 was first released in 1992, it sold for $125. This iconic sneaker now has a resale value averaging 5-10 times its initial retail price—making it a favorite among sneakerheads.
The initial AJ 7 model was conceived by designer Tinker Hatfield for Jordan to wear in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, alongside fellow Dream Team members Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing.
During the team's gold medal run, Jordan wore an Air Jordan VII original model, which featured his Olympic number 9 in place of the number 23, MJ's original NBA jersey number.
Air Jordan OG (Original) Collection
The AJ 7 was the first Air Jordan to exclude the prominent Nike branding and vented airway. African tribal prints inspired its design and color detailing with a neoprene bootie interior-lined construction.
The OG collection comes in 5 colorways:
Black/Dark Charcoal/True Red
Black/Light Graphite/Bordeaux
White/Black/Cardinal Red
White/Light Silver/True Red
White/Midnight Navy/True Red
Air Jordan VII's Long Line of Retro Collections
In 2002, Nike launched the Air Jordan 7 Retro for a short-lived release, a decade after the original silhouette's debut. It was offered in Charcoal, an original colorway, and French Blue, the first new color since the OG collection's initial release.
Two years later, the brand brought back the 7 Retro in a limited release. Then, in 2006, another 7 Retro collection launched, with Nike expanding the line to six colorways, adding two LS versions, followed by the reissue of the original Cardinal colorway and an exclusive women's style. This release included the much sought-after Chambray colorway.
In 2008, the brand launched the exclusive Jordan VII Retro "Miro" for its Olympic Celebration collection. The Metallic Gold/Red colorway was inspired by the famous Spanish painter Joan Miro. This shoe continues to be one of the rarest Air Jordan 7s on the market and bears an artistic homage to the glory days of the shoe brand's genesis moment.
The Air Jordan 7's illustrious history is impressive:
The Air Jordan 7 Hits the Big Screen
Michael Jordan, the MVP player of the year, wore the VII on the cover of the June 1992 Sports Illustrated issue to celebrate the Chicago Bulls winning the 1992 NBA finals against the Portland Trail Blazers—which inspired the OG Raptor colorway.
In 1991, MJ rocked the AJ 7 in an iconic 1992 commercial showcasing Bugs Bunny in his Hare Jordans.
The Air Jordan 7 Marvin the Martian design hit the shelves in 2015 in advance of Space Jam's 20th anniversary, and a dedicated Space Jam Collection was launched in 2016.
AJ 7s With the Highest Resale Values:
- Jordan OG in Hare, Raptor, Bordeaux, Cardinal and Charcoal (1991)
- Jordan VII Retro Citrus (2006)
- Jordan VII Retro Miro (2008)
- Jordan 7 Retro Premio Bin23 (2010)
- Air Jordan 7 Retro Bordeaux (2011, 2015)
- Olympic Air Jordan Retro VII in For The Love of the Game(2012)
- J2K Filbert (2012)
- J2K Obsidian (2012)
- Air Jordan 7 Retro Hare (2015)
Jordan True Flight: An Affordable Alternative to the AJ 7
True Flights bore a distinct resemblance to the Jordan 7 model. However, key differences can be found in the upper, the lining and the sole traction. True Flights may lack the cultural cachet and significance of the Air Jordan 7, but they're a more affordable substitute for the collectible Jordan 7 OG and Retro models.
Verifying the Authenticity of Your Air Jordan 7s
As a highly coveted item on the sneaker marketplace, there are crucial features to look out for to confirm the pair you're purchasing is an authentic Air Jordan VII:
- Ensure the colorway is verifiable through the Jordan archive.
- If the offered price or bid is lower than the shoe's initial retail price, chances are the deal is too good to be true.
- Look for inconsistencies in the design details like the quality of the stitching, slope of the overall silhouette, uneven laces, the Jumpman logo proportions and serial number discrepancies.
- Be wary if the font on the size tag looks too small or illegible.
- Check for mistakes, such as a "23" on a style from the Olympic OG collection.
Jordans Release Dates, News and Articles
Attention all sneakerheads and basketball fans! Read all about the oldest and latest Jordan releases on the eBay Sneaker Hub. From iconic retro styles to new collaborations, you'll find everything you need to know to complete your Jordan collection.