Zack Schlemmer 
Before its creation, the sixteenth Air Jordan had a couple of major things going against it that could have been cause for worry. One: Michael Jordan was gone from the game of basketball (seemingly at the time) for good. Could the Air Jordan line truly persevere without MJ on the court? Two: Tinker Hatfield, the man who created every Air Jordan since the III, was out as the shoe’s designer. Could the design still be as strong without Tinker’s genius?
What could have been a recipe for failure was anything but, as the final result of the Air Jordan XVI would become one of the most beloved models of the “Post-Bulls” Air Jordan era. Continue reading this latest edition of Jordan 101 to learn everything worth knowing about the Air Jordan XVI and its shrouded, odds-defying design.
The Basics
The Air Jordan XVI released in 2001, debuting on Michael Jordan’s birthday, February 17th. The shoe was released in four colorways retailing at $160 throughout the year, with an additional two low-top versions (that were actually almost the same height as the mid). Although Michael was no longer playing for the Bulls, the XVI debuted in a traditional black and red colorway, which has since become the shoe’s most iconic look. The other three colorways include ‘White/Midnight Navy’, ‘Light Ginger/ Dark Charcoal/White’, and ‘Whisper/Cherrywood/Light Graphite’. The XVI Low released in ‘White/Varsity Red’ and ‘Black/Metallic Silver’. With Team Jordan in full swing by 2001, Jordan-sponsored NBA players like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Mike Bibby, and Michael Finley also had their own PE versions of the XVI.
Tinker Exits
Responsible for every legendary Air Jordan design since the Air Jordan III, Tinker Hatfield stepped back from designing the XVI, with Wilson Smith III taking the reigns. Smith chose to borrow important elements from previous Air Jordans, while also looking towards the future with a sleek and unorthodox design. Inspect the shoe and you’ll see the the mid-top height of the Air Jordan III, a clear rubber outsole like the V, VI, and XI, and the iconic gloss of patent leather from the XI. The Air Jordan XVI proved that even with Tinker out of the picture, the Jordan line could continue just as strong. But as we know, he’d eventually be back for some more classics.
The Shroud
Wilson Smith III was also inspired by the concept of Michael Jordan transitioning from a player to an executive for the XVI, which materialized as the removable shroud, or gaiter, on each shoe. With the shroud on, the XVI resembles a classy dress shoe. With the shroud off, the shoe transforms into a design strictly for performance. The XVI could actually be played in with the gaiter on or off, but many found that it would move around too much or even slip off during play.
Tech
The Air Jordan XVI may have had an appealing look, but it couldn’t claim any new technological innovations like many of the other most legendary Air Jordan models. But this doesn’t mean the XVI was slacking when it came to performance, either. Behind the shroud up top was ballistic mesh to keep them breathable, while the sole got a combination of visible blow-molded Air in the heel and Zoom Air in the forefoot for a blend of impact protection and responsiveness. The clear outsole also supplied plenty of grip on the court.
Patent Leather is Back
As we mentioned earlier, Wilson Smith borrowed previous elements from past Air Jordans for the XVI, including the patent leather of the Air Jordan XI. The XVI was the first Jordan model since the XI to use the glossy leather material, but as we know, it wouldn’t be the last, as patent leather has since become a material synonymous with the brand—even arguably overused at this point. Did the XVI jump-start the use of patent leather throughout the rest of Jordan Brand’s history? Or was the iconic Air Jordan XI the inspiration for keeping patent leather in use all these years? We’ll never really know, but you may have the XVI to thank.
Creative Logo
One piece of trivia about the Air Jordan XVI’s details: Look closely at its Jordan logo on the midsole, and you’ll see that it’s comprised of a total of 16 lines. This is no coincidence.
Worn by MJ
Way back in the introduction, we talked about how one of the things going against the Air Jordan XVI was the fact that Michael Jordan was gone from the game of basketball. That actually only ended being true for a while, as Michael announced he’d be back on the court as a member of the Wizards for the 2001-02 NBA outdoor. Michael only laced up the XVI in play briefly, though, rocking the “Ginger” colorway throughout the preoutdoor before he switched to the all-new Air Jordan XVII that was ready to go for him for the regular outdoor (months before anybody else could get their hands on them). So the XVI does hold a small, but important piece of on-court Air Jordan history.
Air Jordan XVI Retro: Close, But No Cigar
The Air Jordan XVI has only retroed once, as part of 2008’s Countdown Pack series. Around 2013, a bunch of new samples began surfacing around the web, giving Jordan fans hope that the XVI would indeed be back for its first official round of retros. Ray Allen and Joe Johnson were even wearing new PE editions in the NBA (Ray Love them for his Miami Heat debut, no less), seeming to further confirm the XVI’s comeback. But alas, the 16 Retro never made it past the sample stages, being scrapped for unknown reasons. For now, we’ll have to keep waiting for the Air Jordan XVI to grace us with its sleek, shiny, and shrouded presence.
