Sneaker News Last updated on August 1st, 2024
2025 is shaping up to be a massive year for the Jordan Brand, and it could not have come at a better time. The hype around the Air Jordan 1, the anchor of the Retro business, has come to a screeching halt. The casual consumer that helped that business explode in the early 2020s has since shelved their AJ1s in favor of the next casual lifestyle trend. Meanwhile, Gen Z and Gen Alpha finds itself detaching itself more and more from the aura of Jordan’s undeniable greatness.
To remedy these changes in the landscape, Jordan Brand is focusing on the true icons for its Retro product in 2025. This will certainly herd the core Air Jordan community back to what made it so great, all in an effort to expand its appeal to the mainstream audience once more. In short: start saving up, because 2025 is going to be a monster year of Jordan releases.
That said, we’ve taken the time to present a definitive Power Ranking of the Top 25 Air Jordans releasing in 2025 (the one’s we know about so far). This list does not include what’s coming in Fall and Holiday 2025, which we fully expect to bump out some of the inclusions at the bottom of the list as we update this list throughout the year.
Without further ado, here’s our Power Ranking for the Top 25 Air Jordans Releasing In 2025. Mock-up images via @zsneakerheadz.
25. Air Jordan 1 Low ’85 “Royal”
Although the Air Jordan 1 has a ways to go to win back the heart of the sneaker community, the original Black/Royal on the ’85 model deserves attention as one of 2025’s best.
24. Air Jordan 12 “Melo”
Originally dropping in 2004, the “Melo” 12s were giving the nickname for its resemblance to the Denver Nuggets’ new powder blue jerseys. The colorway, however, has always left a lot to be desired; if the mudguard went full University Blue, we’d rank ’em higher. Certainly a nice dose of nostalgia, but that’s about it.
23. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Sail”
The Thravis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG connection will be strong once again in 2025. Hate ’em or love ’em this projected “Sail” colorway is a hit.
22. Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred”
The 2024 release of the Space Jam 11 Lows have proved the concept once again: OG colorways of low-top XIs are a hit. These will very likely sell out quick; we’re just ranking these at 21 for lack of imagination.
21. Air Jordan 10 “Steel”
Hot take? The Air Jordan 10 “Steel” may have grabbed headlines, but the toe-cap exists better as a bit of history than as a GR release. Air Jordan 10s have been under-performers at retail, so if you really need a pair, you might even be able to scoop ’em for under MSRP.
20. Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air”
Although the Air Jordan 4 “Rare Air” won’t feature laser detailing, the colorway appears promising based on these early mock-ups.
19. Air Jordan 4 SB “Varsity Red”
2025 will see the return of the Air Jordan 4 SB, with “Varsity Red” set to land on this cross-category sneaker release. While we have the “Midnight Navy” pair ranked much higher, these can understandably rank higher.
18. Air Jordan 9 “Cool Grey”
Although Jordan Brand is bringing back OG colorways of the Air Jordan 9, it’s been largely relegated to golf. While no OG colorways have been confirmed for next year, we are being treated with a re-release of the “Cool Grey”, a Retro that first debuted back in 2002 and ended up on Jordan’s feet during his Wizards run.
17. Air Jordan 3 “Rare Air”
At one point, this sneaker was off our list of the 25 best Jordans of 2025. However, a unique detail — the flipped Nike Air logo at the heel — has us intrigued.
16. Air Jordan 14 “Ferrari”
Inspired by Michael Jordan’s personal collection of exotic vehicles, this Air Jordan 14 (originally dropping in 2014) nods to one of the most iconic supercars of the 1990s.
15. Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic Reimagined”
Had these been a true Retro and not a non-Reimagined released, it’d be a Top 5 shoe. But with the updated reflective accents, it’ll detract purists for sure.
14. A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 5
Jordan Brand’s connection with A Ma Maniere remains healthy. In 2025, they’ll swing their attention back to the 2025 with a promising color spec that reads as White/Diffused Blue/Violet Ore/Black/Clear. It’s not entirely clear if it’s a new colorway of their 2025 design. Still, AMM Jordans always deserve attention.
13. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Dark Pony”
There’s no arguing a Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG being on any best-of list. That said, the upcoming “Dark Pony” has a colorway reminiscent of the 2005 Stussy SB Dunks. Enough said.
12. Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Shattered Backboard”
Arguably the greatest non-OG colorway of the Air Jordan 1 is expected to return in its original form. Hopefully this comeback will spark the joy around modern colorways of the high-top basketball classic…
11. Air Jordan 3 “Black Cat”
This 2007 classic is due out next year. There’s not much to the shoe than it being all-black, but history (and the secondary market) has shown that this simple formula is ironclad.
10. Air Jordan 8 “Aqua”
The AJ8 is in that tier of Jordans that can never seem the crack that mainstream audience. Still, the return of the Aqua is an important one, and it’ll bear the same OG specs that we saw in 2023’s “Playoffs”.
9. Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game”
The Air Jordan 12 always seems to get love, especially when an original colorway is involved. Some will argue the Taxis, but the Flu Games might be the best on from the 1997 bunch.
8. Trophy Room x Air Jordan 6
We may have no clue as to what the next Trophy Room x Jordan collaboration looks like, but on the shoe that Marcus’ dad won his first-ever ‘chip? We know the storytelling will be on point.
7. Air Jordan 5 “Grape”
2025 is absolutely stacked with OG re-issues. The Air Jordan 5 “Grape” last saw the light of day in 2013, while a lace-less version in 2018 in honor of the Fresh Prince kept fans at bay.
6. Air Jordan 1 “UNC Reimagined”
It’s hard to place a shoe that has such little known information. However, we just learned that the shoes are expected to be pre-aged like the Lost & Found 1s, which immediately bumps these up to number 6 on our list.
5. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Velvet Brown”
Cactus Jack’s low-top Air Jordan 1 is still king. The only criticism? It seems impossible to get at retail, and the aftermarket prices are never kind. Still, any time the brown color palette appears on a Travis Scott shoe, heads will turn.
4. Undefeated x Air Jordan 4
Twenty years later, the Undefeated 4s are back. A first look has yet to surface, so it’s not entirely clear if UNDFTD is keeping to the exact OG specs. Whether it does or not, it firmly belongs at number 5 on this list.
3. Air Jordan 4 “White Cement”
For a moment, the Air Jordan 4 overtook the Air Jordan 1 as the most widely sought-after Jordan Retro model. 2024’s release of the “Military Blue” drew crowds, but it’ll pale in comparison to next year’s “White Cement”. The question is: is the Air Jordan 4 getting a bit played out?
2. Air Jordan 4 SB “Midnight Navy”
It’s a bit puzzling why Jordan Brand and Nike SB isn’t dropping a sequel to the Pine Green SB 4s this year. The good news is that the Air Jordan 4 SB is back in 2025 in two colorways, with the “Midnight Navy” version grabbing our number two spot.
1. Air Jordan 1 Hi’ 85
Few can and will argue just how iconic the Air Jordan 1 in the original Black/Red aka “Bred” aka “Banned” is. Now, with its truest-to-the-OG shape in the ’85 model, this Air Jordan 1 (dropping in February in limited quantity) is unquestionably atop the Power Rankings, even with its $250 price-tag.
