The Air Jordan 3 hasn’t released in its cherished “True Blue” colorway since 2016, but December will bring the second near-copy of the year.
Following the “Wizards” variant from April, the Air Jordan 3 has been officially confirmed to release this month in “Midnight Navy.” The color-blocking is largely the same as the “True Blue,” albeit with a darker shade of blue giving the sneaker its name. The iconic elephant elephant panels are also rendered a shade darker, while the red marks you’d find on the “True Blue” are now rendered in “Midnight Navy” for a sense of cohesion.
There’s another small difference to be found in the leather collar, which is rendered in the dark blue instead of white. The sock liner has now been redone in grey, while a grey eyestay takes over where you’d usually see more elephant print.
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“True Blue” is one of the original Air Jordan 3 colorways, thus making it one of the most popular among collectors who consider the OGs the truest of Air Jordans. Michael Jordan didn’t actually play in the sneaker when it first came out during his time with the Chicago Bulls, as NBA uniform policies were quite strict, but he did don them on-court later when he played for the Washington Wizards. Kobe Bryant also wore a pair for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game while facing off against Jordan in Bryant’s year as a sneaker free agent.
Sneaker blogs had long reported that the Air Jordan 3 “Midnight Navy” would release in 2024, so the confirmation for a December drop comes as a welcomed surprise in a month already flush with Air Jordan releases.
The Air Jordan 3 “Midnight Navy” will release Dec. 16 through the SNKRS app and a large swath of third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $200, down slightly from the typical $210 asking fee.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
