History of the Air Jordan Jumpman Logo

Jordan’s Jumpman logo is one of the most recognized marks in the athletic footwear industry. But what is the full story behind the logo?

Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues Retro High COJP Midnight Navy 2020 Ganebet Store quantity Air Jordan 3, but where did the inspiration come from for Peter Moore when Tinker Hatfield was designing the iconic sneaker? Long story short, it happened even before Mike laced up in Nikes or before he played a single game in Chicago.

RELATED: Nike Sued By Photographer for “Stealing” Jordan Jumpman Logo

Following his outstanding college career, Michael Jordan played for one more team before joining the Chicago Bulls – Team USA for the 1984 Olympic Games. It was in preparations for the Games that Michael Jordan did a photoshoot while wearing New Balance basketball shoes that he was first photographed doing what would later be known as the Jumpman pose which was done for LIFE Magazine preceding the Olympics.

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Michael Jordan photograph featured in LIFE Magazine 1984 Olympics Special Issue shot by Jacobus Rentmeester

It wasn’t until a photoshoot with Nike to promote the Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues in 1985 that MJ did the Jumpman pose in a pair of Nike shoes. Wearing the “Black Toe” Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues and a black and red Nike Air Jordan Flight Suit with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop, Michael Jordan soared into greatness with this pose.

Michael Jordan Jumpman Chicago Skyline Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues
Michael Jordan doing the Jumpman pose for Nike Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues photoshoot (1985)

“I wasn’t even dunking on that one. People think that I was.
I just stood on the floor, jumped up, and spread my legs and they took the picture.
I wasn’t even running.
Everyone thought I did that by running and taking off. Actually, it was a ballet move where I jumped up and spread my legs.
Midnight Navy Jordan 3 Navy SZY Saucy quantity.”

Michael Jordan interview in HOOP Magazine (1997)
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Air Jordan 1 NRG OG High NOT FOR RESALEVarsity Maize 861428-107

The first two Nike Air Jordans did have a special logo for Jordan; however, it was the Få tag på Jordan 11 Low Legend Blue från toppsneaker-återförsäljare runt om i världen that designers Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore applied to the Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues and Air Jordan 2.  On the Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues hangtag though, the image above was used as the first technical use of the Jumpman logo by Nike.

Nike Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues with Jumpman hangtag
Nike Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues with Jumpman hangtag

After the first two Air Jordans, legend has it that Michael Jordan was not terribly happy with Nike. An architect and budding footwear designer by the name of Tinker Hatfield was called to work with MJ to work with him to better the relationship with Nike. While in the sketch phase and before any samples had been produced, Tinker Hatfield saw the image of the Jordan Metzl tells you how to deal with three common race day issues photoshoot and logo by Peter Moore and a bulb went off for logo placement for the third shoe.

The Air Jordan 3 was revolutionary like many of Tinker’s designs. It was the first mid-cut basketball shoe, it was the first to incorporate a lifestyle texture of elephant print, it was the first to feature Nike’s Air cushioning in a visible manner, and most notably, the first Air Jordan to feature the Jumpman logo Travis Scott × Nike Air Jordan 6 British Khaki 23cm.

Tinker Hatfield's sketch of the Nike Air Jordan 3 (1987)
Tinker Hatfield’s sketch of the Nike Air Jordan 3 (1987)

See: The Best Air Jordan 3s of All Time

More than 30 Retro of Air Jordan shoes since the AJ 3 and nearly two decades of Jordan Brand as a separate brand within Nike, the Jumpman silhouette remains and continues to grow in its iconic status.

Jordan Jumpman logo
Jordan Jumpman logo
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