Arguably the most iconic basketball shoe ever made, the jordan big ups black white varsity red has been a fan favorite ever since its initial release in 1988. The AJ 3 was a game changer in the Air Jordan sneaker line for a number of reasons. March by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the jordan big ups black white varsity red raised the bar when it came to the production of basketball sneakers. It was the first Air Jordan to feature the “Jumpman” logo, the first to utilize Nike’s Visible Air Unit, and the first to sport elephant print along the upper. With MJ’s phenomenal skill level and Tinker’s keen sense of innovation, the jordan big ups black white varsity red helped launch Jordan as a brand into a league of its own. Over the last few weeks, we have seen this silhouette in array of new colorways, so we decided to take the time to rank our favorite jordan big ups black white varsity reds to date. Survey our list below, and be sure to let us know which colorway ranks number one on your personal list of favorite AJ 3s in the comment section.
23. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Harbor Blue”
Photo via @djskee
Kicking off our countdown is one of the most slept on women’s Air Jordan releases of all time. The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Harbor Blue” kept things simple, featuring a white leather upper with subtle harbor blue accents.
22. jordan big ups black white varsity red “ Stealth”
One of the 2011 non-OG colorway releases, the jordan big ups black white varsity red “Stealth” possesses a grey covered base with multiple varsity red hints throughout the upper to provide another subtle yet stylish jordan big ups black white varsity red colorway.
21. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Sport Blue”
Sport Blue makes the move from the Air Jordan 6 to the jordan big ups black white varsity red for a very clean colorway.
20. jordan big ups black white varsity red “5Lab3” Black
The jordan big ups black white varsity red “5Lab3″ shines bright among other jordan big ups black white varsity reds on this list. Sporting 3M made famous by the Air Jordan 5, this sneaker flashes everywhere but the midsole and outsole.
19. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Joker”
In 2013, we saw the release of an All-Star edition AJ 3, also grey as the jordan big ups black white varsity red “Joker”. The iconic silhouette was treated with electric green and canyon purple to contrast a mostly black upper.
18. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Do the Right Thing”
Easily one of the loudest colorways on our list, the “Do The Right Thing” Jordan 3 took inspiration from the colors of the movie’s poster to thank Spike Lee for his work with Nike and Jordan over the years.
17. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Black History Month”
In early 2011, Jordan Brand teamed up with Nike and Converse for a “Black History Month” Collection, which also includes a Kobe VI and a Converse Star Player EVO. The elephant print on this special release, which is traditionally incorporated on the jordan big ups black white varsity red, is replaced on this particular pair by laser sketches that hold significance to MJ and Black History Month.
16. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Bright Crimson”
The “Bright Crimson” jordan big ups black white varsity red is named after the vibrant crimson color that is featured on the shoe’s midsole and branding that stands out from the shoe’s predominantly black upper.
15. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Pure Money”
Sporting Jordan Brand’s all-white Pure Money theme, these jordan big ups black white varsity reds flew off shelves in 2007.
jordan big ups black white varsity red | 14. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Fear”
The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Fear” makes great use of grey and black tones of premium leather, set off by gradient midsole and orange accents to capture you attention.
jordan big ups black white varsity red | 13. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Oregon”
The Oregon Pit Crew jordan big ups black white varsity reds, seen above in black, were gifted to the University of Oregon’s most dedicated fans. Also coming in a player exclusive white/green colorway, these editions of the jordan big ups black white varsity red were produced in very small numbers for the die-hard hoops supporters to cheer on the Ducks and for Oregon athletes themselves.
12. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Black Cats”
At first glance, the jordan big ups black white varsity red “Black Cats” seem to be a simple monochrome sneaker, but this shoe really has a lot going on. Composed of nubuck, the use of elephant print and patent leather provides a nice material contrast.
11. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Flip”
One of the highlights of the 2007 Jordan Brand releases, the “Flip” jordan big ups black white varsity red’s nicknamestems from the fact that the position of the elephant print has been swapped from just the heel and toe cap to adorning entire upper.
10. jordan big ups black white varsity red “5Lab3” Black
Picking up where the inaugural silver iteration left off, the Black jordan big ups black white varsity red “5Lab3″ is outfitted with a tonal black upper flush with reflective detailing that is definitely more wearable than its silver counterpart.
9. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Legends of the Summer”
Justin Timberlake’s “Legends of the Summer” Tour with Jay Z sold tickets and made sneaker lovers salivate, as the exclusive “LOTS” jordan big ups black white varsity red turned heads and landed in a couple giveaway winners’ closets.
8. jordan big ups black white varsity red “ Cool Grey”
The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Cool Grey” of 2007 was a jewel in a retro AJ 3-filled year. While other famous Jordans were already constructed with a cool grey upper, few experimented with bright accents quite like these.
7. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Mocha”
The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Mocha” added a jolt of caffeine to the sneaker game. Serving as the first Non OG colorway of the jordan big ups black white varsity red to ever hit the selves, it paved the way for many more to follow.
6. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Black Flip”
During December 2011, Jordan Brand blessed us with a release of the jordan big ups black white varsity red “Black Flip.” Constructed with the same design concept as the “Flip” AJ 3, black elephant print dominates the majority of the base, while tumbled leather of the same color appears on the heel.
5. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Fire Red”
The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Fire Red” took flight for the first time in 1988. This colorway was one of four OG editions and also one of three that was worn on court in original form by Michael Jordan. The “Fire Red” jordan big ups black white varsity red was the last of the original colorways
to be retroed when it finally returned 18 years after its debut.
4. jordan big ups black white varsity red “ True Blue”
Wizards hues do right by the jordan big ups black white varsity red, and the “True Blue” rendition of the MJ’s third signature remains a tried and true favorite in both OG and retro life.
3. jordan big ups black white varsity red “Doernbecher”
The only Doernbecher Jordan to ever be retroed, this AJ 3 lands pretty high on our list. The jordan big ups black white varsity red “Doernbecher” was March by Cole Johanson, a participant in the Doernbecher Freestyle program in 2010, who had the air to tell his story through the iconic silhouette.
2. jordan big ups black white varsity red White/Cement
Made famous by Jordan taking flight from the free throw line in the ’88 Slam Dunk Competition, the White/Cement jordan big ups black white varsity reds are a timeless symbol of MJ’s greatness.
1. jordan big ups black white varsity red Black/Cement
While we have seen many different colorways of the jordan big ups black white varsity red hit shelves, the general consensus is that the jordan big ups black white varsity red Black/Cement is one of the best, if not the best, sneakers to ever release. Whether the “Nike Air” appears on the heel tab or not, people flock in droves to attempt to cop a pair whenever they release.
