This article was published on April 9 and updated on December 17
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You know what, I'm going to say it: 2022 is the year of the Air Jordan 2.
Every time I'm scrolling through sneaker releases, my fingers stumble across another Air Jordan 2 model. And, honestly, I'm not mad at it — it's time about time AJ2's got the appreciation it deserves, especially with its game-changing history.
The famous Air Jordan 1 was a tough act to follow, churning out immense success and becoming one of the most coveted Jordan Brand models to date.
Air Jordan 2 designers Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore took a considerable risk with the new model, going with a sporty-luxe, Swoosh-free design that was nothing like AJ1. But that was point.
Nike wanted the Air Jordan 2 to be unique and exclusive from the jump, crafting it in Italy using premium materials like faux lizard skin. It also featured a soft polyurethane midsole, making it one of the first basketball shoes to do so.
The Air Jordan 2 wouldn't reach Air Jordan 1 status, but the Jordan Brand's underrated sneaker proved to be just as vital to Michael Jordan's historical basketball career.
Laced up in both the Air Jordan 2 mid and low models, Jordan would go on to make NBA All-Star and become the first-ever NBA player with 200 steals and 100 blocks during the 1986-87 season.
With such a revolutionary design and underdog status at hand, it's no wonder the Air Jordan 2 caught the attention of a few Jordan Brand collaborators, with Off-White™ setting the tone for the wave to come in with its collaborative Air Jordan 2 Lows in November 2021.
Union LA leads the Spring 2022 season with its floral and butterflies-flocked Air Jordan 2s in "Grey Fog" and "Rattan," set to drop on April 15.
Artist Nina Chanel Abney, luxury boutique A Ma Maniere, Latin musician J Balvin, and Paris-based boutique Maison Château Rouge also offered spins on the Air Jordan 2 this year.
Closing out the year, the Air Jordan 2 "Chicago" is slated to return in the OG colorway on December 30, despite murmurs of an October release.
There have been other recent Jordan 2 releases like "Melo" and "Multicolor", but nothing like what's on the way. With the help of some of its heavy-hitting partners matched with OG schemes, the Air Jordan 2 is going from underdog to top dog this year.
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