Nike's "Rookie" Jordan 1 Sneaker Is Shorter Now (& Still Clean)
Let's go back in time to 1985, the birth year of the Air Jordan 1 and Michael Jordan's NBA career. That same year, MJ naturally won the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, which he accepted while wearing this smooth tan suede outfit.
In 2018, that 'fit was immortalized in a dedicated collection from Nike's Jordan Brand, as the label launched a tan-colored Jordan 1 High sneaker inspired by his Airness' award ceremony ensemble.
Fast forward to 2025, Nike's very suave sneaker returns as a Jordan 1 Low.
This new Jordan 1 Low "Rookie of the Year" sneaker is the same AJ1 shoe as before, except this version puts the ankles on full display.
The low-cut Jordan 1 sneaker revives the unforgettable "Sail" and "Golden Harvest" colorway as well as the traditional construction of crisp leather and suede-like nubuck.
However, this take on the Jordan 1 Low shoe won't include the special MJ quote and stats from his rookie season, which appears on the inner collar flaps of Nike's original high-top model.
After all, the Lows are collarless! Although, it still would've been nice to include these special details in a new way, like on the inside walls or behind the tongue.
Nonetheless, it's still a clean and genuine revival for one of Nike's undersung self-referencing sneakers.
This particular Jordan 1 Low is one of many classic AJ1s to come back in low-top form this year. The Royal 1s? They're back as a Jordan 1 Low. The Obsidian 1s? They also went low-rise.
Now, it's the rookie's turn.
The Air Jordan 1 Low "Rookie of the Year" is expected to be released through Nike's SNKRS app and select retailers on April 18.
