After the Last Shot: the Air Jordan Black Pack

The Air Jordan Black Pack brings four of Michael Jordan's later signature models back in one dark, textured story. Jordan Brand has dressed the Air Jordan 14 Low, 15, 16 and 17 Low in black, each with its own exotic-inspired finish. All four pairs are now in stock at NOIRFONCE, online and in our Madrid store. We think it is one of the most interesting Jordan releases of the season.

These four silhouettes cover the end of one era and the start of another. They span Michael's final championship run with the Bulls in 1998 and his comeback with the Washington Wizards in the early 2000s. Collectors have long favored the numbers 1 through 11, so these later models rarely get this kind of attention. The Black Pack treats them as a family, which is exactly what they are.

The Air Jordan 14 opens the pack, and it carries the heaviest history. Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith drew on the Ferrari 550 Maranello for its lines. Michael wore it to hit the Last Shot in Utah in 1998. This Low version in Black/Medium Ash covers its side panels in ostrich-textured leather, while graphite accents on the midfoot shank keep the racing reference alive.

The Air Jordan 15 was the first model released after Michael's second retirement, in 1999. Hatfield took his cue from the X-15 rocket plane, which explains the woven upper and the tongue that juts forward. For the Black Pack, snakeskin-textured leather covers the main panels in Black/Medium Ash. It is the most divisive shape in the line, and black suits it better than almost any color it has worn.

The Air Jordan 16 arrived in 2001 with a new designer, Wilson Smith, and an idea borrowed from formal wear. Its removable shroud lets the shoe move from the street to the court, like a gaiter over a dress boot. Here it comes in Black/Anthracite, with tumbled leather and a glossy patent toe. The shroud still comes off, so you can wear the pair two ways.

The Air Jordan 17 closes the pack and the story of Michael's playing career. Wilson Smith designed it in 2002 with jazz in mind, and the original famously shipped in a metal briefcase for $200. The Low version in Black/Anthracite pairs nubuck on the toe and side panels with stingray-textured leather around the eyelets. It is the quietest pair of the four, and probably the easiest to wear every day.

Jordan Brand split the release into two drops, with the 14 Low and 16 arriving in October and the 15 and 17 Low following on November 7. Each pair retails at €239.99 at NOIRFONCE. Distribution was limited to Nike and selected Jordan Brand retailers, so quantities are tight. Sizes on the Air Jordan 15 and 16 are already running short.

You can shop the Air Jordan 14 Low, Air Jordan 15, Air Jordan 16, and Air Jordan 17 Low “Black Pack” on our website now. You can also try them on at our Madrid store, Calle Fortuny 51. If you want to see how the 16 has been reimagined recently, read our story on the Jordan 16 x Free The Youth. Every pair is available while sizes last.