A Look at the Jordan 13 Flint Sneaker
The Jordan 13 Flint sneaker is an iconic shoe that could have had an even bigger legacy. Shop the Jordan 13 Flint sneaker on eBay today.
When sneaker enthusiasts think of classic Air Jordan shoes, they often turn to the collections that were worn by Michael Jordan during one of his six championship seasons. The Jordan 14 is a bit of an anomaly because it is associated with the championship won during the 1997-98 NBA season. However, Jordan actually wore the 13 for the majority of the season. He opted to don a prototype version of the 14 during the playoffs, and this was the pair he wore when he hit his iconic last shot against the Utah Jazz.
If Michael would have stuck with the 13 during this playoff run, the collectability of this unique sneaker would have had a much different trajectory. Even though the Jordan 13 is not associated with an NBA title run, this does not mean that this installment is lacking creativity and style within the Jordan brand catalog.
Design
Originally released in 1997, the Jordan 13 was designed by Tinker Hatfield and drew upon Jordan’s little-known nickname Black Cat. This is showcased by the unique holographic eye found on the rear of the shoe. Its green-tinted aesthetic is intended to mimic a black panther’s eyes as it prepares to attack its prey - just as Michael Jordan was known to do on the basketball court.
The outsole also drew inspiration from the Black Cat nickname. Its paw-shaped design with aggressive herringbone traction gives this Jordan sneaker a distinct look. The Jordan 13 also featured new innovations such as a carbon fiber plate and Zoom Air, providing players with added agility on the court.
Colors
Jordan 13 Flint is actually an original colorway that was released with four other colors. These included the White/True Red-Black, Black/True Red-White, Black/Chutney Low, and Black/True Red. However, Jordan never actually wore the Flint colorway. It is rumored that he was going to wear the Flint 13 during the 1998 NBA All-Star Game but instead went with the Black/Red-White version called Playoff to match his Chicago Bulls uniform.
Conclusion
It is this fact that Jordan never wore the Flint 13 during the NBA Playoffs that makes this iconic Jordan sneaker so unique and such a collectible item among sneaker enthusiasts.
The Jordan 13 Flint has seen retro versions released several times since its inception in 1997, including 2005, 2010, and most recently in 2020. The latest 2020 retro version can be found on eBay.