During the 1992-93 NBA season Michael Jordan was back at it again, leading the Chicago Bulls to their third straight championship. Appearing in 78 regular-season games, Jordan won his seventh straight scoring title with an average of 32.6 points per game as the Bulls finished with a 57-25 record to top the Eastern Conference’s Central Division. In the NBA Finals, the Bulls knocked off the Suns in six as MJ was named Finals MVP for the third straight year. Presented here is a special pair of Michael’s game-worn Air Jordan VII shoes from the Bulls first of two 3-Peat campaigns in the 90s. Fresh to the hobby, they come from an impeccable source, the Chicago Bulls longtime Community Relations Manager, Jeff Schultz.
From legendary designer Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan VII was inspired both by West African Tribal culture and the Nike Huarache basketball shoe line. Lighter weight and more colorful, the design said goodbye to visible Air, the translucent outsole, and the Nike Air logo on the exterior; instead going with the Jumpman logo and his iconic No. 23 as the most prominent outer features. Jordan wore an Olympic version of the VII’s (with his USA Basketball No. 9) as a member of the famed 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona. Based on photo research, the last on-court sighting of Jordan in these AJ VII white colorways with gold heel tabs was a Feb. 3, 1993 road win over the Sacramento Kings in which MJ scored 36 points. He was more commonly seen sporting the AJ VII black colorways or white colorways with black heel tabs. The AJ VII's are also referred to as the "Hare Jordans" for the Nike commercials Jordan did with Bugs Bunny to promote them. (MJ debuted the AJ VIII’s in early February of 1993, showcasing a black and aqua version at the ‘93 All-Star Game.)
These Nike Air Jordan VII's are mostly white with black midsoles trimmed in red. The most unique features are the stitched gold Jumpman on the outer ankle, his white “23” over a red and black, arrow-shaped plastic piece on the heel, and the gold pull tab on the heel used to lock the foot into the inner red sock-liner. The tongue comes in cream-white and is marked “AIR JORDAN” on top. The Nike manufacturer’s tagging indicates size 13 and is also labeled “920112FT2” to denote the date of production and player coding. The outsoles are multi-colored (white, red, gray, gold and black) with a gold Jumpman logo. All elements including the laces are original and as-issued. The shoes exhibit ample game wear, with "scuffs and creases on the uppers and midsoles" as well as "light tread on the outsoles" according to Sports Investors Authentication. Unlike other examples of Air Jordan's from this era, these have been incredibly well-maintained and properly stored with absolutely no damage or ill effects of any kind to the midsole cushioning, which so commonly occurs.
Includes LOA from Sports Investors Authentication as well as a Bulls employee LOA.