Even before the Bulls championship dynasty began, Michael Jordan had already established himself as the best basketball player on the planet. Heading into the 1989-90 season, the promotion of Phil Jackson to head coach, along with the key additions of Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, laid the foundation for Chicago’s reign of six titles in eight years. MJ posted a league-leading 33.6 points per game – his fourth consecutive scoring title – but the Bulls were unable to dethrone the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals as the “Bad Boys” went on to win their second straight NBA title.
Presented here is a special pair of Air Jordan V shoes donned by His Airness during that season’s NBA All-Star Weekend in Miami. Ironically, Jordan did not participate in the Slam Dunk Contest, opting to give the 3-Point Contest a shot instead. So, it was on the evening of February 10, 1990, that Michael debuted one of Tinker Hatfield’s most popular Nike designs.
One of the eight 3-point contestants was Utah Jazz guard Bobby Hansen, a former college standout with the Iowa Hawkeyes. With a star-studded lineup that included Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and Mark Price, it was MJ’s Bulls teammate Craig Hodges who came out on top to win his first of three straight shootouts. Jordan got knocked out in the first round, hitting just five of 25 attempts – still a record for fewest made in a round. Hansen may not have won the contest, but he got himself a nice consolation prize (as stated in his letter of provenance).
In the locker room afterwards, the players were all changing out of their uniforms when I asked Michael if he still wanted his shoes – the white Air Jordan V’s he wore in the contest. He looked at me with a straight face and responded, “You want them? Here, take them,” tossing them over to me. I literally wore them out of the arena that night and have had them ever since.
The white Air Jordan V sneakers with red "23" embroidered numbers stitched on the outer ankles come in MJ's standard size 13 with their original white laces and lace locks as well as the original Nike Air insoles showing significant sock sweating. The visible air unit remained from previous designs in the red and black midsoles, which were patterned after a WWII fighter plane. Translucent outsoles reveal a large Jumpman logo within the bottoms. The thick fabric tongues have the Jumpman on the outside and a white "AIR JORDAN" patch on the inside. The interior Nike tagging is appropriately stamped with a manufacturing date of "891201 FT1". The sneakers exhibit obvious wear with evidence of scuffing and creasing. AJ Vs are notorious for their deteriorating soles, but these beauties have been well-preserved everywhere except the aft sole section, both of which have been professionally restored [by that renowned expert from Texas].
Newly discovered and fresh to the market, these Air Jordans are both museum-worthy for pop culture enthusiasts and grail-worthy for MJ collectors, their impeccable direct-source provenance giving them a significant step up from other Jordan gamers already circulating the hobby. LOA from Sports Investors Authentication (confirming player-issue and usage) and LOP from Bob Hansen.