Air Jordan 3 x J Balvin “Rio”: Sneaker Release Date, Price, Where To Buy

The second half of J Balvin’s pair of Air Jordan 3 colorways is almost here as the “Rio” is set to drop on Wednesday for $250.

The Air Jordan 3, of course, is one of, if not the, greatest sneakers of all time (I ranked it as my No. 2 Jordan of all time). I’ve written about it multiple times in the past, but it is quite possibly the sneaker that saved not only the Air Jordan line but also Nike itself. Considered one of the most wearable of all Air Jordan models, the Air Jordan 3 is one of those sneakers that looks good brand new out of the box or cooked after many, many wearings. The shoe also has cultural cache thanks to Jordan’s legendary pairing with Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon character in Nike commercials, which would continue through the Air Jordan 6 as then on-and-off over the subsequent years.

The “Sunset” colorway of J Balvin’s take on the Air Jordan 3 dropped back in September, evoking what SNKRS called “the colors of a Medellín sunset.” This time around, the “Rio” is named after J Balvin’s son and “is inspired by the tranquility of a sunset viewed from the mountains of his hometown Medellín, balancing a Black leather upper with vibrant bursts of Solar Flare and Total Crimson,” according to SNKRS. Jordan Brand also notes that “Balvin was involved in every part of the ideation and construction of this new edition and has a special bond to it, including some sensitivity towards his son and his hometown.”

Following the template of the “Sunset” colorway, the back heel tabs feature the OG “Nike Air” branding on one side, while the other side has J Balvin’s branding. That same J Balvin branding is seen on a hang tag reminiscent of the OG Nike Air hangtag seen on other models of the Air Jordan 3, such as the Air Jordan 3 Reimagined. We once again get a translucent outsole, this time in a vibrant orange. It is this combination of vibrant colors that certainly yields a striking colorway, one that would feel at home on the feet of a Phoenix Suns fan, interestingly one of MJ’s NBA Finals victims way back in 1993. Also interesting is the fact that the elephant print, usually one of the standout elements on any Air Jordan 3, actually blends in a bit more with the upper this time around. I actually don’t hate it, however. In fact, I would say I prefer this colorway to the earlier “Sunset” colorway that dropped last fall, although I think that colorway may feel more like a “summer” colorway than this “Rio” with its stark black upper. That being said, I think the bright, vibrant colors contrast really well with the black leather upper and make this shoe a stunner that will surely turn heads.

Of course, J Balvin has previously collaborated with Jordan Brand on the Air Jordan 1, the Air Jordan 2 and the aforementioned Air Jordan 3 “Sunset.” Of those three, the “Sunset” currently has the highest average sales price on StockX at $445, followed by the Air Jordan 1 at $419 and then the Air Jordan 2 somewhat surprisingly sitting below retail with an average sale price of $181. It should be noted that the “Rio” colorway has also found its way onto StockX already, currently posting an average price of $550, although it should be noted that this data comes from just 15 sales. I would say that this “Rio” colorway of the Air Jordan 3 is my favorite of J Balvin’s Jordan collabs, followed by the Air Jordan 3 “Sunset,” the Air Jordan 1 and then the Air Jordan 2 bringing up the rear. So, I basically agree with the hierarchy consumers seem to have drawn up on the secondary market. No matter what order you put these J Balvin collabs in, there’s no doubt that these will sell out quickly. So best of luck to anyone looking to pick up a pair!

To see more of this month’s releases, check out our release date calendar.