When does the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue drop?

It’s that time of year once again. Yes, it’s the holidays. But for sneakerheads, more importantly it’s the season of the Air Jordan 11.

The Air Jordan 11 had become a holiday staple, marking one of the biggest releases of the entire year, at least in terms of sheer number of sneakers produced if not hype. And this year is no exception, as the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue (f/k/a Columbia Blue) returns for the first time in 10 years on December 14 for a retail price of $230.

Back after a decade: The Air Jordan 11 ‘Legend Blue'

Dropping 12.14 at 10AM ET in full fam sizing 🇺🇸

Hit Notify Me to get a reminder: https://t.co/ONBNhD22sm pic.twitter.com/RaedVV3MAX

— Nike.com (@nikestore) December 10, 2024

The Air Jordan 11 is almost universally regarded as one of the greatest shoes of all-time. It’s a shoe even the most casual sneakerhead is familiar with. It was the shoe that was on Michael Jordan’s feet when he returned to the No. 23 against the Magic in the 1995 Playoffs after a swipe — literal and figurative — from Nick Anderson, for the famed 72-10 season with the Bulls, when he kicked off his second three-peat. The man, the myth, the legend Tinker Hatfield considers it greatest work and it is said that this model is His Airness’ favorite model, which Jordan Brand has playfully alluded to in social media campaign supporting the release.

As I noted for last year’s Air Jordan 11 “Gratitude” release, the Air Jordan 11 made its debut during the 1995 playoffs despite being most associated with MJ and the Bulls’ legendary 72-10 championship campaign in 1995-1996. The shoe wouldn’t even exist if Hatfield hadn’t gone against his bosses’ instructions and continued work on the Air Jordan line while MJ was toiling away in the minors as part of his short-lived baseball career during his first departure from the NBA. Thankfully for all of us, Hatfield kept plugging away and when MJ returned he was ready with a brand new pair of sneakers to show the GOAT. MJ loved them. In fact he loved them so much that he couldn’t wait to wear them despite Hatfield’s pleas not to show them off because Nike wouldn’t be ready to release them for months. MJ’s good friend Ahmad Rashad got the scoop working the sidelines for NBC and hysteria ensued, including the NBA taking umbrage with the original sample colorway not matching Bulls colors and fining MJ (a familiar quandary for MJ and Nike). History was made and a legend was born.

Another part of MJ’s history with the Air Jordan 11 includes his MVP performance in the 1996 All-Star Game in San Antonio with the Legend Blues (then known as the Columbia Blues) on his feet. The colorway was the perfect complement for the oh-so 1990s All-Star unis that year. They don’t make kits like this anymore, unfortunately.

As I noted in the past, the shoe is distinctive thanks to its patent leather mudguard, an innovation Jordan had been asking Hatfield for over the years, paired with a ballistic mesh upper, icy translucent outsoles and a carbon fiber shank plate. Not only was the design practical for on-court play, with the patent leather helping to keep MJ’s foot from rolling over along with the carbon fiber plate providing additional torsion support, but they shined off the court as well.

The 2024 edition of the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue is said to come the closest to matching the OG Columbia Blues. The colorway is super clean, with the all-white upper pairing the trademark patent leather mudguard with white leather in place of the traditional ballistic mesh found on other colorways of the Air Jordan 11 along with a white phylon midsole. The speed lace system features white nylon and the tongue is the traditional ballistic mesh in white once again, with the classic “Jumpman Jordan” tag in Legend Blue. The Jumpman logo at the upper heel is in Legend Blue as well, with the translucent outsole also an icy blue and the carbon fiber spring plate featuring a checkered Legend Blue and black pattern as well. As Always MJ’s No. 23 is featured on the black heel tab on the back in white lettering.

As I mentioned above, the Air Jordan 11 has become a holiday tradition since 2008, with drops including Space Jams, Concords, Breds, Jubilees, Cool Greys, Cherry Reds and last year’s Gratitudes. The Legend Blues are an OG colorway, but I would probably rank it as last among OGs. My personal order would be: Concords, Breds, and then if you consider the Space Jam to be an OG since it was the pair he wore as a PE in 1995 that would be next, followed by the Columbia/Legend Blues. Obviously, if you don’t count the Space Jam as an OG, the Columbia/Legend Blues move up to No. 3. But even beyond that, if we’re just talking colors in general the Legend Blue is behind all those three colorways as well as the Cool Greys. However, that’s not to say that the Legend Blues aren’t beautiful or that I won’t be going after a pair. Let’s be real, I’m going to look to pick up a pair.

Jordan Brand did a shock drop of the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue in late November, which just affirms that like all recent Air Jordan 11 drops, stock should be plentiful. The shoe is currently available on StockX, and is actually under retail at an average sales price of $215 on over 16,000 transactions. Despite that, these will probably sell out, even if it’s not right away at all accounts. Which, in the end, is good for all the sneakerheads who want to cop a pair. Best of luck to all looking to pick up the Legend Blues!

Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue Release Details

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

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