An OG colorway of the legendary Air Jordan 3 is back for the first time in a decade and while this is not one MJ wore on the floor as a member of the Bulls, it is still a fan favorite with plenty of lore and desirability.
But with all that said, can these 3s break through the sneaker conversation in a way that other legendary Air Jordan retros haven’t of late? Read below and reach your own conclusions.
When does the Air Jordan 3 True Blue drop?
The 2026 retro of the Air Jordan 3 True Blue returns on July 18 for a retail price of $230.
Then. Now. Always.
Cop the Retro 3 "True Blue" at Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker on 7/18. pic.twitter.com/AWJGmmXYOP
— Foot Locker (@footlocker) July 15, 2026
Air Jordan 3 True Blue Release Details
| Model | Air Jordan 3 |
| Release Date | July 18, 2026 |
| Release Time | 10 a.m. ET |
| Retail Price | $230 |
| Colorway | True Blue |
| Where to Buy | SNKRS, Foot Locker, StockX, Dick’s Sporting Goods |
The history of the Air Jordan 3 True Blue
While the Air Jordan 3 True Blue was an original colorway of the Tinker Hatfield-designed model — alongside the Fire Red, the White Cement and the Black Cement — Jordan didn’t wear them on court as a Bull in 1988. However, he did wear a pair on court in an exhibition vs. the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and as a Washington Wizard in a preseason game against the New Jersey Nets in 2001. And he put up a cool 41 points in them to boot.
The Air Jordan 3 is my personal second favorite model in the Air Jordan line, and an argument can be made that it saved not only the line but Nike as a whole. As I’ve noted previously, Michael Jordan was ready to leave Nike after the Air Jordan 2. Fortunately, Hatfield delivered an all-time classic that changed the game. Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon commercials in support of the Air Jordan 3 didn’t hurt the crossover appeal, either.
The Air Jordan 3 is a shoe that looks good right out of the box or in its 1,000th wear, one of those shoes that somehow looks almost as good cooked as it does brand new. A mid-cut shoe with a primarily leather upper, the thing that draws everyone’s attention is the elephant print on the toe box and toward the heel. The upper on this colorway is a white leather, with True Blue accents found throughout, including on the Nike Air branding on the back heel tab, along with hits of red. And similar to the 2024 Black Cement drop, the shape of the shoe seems to be as good as it’s been since the original back in 1988 (at least based on the early review from the excellent WearTesters channel).
The Air Jordan 3 True Blue last returned in 2016, marking the first time the colorway had its OG Nike Air branding since the original 1988 release. The True Blue 3s previously saw retro releases in 2001, 2009 and 2011, all with the Jumpman on the back heel tab. Over the past three months, the 2016 release has averaged $236 on StockX across 11 sales.
The 2026 retro is also currently available on StockX, posting a $227 average price on 160 sales over the past three months. That’s basically right at retail, although it is higher when you factor in fees, which is a sign that as strange as it seems these might not be an instant sellout. Considering that the Black Cement OG colorway also sat in winter 2024, I wouldn’t stress finding a pair of these and certainly wouldn’t pay above retail right now.
Where to buy the Air Jordan 3 True Blue 2026
The 2026 retro of the Air Jordan 3 True Blue will be available in store and online at various outlets. These include:
Air Jordan 3 True Blue Release FAQ
When does the Air Jordan 3 True Blue release?
The Air Jordan 3 True Blue drops on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET.
How much will the Air Jordan 3 True Blue cost?
The Air Jordan 3 True Blue will sell for a retail price of $230.
Why are the Air Jordan 3 True Blue sneakers so popular?
The Air Jordan 3 True Blue is an original 1988 colorway of the Michael Jordan’s third signature sneaker designed by Tinker Hatfield. MJ never wore it in a Bulls uniform, but he did wear them in an exhibition vs. the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and as a Washington Wizard in 2001.
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