The Air Jordan 3 ‘Black Cement 3’ is coming back once again, taking its spot as one of the biggest releases for the end of 2024. The Black Cement 3 has one of the greatest legacies of any retro sneaker, so we thought we’d celebrate its rerelease with some highlights.
The Background
Let’s set the scene, after the release of the Air Jordan 2 Michael Jordan was having some doubts about his partnership with Nike. Former Nike heavyweights Peter Moore and Rob Strasser almost convinced him to jump ship with them over a game of golf. Of course, we know that didn’t happen, so who won him over?
By 1987, Tinker Hatfield had already made history with the revolutionary Air Max 1. So it made sense that he’d be tapped by Phil Knight to give the Jordan line some new direction. When it came time to present Hatfield’s new design, MJ was around 4 hours late to the meeting. But once the Air Jordan 3 was unveiled, the deal was sealed.
The Design
The Air Jordan 3 addressed all of MJ’s complaints. The upper was made with tumbled leather for an instantly broken-in feel on foot. It was also the first mid cut Air Jordan, and the first to feature the Jumpman. The midsole also featured the visible Air unit from Hatfield’s AM1. Tinker would continue to take MJ’s feedback on board for all his Air Jordan designs.
With all those features out of the way, we’ve gotta talk about the look. The Black Cement was one of four original colourways that first dropped in 1988. The tumbled leather portions come in black, while the AJ3’s signature elephant print overlays on the toe and heel come in ‘Cement Grey’.
The Air Jordan 3 had a massive release in 1988. The shoe was backed by an apparel line and was featured in a famous ad campaign by Spike Lee. The AJ3 was also worn by MJ during yet another standout season when he won Defensive Player of the Year. He specifically wore the Black Cements during the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.
The Air Jordan 3 has been credited by Phil Knight as the shoe that saved Nike. Meanwhile, the Black Cement colourway has become one of the most iconic sneakers of all time.
The Retros
Like other iconic Jordan models, the Black Cement 3 was rereleased several times. The shoe received Retros in 1994, 2001, 2011, and 2018. There were some minor changes with each Retro. The most noticeable example was the Nike Air branding on the back being swapped out for a Jumpman logo on the 2011 pair. There were also a number of minor changes to the shoe’s shape, such as the size of the elephant print panels.
There have also been some special releases. In 2008, the Black Cement 3 was bundled with the Air Jordan 20 for the Countdown Pack, marking the release of the AJ23. Jordan Brand also paid homage to Tinker Hatfield’s original sketches with a 2019 pair which featured Nike Swooshes on the sides.
The Now
Finally, we arrive at the 2024 Black Cement Retros. Originally rumoured to be a Reimagined release, this pair is actually built to be as close to the OG as possible. This pair features shorter, lighter cuts of elephant print, as well as a more streamlined toe box. No pre-aged details, no remixed materials, just a fresh pair of Black Cement 3s.
The Air Jordan 3 OG ‘Black Cement’ is set to drop on the 23rd of November. If you miss out on retail be sure to check the listings on the KLEKT app.
