Ten years ago, the Air Jordan 1 High ‘Shattered Backboard’ set a new standard for quality and storytelling. Now, one of the most famous non-OG colourways ever is set to return for Air Jordan’s 40th anniversary.
The story behind this colourway takes place in Italy, 1985. After Michael Jordan’s rookie year, he played an exhibition game for Italy’s Stefanel Trieste team against JuveCaserta. During this friendly exhibition game, MJ not only put up 30 points, but made a dunk that completely shattered the glass backboard. When the pair of Jordans he wore during the game went up for auction decades later, they found a shard of glass still stuck in the sole.
The Shattered Backboard’s first released in 2015. They came in a white leather base with black overlays and splashes of orange on the toe, heel and ankle. These colours were borrowed from the Stefanel Trieste jersey that MJ wore during the exhibition game. Aside from the iconic storytelling, this release gained significant attention due to its high-quality tumbled leather upper. The Shattered Backboard reached such cult status that it spawned three sequels, a Reversed colourway, a satin pair, and a 3.0 patent leather version.
Ten years later, the OG Shattered Backboard is back. By no means a step down in quality, this pair dials back the tumbled leather for a more natural, smooth look. If you want to add this fan-favourite pair to your collection, the 12th of July’s your next chance. As always, if you miss out on the retail release, check out the listings on the KLEKT app.
