The Air Jordan 11 “Gratitude” Is Dropping Next Week—Here's Everything You Need to Know

Calum Marsh
·3 min read
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Collage: Gabe Conte

One of the best sneakers of the year is set to be released on December 9, when Nike drops the Air Jordan 11 “Gratitude,” an updated take on the beloved “Defining Moments” colorway first released as a combo pack with the Jordan 6 back in 2006. Wrapped in glossy patent leather and with an embossed gold Jumpman logo on the outer heel, they’ve got the look and feel of an instant classic and are a must-have for every collector—either an easy cop on the SNKRS app or a fixture of coming Christmas lists.

The Air Jordan 11 was a landmark shoe in the history of sneakers. Designed for Nike by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the sleek, gorgeously aerodynamic shoe was worn by Michael Jordan throughout his monumental comeback season in 1995, when he returned full-time to basketball after his surprise early retirement to win the MVP, the All Star MVP, the Finals MVP, and his fourth NBA Championship. If that weren’t enough, the Jordan 11 cemented its immortality with its prominent roll in the blockbuster Space Jam, helping boost His Airness over the Monstars in the most famous dunk in movie history.

Nike has cultivated a particular cult following around the Jordan 11 over the years, aided in part by the annual tradition of retro releases. Every December for the past 15 years, Nike has used the early holiday season to launch another fan-favorite version of this classic silhouette, from contemporary riffs on OG models to nostalgic call-backs to icons of the past. The December 11s have become reliable staples in the sneakerhead calendar, and while the brand has never offered an official explanation for why this specific shoe drops at this time of year like clockwork, the custom has resulted in some bona fide classics.

It all started with maybe the most famous of the Jordan 11s: the Jordan 11 “Bred,” the iconic black-and-red sneaker that takes inspiration from the very first Air Jordan designed in 1985. That widely hyped retro re-release dropped in December 2008 in the “Collezione” pack with the Jordan 12 “Taxi,” and it was quickly followed by a string of major heaters: 2009 saw the return of the famous “Space Jam” colorway, 2011 brought us the hugely beloved “Concord,” and 2014 had the “Legend Blue,” which Jordan had made famous during the 1996 All Star game.

Recent years have been similarly impressive. Last December we had the white and red “Cherry” 11s; in 2021, the “Cool Grey” 11s returned after having first been seen in December 2010; and December 2020 broke sales records with the release of the Jordan 11 “Jubilee,” designed in tribute of the 25th anniversary of the shoe. (Each of these sold out within minutes, and each now re-sales at huge margins, not at all surprisingly.) Clearly the “Gratitude”—which will retail for $230 when it drops at Nike and on the SNKRS app next Saturday—is joining some esteemed company. And to our discerning eyes, it’s another worthy installment in one of our favorite annual traditions.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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