Style Plus Performance: Jordan 16 Retro Midnight Navy 2016
On September 25, 2001, Michael Jordan announced he was stepping down as President of Basketball Operations and relinquishing his stake as a part-owner in the Wizards to lace up his Air Jordans and get back in the game.
The man who retired from basketball twice was back on the court again as a Washington Wizard. Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan 16 Ginger model during the pre-season before switching to the AJ 17s in 2002, so the AJ 16 got to see some on-court time.
Air Jordan 16 History & Development
Michael Jordan began the new millennium by leaning further into his role as a businessman. With CEO of the Jordan Brand already on his resume, Jordan became part-owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards in January 2000.
With Jordan no longer playing basketball, simply attaching a Jumpman logo to a new design wasn't going to be enough to keep the Air Jordan line on its successful run. It had to continue to be innovative and buzzworthy. And with Tinker Hatfield's announcement that he was taking a break from designing Air Jordans (after over a decade), the Jordan Brand now needed to find a new designer. Wilson Smith III stepped in as lead designer for the Jordan Brand, with big shoes to fill to make the Air Jordan 16 a standout.
Smith's idea was to create a shoe that symbolized Michael Jordan's new life as a businessman on the outside, while still representing the game that made him who he was underneath. The Air Jordan 16 featured a uniquely designed removable shroud, a first for the line. Inspired by a marching band boot, the shroud gave the shoe a clean and streamlined look, fit for the office. However, when the shroud was removed, the result was a classic basketball shoe with plenty of Air Jordan heritage.
In homage to prior Air Jordan models, the design incorporated a patent leather toe box reminiscent of the AJ 11s, translucent outsoles like the AJ 5s, 6s, and 11s and a more traditional Air Jordan shape—something the Air Jordan 15 didn't have.
Jordan 16 Retro Midnight Navy 2016
The Jordan 16 Retro Midnight Navy came out in December 2016, 15 years after the original version. It's instantly recognizable by the eye-catching shroud that overlays the uppers; this piece, which runs from ankle to instep, was inspired by historic spats. A translucent rubber strap runs under the sole, keeping the overlay firmly in place. The overlays are removable for flexible styling. The Midnight Navy colorway has white leather uppers and overlays and a classic navy blue Air Jordan patent leather toe. Matching blue accents on the tongue, heel, and midsole create a crisp contrast. Remove the overlays to reveal navy blue leather panels with sporty mesh inserts. These white and navy Jordans come with Zoom Air cushioning and textured soles for traction.
