Nike Turns to ’90s Nostalgia to Redefine What a Dad Shoe Can Be

The company plays a little “inside basketball” with its latest Air Jordan 3s.

Close-up of a sneaker showing white leather, brown textured suede with black patterns, black smooth leather, and a red textured sole.

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By Ethan Brehm

Published May 15, 2026

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The 1995-96 NBA season was special for Michael Jordan.

That year, His Airness completed his return to professional basketball with a championship win, beating the Seattle Supersonics in six games. It was his and the Chicago Bulls’ fourth ring, but this time around, there was some extra weight behind the glorious victory.

White and black Air Jordan sneakers with red soles and red Jumpman logos on black tongues. — These AJ3s pay homage to Michael Jordan’s championship win on Father’s Day 1996.

With its latest edition of the Air Jordan 3s, Nike aims to capture the emotion behind that comeback, while paying tribute to the fathers of the world in the most subtle way.

Call it a comeback

After completing his three-peat in ‘93, Jordan decided to retire from the sport to pursue a career in baseball. It was head-scratching at the time, since MJ was still in his prime and wasn’t nearly as dominant in the batter’s box. But if you knew anything about his relationship with his father (or at the very least watched Space Jam), you’d understand why he lost the will to play.

MJ almost never laced up his sneakers again, retiring from the NBA at 30.

Nike

James R. Jordan Sr. died in July 1993, compelling Michael to hang up his sneakers. Luckily, what was a major punchline at the time quickly turned into a mere cultural curio as time went on, owing to how earth-shattering his return to the court was.

The 1995-’96 season saw MJ win league MVP and the Bulls finish with a 72-10 record, which had never been done before (the record has since been broken by the Golden State Warriors) — punctuated by a Finals win on June 16. It was Father’s Day, and marked the first title Jordan won following his dad’s death.

White, black, and red Air Jordan 3 sneaker with elephant print accents and visible air sole unit. — The usual elephant print on the heel of the AJ3 is replaced by the carpet pattern in the Bulls’ locker room.

Pair of white and black Nike Air sneakers with red soles shown from the back. — The inside of the tongue also features gold embroidering that says, “WORLD’S BEST.”

The emotional celebration found its way back to the Bulls’ locker room at the United Center in Chicago, where Michael collapsed to the floor, brought to tears while clutching the game ball. The image has been immortalized in photographs of that evening, and now in a pair of shoes.

Inside basketball

At first glance, these new Jordan high-tops don’t look all that different from your standard AJ3, with classic Bulls colors. Sail White is used for most of the uppers, accented in anthracite and University Red. However, there’s one major change.

Aside from the heel print and tongue text, these look like your classic AJ3s in Bulls colors.

Nike

Dubbed “World’s Best,” this special iteration of the sneaker puts that locker room carpet pattern and color on the heel and forefoot, replacing the typical elephant pattern the sneakers have been known for since their 1988 debut. Completing the theme, large “WORLD’S BEST” text is embroidered in gold on the inside of the tongue.

Availability and pricing

These Air Jordan 3s drop May 16 at 10 a.m. ET from Nike’s SNKRS app for $215, and will likely move very quickly. Aside from men’s sizes, the sneakers will also come out in kid and toddler sizes.

White and black high-top sneaker with red accents and textured brown detailing on the sole and heel.

Nike Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best”

$215 at Nike

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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