The Air Jordan XIII – The Black Panther

The Air Jordan XIII (13) was released in 1997 and took its inspiration from the Black Panther. This made the Air Jordan XIII extremely lightweight and very responsive. The sneaker was designed to imitate Michael Jordan’s predatory nature and catlike quickness on the basketball court. The Air Jordan XIII is well-known for its extraordinary cushioning and breathability.

The Air Jordan XIII hologram

The Air Jordan XIII featured Nike’s Zoom Air Technology, a carbon-fiber spring plate and a unique Jumpman hologram that looks quite similar to a panther’s eye. The hologram contained the following images:

• A basketball
• The number 23
• The Jumpman logo

A problem with the hologram was that it tended to get foggy over time.

Knockoffs From China

Most of the previous models of the Air Jordans had been produced in Taiwan. Starting with the Air Jordan XII (12), and again with the Air Jordan XIII, Air Jordans were being produced in China. With the move to China, many fake Air Jordan VIII’s began to appear. These fakes were also known as factory variants and usually came in terrible color combinations

The Air Jordan XIII Sole

The Air Jordan XIII has one of the most unique soles in the Air Jordan line. Tinker Hatfield designed the soles to resemble the paws of a panther. A problem with the Air Jordan XIII sole was that its color would freeze over time. Two low-top versions of the Air Jordan XIII were released. The low-top versions did not have the hologram.

Michael Jordan’s Second Three-Peat

On December 30th, Michael Jordan broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record, by scoring in double-digits for the 788th consecutive game. Michael also led the Bulls to their sixth NBA Championship title with the famous game-winning shot, in Game 6 of the Finals against Utah. Two low-top versions of the Air Jordan XVIII were released. The low-top versions did not have the hologram.

Air Jordan XIII In The Media

Air Jordan XIII Commercial – CEO Jordan