Introducing Jordan 28 (XX8): Shrouded in Mystery
Launched in February 2013, it's clear why the Air Jordan 28, officially labelled the Air Jordan XX8, needed a new athlete to unveil the running shoe: its unique and noticeable shroud. The high-boot design included an exterior shroud that made the AJ 28 a truly polarising look. The distinct running shoe, co-designed by Tinker Hatfield and Josh Heard, retailed at $AUD3251* and was debuted by Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets.
Throughout 2013, the Jordan Brand released more AJ 28 colourways and Westbrook-led designs, including a Special Edition model that eliminated the shroud and retailed for a more accessible $AUD1952*.
1Australian Price indication converted from US$250.
2Australian Price indication converted from US$150.
*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Air Jordan 28: Performance, Style and Stealth
While creating their design concept, Hatfield and his team asked Michael Jordan to define the word "stealth." MJ replied, "Stealth is like a black cat." They ran with the idea, creating a sleek, stealthy silhouette that incorporated the performance-forward thinking from recent Air Jordan releases with a fresh take on aesthetics. It got people talking about the Air Jordan again.
The shroud is the first noticeable aspect of the high-boot design. Using a Swiss-made stretchy mesh synthetic fabric found in motorcycle jackets, Nike referred to the shroud as an "extra layer of support, stability and style," but it was the style that truly made it stand out. The Jordan Brand created multiple patterns–from wild to crazy–and mixed in plenty of Westbrook-specific colourways to make the shroud a prominent design feature of the shoe. Hatfield described the AJ 28 shoe as "basketball's answer to the concept car."
There's plenty to talk about on the performance side too:
- The debut of the Flight Plate situated below the Nike Zoom Air units deflects force and enhances the Zoom Air cushioning
- Dynamic Fit system utilizes internal straps in the midsole that integrate with the laces for a combination of support and comfort
- External carbon fiber plate stabilizes the foot
- Multi-directional outsole pattern offers excellent traction
Jordan 28 Colorways: Dozens of Bold Options
The AJ 28 offers more than 30 colourways, with or without the shroud. The Westbrook-focused releases have garnered the most attention, partly because Westbrook was serving as the new face of the brand, and his fashion sense was renowned in the NBA. Notable Westbrook versions include the AJ 28 "Why Not?" with its bold question scrawled in orange on a blue shroud, an Oklahoma City Thunder colourway, and the popular Thunder Home that features Thunder colours on a white shroud.
Elephant in Cement Grey
Black/Green Night Vision with UV ink on the upper that comes to life under a blacklight
Carbon Fiber Black/Bright Crimson
Graphic-heavy Oak Hill in Black/Red/Anthracite
Bamboo featuring a white shroud with bamboo detailing that debuted during the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend
A handful of unreleased Player Editions were also launched:
- Ray Allen's Miami Heat colorway
- Maya Moore's WNBA version in Camo
- SE Oscar in Gold to celebrate the Academy Awards
- Locked and Loaded, part of the Art of a Champion pack, inspired by Ray Allen's history-making clutch three-pointer
Collectability and Value of the Jordan 28
Versions featuring the shroud design command better resale than non-shroud SE versions and go for around $AUD2603* Westbrook-themed models offer the most expensive selection and range from $AUD390 to $AUD4554*, depending on size and colour.
The 2014 Bamboo colourway is the priciest model on the resale market, but still attainable at around $AUD4555* Another highly sought-after style is the Ray Allen Locked and Loaded Retro that typically goes for about $AUD3906*. If you plan to buy AJ 28s either for your collection or resale, be sure to maintain proper care in cleaning and storing your finds.
3Australian Price indication converted from US$200.
4Australian Price indication converted from US$350.
5Australian Price indication converted from US$350.
6Australian Price indication converted from US$300.
*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary
Jordan 28 Sees Plenty of Court Time
Two athletes defined the Air Jordan 28 in the NBA—Russell Westbrook and Ray Allen. Westbrook debuted the shoe in December 2012 during a game in Brooklyn, ahead of the All-Star 2013 Weekend release of the AJ 28 model. Westbrook's singular fashion style paired well with the shroud-style, boot-like sneaker that gave the Jordan shoe added buzz prior to its release. Westbrook continued to wear the AJ 28 in a variety of colors, famously kicking off the "Why Not?" designs in 2013.
Ray Allen, a longtime Jordan Brand athlete, never had a signature line of his own. However, he wore plenty of Player Edition models of the AJ 28 and played in Miami Heat colorways—including White with accents of Red/Gold and Black/Red/Yellow versions.
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