The Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard” is one of the most important sneaker releases of the 2010s and arguably the best non-OG or collaboration AJ1. Its 2015 release had a significant impact on the growth of the AJ1 franchise, leather quality standards, and how much sneakerheads were willing to pay on the aftermarket. To celebrate the 10th anniversary and 40th anniversaries of the AJ1 and the exhibition game in Italy where a Michael Jordan dunk shattered the backboard, the original SBB AJ1 will return next year.
The SBB AJ1’s success developed into a colorway series with over five releases, including a 2.0, 3.0, and women’s exclusive satin edition. Its “buttery” leather changed how sneakerheads judged the quality of Air Jordan 1s and set a standard that has yet to be raised. Its exceptional materials and first-of-its-kind colorway was a shining moment for Jordan Brand and its ability to pull from unknown Michael Jordan stories to create new sneaker moments.
The now iconic “Starfish” colorway was inspired by the orange and black Stefanel Trieste uniform MJ wore during the exhibition game. In addition to Starfish, including “Sail” instead of white is another design decision that would help influence the next ten years of colorway trends. The shattered glass print on the insole was the perfect exclamation point on an instant classic colorway. Stay tuned for more info on the 2025 Air Jordan 1 “Shattered Backboard” retro, and keep track of all upcoming releases and raffles on the free DROPS By SoleSavy app.
Lead image: Wish ATL