Why did Jordan Brand "ban" the shoes on Michael Jordan statue? Details explored as the brand celebrates 40 years

Jordan brand is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Interestingly, the brand found a unique way to pay tribute to Michael Jordan. It has covered Michael Jordan’s shoes on the statue at the United Center with black bars to reminisce about the historic ban incident.

The history behind the banning episode goes back to when the brand was formed, around the time when the original Air Jordan 1 was released in 1985. The design featured black and red colors, but the National Basketball Association (NBA) banned it, alleging a violation of the dress code.

Despite the ban, Michael Jordan wore the shoe and made it a mark of resistance. Nike, however, had to pay a fine for it. Hence, to celebrate the 40th year of the shoe, Jordan Brand teamed up with the Chicago Bulls to update the basketball legend’s statue, which now includes black bars on Jordan's feet, echoing the censorship depicted in Nike's original 1985 "Banned" campaign.

This commemoration is also accompanied by the launch of the highly sought-after Air Jordan 1 High 85 “Bred,” a reproduction of the original 1985 design. According to Sneakernews, only 10,000 pairs will be available and released at 23 stores across the U.S.

The limited-edition sneaker highlights the enduring popularity and legacy of the Air Jordan brand. The company released an animated video of its journey over the years in December, saying:

“2025 marks 40 years of Air Jordan and as the brand prepares to celebrate the impact MJ has made on the game, we are unveiling the Origin Story an animated film detailing the reach and influence of the AJ1.”

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Jordan Brand’s Howard “H” White had his story to share about Michael Jordan

In a 2023 interview with GQ magazine, Senior Vice President of the brand Howard “H” White said he knew Michael Jordan had the will to do good in his craft. He mentioned that although the brand sold shoes, it was not only about them, as he believed it was something much greater. While talking about the NBA star, he said:

“I have a feeling for things and with Mom and Pop and MJ, we all came here, you feel something. Once we signed him, then we really spent a lot of time together. You know, I would stay right at his place. When he would come to DC, he would stay at my little house.”

White remembered playing table tennis with Michael Jordan and would win all the time. He shared that after the NBA star got a ping-pong table at his home, he installed one at his practice facility in Berto Center as he never accepted defeat. White added:

“I saw within him this will, it’s not about basketball.”

White remembered taking designer Tinker Hatfield to Michael Jordan’s house, where he would let him go through Jordan’s cars and closets. According to White, one of Jordan brand’s most interesting shoes was the 11, which MJ considered a great success. They also started a program called Fundamentals that provided financial assistance to teachers.