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There are several beautiful versions of the Air Jordan 11, but I can listen to an argument for the Concords being the best of the bunch. From its origin in the 1995 NBA Playoffs, which was a losing effort for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, to the clean colorway, this is an undeniable version of one of the most iconic silhouettes in Jordan Brand's catalog. Let's talk sneakers.

Key Facts at a Glance

Item Detail

Model

Air Jordan 11

Nickname

"Concord"

Designer

Tinker Hatfield

On-court debut

May 7, 1995 — Game 1 vs. Orlando ('95 playoffs)

First retail release

November 1995

Original price

$125

Original colorway

White/Black–Dark Concord

Most recent retro

December 8, 2018 ($220, SKU 378037-100)

Next AJ11 retro

Air Jordan 11 'Space Jam' — December 12, 2026 ($235)

Current resale range

~$400–$600+ depending on size/condition

Cultural status

Widely regarded as the definitive Jordan 11

Where Can You Buy the Air Jordan 11 'Concord'?

There's no new retro scheduled, which means the resale market is your only option. StockX, GOAT, and Flight Club all carry the 2018 retro at roughly $400–$600 depending on size and condition, with the OG 1995 pair and the 2011 retro going for even more.

The 2018 retro (SKU 378037-100) is the version most buyers should target. It's the most OG-accurate modern release with the higher patent cut and "45" on the heel, and sizes between 8 and 10.5 tend to land at the lower end of the resale range.

What Makes the Concord Stand Out?

The black-and-white colorway makes the Concord the most versatile AJ11 ever made. Patent leather mudguard, white ballistic mesh upper, and a translucent outsole with just enough Concord purple peeking through the pods to justify the name — it's the rare sneaker that works with a suit, a tracksuit, or a pair of jeans.

Tinker Hatfield's design brief was to build a basketball shoe that felt like luxury footwear, and the Concord is the purest expression of that idea. The carbon fiber shank plate and full-length Air made it elite on court, but the patent leather is what turned it into a cultural artifact.

Why Does It Still Matter?

The 2011 retro reshaped how Nike releases sneakers, and the Concord is the reason. The campouts, the chaos, and the viral footage from that December 2011 drop forced Jordan Brand and Nike to rethink distribution — raffles, SNKRS app launches, and online-only drops all trace back to that moment.

Thirty years after MJ first wore them in Orlando, the Concord is still the AJ11 every other colorway gets measured against. Only the "Space Jam" seriously challenges it for cultural weight, and even that's a conversation — not a clear win.

Should You Buy the Air Jordan 11 'Concord'?

If you can stomach resale prices, this is one of the few Jordans actually worth the premium. The Concord has held value through four retros and 30 years of sneaker market swings, and no credible retro is on the 2026 calendar to drive prices down.

If you're budget-conscious and can wait, the "Space Jam" drops December 12 at $235 and scratches a similar itch. But if Concord is the one you want, the 2018 retro is still the smart target — and it's not getting cheaper.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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