A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Return of the AJ11 Gamma

Jordan shoes don’t just support basketball players while they’re on the court; they tell a story. This is especially true for the Air Jordan 11s, a style with a deep history that continues to evolve with each colorway release.

The iconic Gamma Blue, which debuted in 2013, added a whole new chapter to the ever-evolving tale. When it first came out, its bold design—a sleek black mesh upper, glossy patent leather mudguard, and vibrant Gamma Blue and Varsity Maize accents—challenged the traditional Jordan aesthetic, ultimately cultivating a loyal fan base.

Over the past 12 years, the colorway has maintained its status as a cult classic. That’s why the Jordan team decided to bring it back in December 2025. This release gives a new generation of sneaker fans a chance to weave their stories into its fabric, while celebrating the history and memories the style carries for those who wore the originals.

Even before the original AJ11s hit stores, they had people talking. In May 1995, Michael Jordan stepped onto the court wearing a prototype to play game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. No one had seen a sneaker like it before, and the white and black patent leather design—with its iconic shine—violated the league’s uniformity rules. But in true MJ form, he wore them anyway.

In that moment, the AJ11s instantly reached grail status with devoted fans clamoring to get their hands on a pair. Following the game, MJ referred to the style as his favorite Air Jordan, which only added to the buzz around the release, and the rest is history. The shoes practically flew off the shelves once they hit stores in the fall, with devoted players coming back for more pairs. Early users had come to love the mind-blowing technology and the uniqueness of the patent leather.

Over the past 30 years, the style has maintained its popularity with sneaker fans too, with new colorway drops continuously breathing new life—and new stories—into the iconic silhouette. The Gamma colorway has been among the most popular. But from the start, the Jordan team recognized that the Gamma was a creative risk, which was precisely the goal.

In 2013, the design team set out to create something bold, new, and fresh, rather than a shoe that referenced past colorways. Instead of leaning into the vibe of the 11s that came before it, the team opted for a “triple-black” design, which was a departure from the traditional Jordan aesthetic.

MJ was never seen wearing the Gamma. By the time it was released, he had put his trust in Nike to evolve the brand. As a result, it was challenging for older fans to connect with the shoe. The youth who recalled their parents, aunts, and uncles wearing it saw the Gamma as a fresh interpretation of a storied silhouette.

Through the years, many fans have expressed that the 11 is their favorite Air Jordan, and it’s this steadfast fandom that inspired the Jordan Brand to rerelease the Gamma using the updated AJ11 construction introduced in 2016. These changes include using a more refined, modernized mesh and higher-cut patterning, along with slight aesthetic tweaks to the design to make the shoe feel fresher and a bit sleeker.

However, it was crucial for the team to preserve the key design elements of Gamma that made them so sought-after in the first place, including the original detailing and logos. The Gamma Blue and Varsity Maize colorway is also the same as that of the first AJ11 Gamma, featuring a yellow tone for the accents that nod to MJ’s high school uniform colors.

What started as a bold experiment has evolved into a sneaker that’s a beloved icon—a shoe referred to as a grail by many, including those who were just kids when it first debuted. Ultimately, the Gamma rerelease is something all Jordan fans can celebrate. Whether it’s someone who missed out on the shoe back in the day, or the person who bought them a decade ago and needs a new pair, this release allows them to tell their story in the shoe and to share this special colorway with the next generation.

The AJ11 Gamma release date is slated for December 13, 2025, around the world.