Air Jordan 11 'Space Jam' — Release Date, Price & The Story

The drop at a glance

The story

The 'Space Jam' Air Jordan 11 is the December retro tradition's crown jewel: MJ debuted it in the 1995 playoffs against Orlando while wearing No. 45, then made it immortal in the 1996 film. Nike brand president Trevor Edwards crowned its 2016 retro 'the largest and most successful shoe launch in the history of Nike' — the biggest in company history, full stop — and 2026 marks the movie's 30th anniversary.

This version flips the 2016 script: that pair's '45' heel and Concord Jumpman matched MJ's actual 1995 on-court PE, while 2026's '23' embroidery and Varsity Royal hits follow the 2000 OG retail specs and the film-era look. At $255 it's the most expensive pair of the holiday slate, in full family sizing.

Even with big production numbers, Space Jam 11s always sell through; expect the biggest raffle-entry volume of Q4 and steady resale premiums, especially post-Christmas.

The deep cuts

• The NBA fined MJ $5,000 for wearing the non-conforming AJ11 in the 1995 Orlando series — the Bulls ate a separate $25,000 fine over his switch to No. 45 — and he even wore Penny Hardaway's Air Flight One in one game to dodge further penalties.
• The Space Jam colorway has hit retail just three times — 2000, 2009 and 2016 — making the 2026 drop only its fourth retail release.
• The 2016 release (December 10, 2016, $220) drew 18-hour lines and sold out same-day before Nike crowned it its biggest launch ever.
• Space Jam hit theaters November 15, 1996 — December 2026 is the true 30th-anniversary window.

How to cop

1. Launch draw — enter the minute it opens; the raffle button above takes you there.
2. Retailer raffles — the big accounts open entries in the days before the drop.
3. Miss it? The buy links on this page route to the marketplaces we trust.

Dates move — the Drop Report updates as brands confirm. Answer this drop's culture question in The Feed to build your Culture IQ.