The Air Micheal Jordan XVI was released on February 17, 2001 - Jordan¡¯s 38th birthday. This shoe was the first to not be designed by Tinker Hatfield in over a decade, yet it brought together the best pieces of shoes Tinker designed.

The Air Jordan XVI¡¯s hit the shelves following the successful (though ugly) Air Jordan XV. Jordan Brand found that Jordan didn¡¯t need to wear the shoes in the NBA to be on the hot list of every other American teenager.