Since the release of the AIR JORDAN XX3 in January 2008, the sneaker world debated the greatest question ever asked of a basketball shoe: will there be an AIR JORDAN XX4? Meanwhile, Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc. and creator of the legendary franchise, fueled the fire by admitting nothing…until now.
      At a press event in New York City, Michael Jordan himself unveiled the Nike Air Jordan 2009. Its sophisticated design carries on the tradition of the world’s most respected basketball shoe while presenting a new naming scheme, retiring the labels “AIR JORDAN I through XX3” to keep Michael Jordan’s legacy special.
      ""Throughout the first 23 years of the AIR JORDAN franchise, we challenged ourselves and the industry by producing athletic footwear beyond the limits of what was possible,"" said Michael Jordan. ""The AIR JORDAN 2009 ushers in a new chapter for the Brand – it is the embodiment of what we can do and sets the course for the next 23 years for the franchise.""
       Michael Jordan collaborated with Jason Mayden, Jordan Brand’s Senior Footwear Designer, to create the Nike Air Jordan 2009. The shoe combines new cutting-edge performance technology with innovative style, adhering to the Nike Considered Design ethos of environmentally-preferred shoe development and construction. Providing the most elite experience in basketball performance and style, the AIR JORDAN 2009 stays in line with the franchise’s history, yet the design clearly exhibits a forward-thinking approach.
      “When designing the AIR JORDAN 2009, I wanted to take the shoe beyond expected limits of what consumers know from the franchise and create something ahead of its time,” said Jason Mayden. ""Its futuristic technology and design elements will help propel Jordan Brand towards even greater levels of innovation and style as it delivers the best performance shoe available today.""
       The AIR JORDAN 2009 incorporates a new, innovative technology in basketball footwear called Articulated Propulsion Technology, or APT. The carbon fiber prosthetic running technology used by Paralympians such as April Holmes, a Team Jordan track and field athlete and the world record holder in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races, inspired designers to incorporate those elements into the shoe and results in its futuristic look. Following the same basic form as the prosthesis Holmes wore during her gold medal 100-meter race for the 2008 Paralympic Games, the AIR JORDAN 2009’s APT allows the athlete to explosively and quickly propel forward on the court.