One of the sneaker world’s biggest stories has been attached to the wrong shoe for decades. Michael Jordan did indeed wear black-and-red Nikes during his rookie preseason, and the NBA did have a problem with them. But Nike later turned that controversy into the famous “Banned” Air Jordan 1 story. The only problem was that MJ wasn’t wearing an Air Jordan 1 when it all started.

It Was an Air Ship

Jordan wore a black-and-red pair of Nike Air Ships against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 18, 1984. The reason was pretty simple: the Air Jordan 1 wasn’t ready yet.

Nike creative director Peter Moore later recalled that the black-and-red Air Ships were ordered specifically for Jordan. His first signature shoe didn’t hit stores until 1985.

How the Air Jordan 1 Got the ‘Banned’ Story

The NBA’s letter came in February 1985 and referred to Jordan’s “red and black” shoes without naming a model.…