These Slick Nikes Look Minimalist, but They’re Secretly Loaded with Sneaker Tech

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Air Jordans, the Swoosh has dropped a stunning monochrome pair with never-before-seen features.

Nike Air Jordan 40 "The Classic" Sneaker tongue closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published June 26, 2025

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In 1984, Nike signed a rising rookie basketball star to a groundbreaking shoe deal. Shortly thereafter, now-legendary designer Peter Moore penned that player’s first signature sneaker. That rookie was none other than Michael Jordan. And the shoe? The Air Jordan 1.

Now, 40 years and 39 models later, Nike is honoring the footwear’s iconic legacy with the 40th release. The Nike Air Jordan 40 “The Classic” is a stunning minimalist sneaker imbued with never-before-seen tech.

Nike Air Jordan 40 "The Classic" Sneaker three-quarter angle — These are among the cleanest Jordans ever released, at least officially.

Four decades of the Jumpman

Yep. It’s the 40th anniversary of the first sneaker to bear the Jumpman logo. But that’s not actually what the 40 stands for in “Air Jordan 40.”

This is the 40th birthday of this iconic basketball sneaker lineup, and it also happens to be the 40th iteration of the shoe to be released. As such, the 40 means it’s the 40th Air Jordan model, not just the 40th anniversary model.

Nike Air Jordan 40 "The Classic" Sneaker back — The speckled heel ties together the black details on the upper and the white of the lower and outsole.

Either way you spin it, that’s a hell of a milestone. So it goes without saying that this is a pretty special shoe. To be fair, even a cursory glance at these sneakers can tell you that.

They sport a monochromatic colorway, black on top and white on the bottom, that’s among the cleanest and most minimalist Jordans have ever looked — officially or unofficially (there are a lot of customs out there).

But it’s not just a special colorway. These sneakers also have a combination of tech that the brand has never employed in any model.

Nike Air Jordan 40 "The Classic" Sneaker top — The white embroidered Jumpman logo on the tongue adds a nice little stylistic pop.

“Never been done is what we do”

For the first time ever in this sneaker, Nike has stacked a full-length Zoom Strobel (a method of attaching the upper part of a shoe to its insole) unit on top of full-length ZoomX foam cushioning.

That gives “The Classic” marathon-level responsiveness, energy return and comfort. The sneaker also features internal straps beneath its premium leather upper to offer unmatched security, whether you’re going hard in the paint or just going to the corner store.

[These are] among the cleanest and most minimalist Jordans have ever looked — officially or unofficially

It doesn’t stop there, either. The outsole gets a unique herringbone traction pattern that offers excellent grip while paying homage to previous models’ outsole designs.

Top to bottom, this is an exceptional sneaker, whether you’re focused on its styling, tech or both. It’s also a harbinger of what’s to come, as Nike has plans to release nine total colorways over the course of the year.

Nike Air Jordan 40 "The Classic" Sneaker bottom — The outsole is fitted with a herringbone traction pattern unique to this shoe.

Pricing and availability

The Air Jordan 40 “The Classic” sneaker will debut on July 12 for $205, but you can sign up for email alerts right now. Furthermore (and as mentioned), nine different colorways will be released this year to celebrate the 40-year milestone.