Michael Jordan wasn’t the first well-known basketball player, nor was he the first to be linked to a sneaker. Chuck Taylor is the rightful owner of such title. Michael Jordan, on the other hand, became an instant legend in the 1980s when he burst onto the basketball court with a skill unlike any other.

Nike, a pioneer in the sports equipment industry, recognized Jordan as a rising star and decided to build a special shoe for him. The endorsement agreement was for $2.5 million, which was a huge sum for an unproven player.

To make the story even more legendary, Jordan defied NBA rules by wearing the new shoes, which were not allowed to be worn because of their color restrictions. Jordan wore the sneakers nevertheless, and Nike was cool with the $5,000-per-game fee because they knew the marketing value was incalculable. The shoe became associated with basketball and hip-hop culture, and it remains a popular sneaker to this day.

The 20 most expensive Air Jordans ever made:

The popularity of Jordan among sneakerheads has led to a number of Jordan-related items being made available, including T-shirts. Visit the websites listed below if you’re looking for these matching T-shirts.