Jordan Brand Launches the AIR JORDAN XX3: Celebrating 23 Years of a Legacy

Tue Jan 8, 2008 12:00pm EST

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AIR JORDAN XX3 Becomes First High-Performance Basketball Shoe in
the History of NIKE, Inc. Designed with the Environment in Mind
BEAVERTON, Ore.--(Business Wire)--Today, Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., announced the
launch of the long-awaited, 23rd iteration of the world's most
respected and innovative basketball shoe franchise, the AIR JORDAN
XX3. The AIR JORDAN XX3 celebrates 23 years of a legacy started by the
most revered basketball athlete in history...Michael Jordan.

"The AIR JORDAN XX3 is deeply meaningful to me, as a celebration
of both my life and career. The number 23 is obviously of great
significance to me and the release of the XX3 is a pinnacle moment in
the Brand's history," said Michael Jordan. "I'm honored and humbled by
the AIR JORDAN franchise's loyal following after all these years. The
release of this shoe is exciting and a dream come true for me."

Michael Jordan and legendary shoe designer, Tinker Hatfield,
Nike's Vice President of Innovation Design & Special Projects,
collaborated on the innovative design behind the handcrafted AIR
JORDAN XX3 and in the process created the first basketball shoe in
Nike history to embrace the Nike Considered design ethos, where
details in the development and design of the shoe seek to reduce waste
and allow for the use of environmentally preferred materials wherever
possible--all without compromising athletic performance.

"Our goal was to make the AIR JORDAN XX3 the best basketball shoe
ever, both in performance and sustainability. The handcraftsmanship
and innovation built into this shoe is simply unmatched," said
Hatfield. "By infusing the ultimate in technology, setting a new trend
in style and designing a shoe with the environment in mind, we hope
these ingredients will cause people to say this is one of their
favorite AIR JORDAN's ever."

The first AIR JORDAN was released in 1985 to great acclaim during
Michael Jordan's rookie basketball season and instantly became the
industry's best selling basketball shoe. Over the next 22 years, the
AIR JORDAN has been one of the world's most recognizable franchises
known for its signature Jumpman logo, innovative technology in
basketball and forward thinking fashion.

The AIR JORDAN XX3 continues the successful tradition by providing
fans with a beautiful performance product that is lightweight, low to
the ground, breathable, and maximizes comfort. A newly engineered,
patent-pending, stitching machine delivers intricate detailing in the
upper portion of the shoe. The low midsole profile allows players to
be as close to the ground as possible and feel the court. Unique
design cues such as the imprint of Michael Jordan's fingerprint
serving as the traction pattern on the outsole and his thumbprint on
the back of the tongue lining bring to life the man that makes the
franchise so special.

"For twenty-two years, the Jordan Brand has set the standard for
athletic luxury and the AIR JORDAN XX3 is no different," explains
Howard White, Vice President, Jordan Brand. "We at Jordan Brand
continue to push the envelope by incorporating unique design cues
created by the most talented people in the footwear industry while in
turn providing our fans with the best basketball shoe inspired by the
best basketball player ever. It's the perfect complement."

Jordan Brand is set to launch several colorways of the AIR JORDAN
XX3. An exclusive limited release will launch on Friday, January 25,
2008 with a suggested retail price of $230. An All-Star release will
launch on Saturday, February 16, 2008 and the nationwide launch will
be released on Saturday, February 23, 2008 both with a suggested
retail price of $185. Retailer information can be found at
www.Jumpman23.com.

About Jordan Brand

A division of NIKE, Inc., Jordan Brand is a premium brand of
footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the dynamic legacy,
vision and direct involvement of Michael Jordan. The Jordan Brand made
its debut in 1997 and has grown into a complete collection of
performance and lifestyle products for both men and women. The Jordan
Brand remains active in the community by donating a portion of its
proceeds to Jordan Fundamentals, an education grants program for
teachers.

For more information on Jordan Brand, visit www.Jumpman23.com.

Jordan Brand
Terri Hines, 503-532-5862
Terri.Hines@NIKE.com
or
Dinusha Gooneratne, 503-671-3117
Dinusha.Gooneratne@NIKE.com