The sneaker, like many of Jordan’s, was designed by Tinker Hatfield and has a distinctive no-nonsense design, especially when compared to other basketball shoes of the era.
Nike brand launched its latest golf shoe earlier this week, which is a faithful recreation of one of the most iconic signature sneakers from the NBA great’s career, the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi.”
Michael Jordan first laced up the Air Jordan 12s in the fall of 1996.
The sneaker, like many of Jordan’s, was designed by Tinker Hatfield and has a distinctive no-nonsense design, especially when compared to other basketball shoes of the era.
The Japanese flag is represented with stitching on the upper of this sneaker, which is complemented by a fake reptile leather toe guard in a contrasting color.
The sneaker was originally available in five distinct colorways, including the black and red version he donned during his legendary Flu Game in the 1997 NBA Finals. The white and black combination, known to collectors as Taxi, however, is just as renowned.
There are a few significant distinctions between the basketball and golf versions of the shoe. The most apparent difference is the move from a high-top to a low-top profile. Because you require less ankle support on the links than on the court, it’s a sensible change, although the basketball version has long been available as a low top.
The AJ12 is marked by a single-color leather upper featuring a stitch pattern meant to resemble the Japanese flag’s “Rising Sun” symbol. The faux reptile leather toe guard provides a secondary texture in a different color.
The most significant change, though, is the inclusion of cleats on the soles. These will not only assist you in maintaining a solid grip while on the fairway, rough, or green, but they will also aid in your traction when scrambling up slopes. There’s also Jumpman Golf branding etched onto the heel.
This is not the first time a classic Jordan sneaker was adapted for golf. Other models have been converted to golf shoes, including the I, III, and most recently, the IV Bred. Based on previous years’ trends, it’s a good guess that Taxi won’t be the last.
The Air Jordan 12 Low Golf “Taxi” is set to go on sale through the Nike website on Friday, March 11. No price has been confirmed yet, but they will certainly cost less than this pair of Air Jordans.
