Air Jordan XII (AJ12)
The Air Jordan 12 had a tough act to follow. In many ways, the shoe could stand on it’s own. The unique contract
of colorways between the bottom front and the top front and back gave it immediate distinction.
Jordan would play in four of the five original Air Jordan 12 Colorways. A very popular colorway, the Obsidian,
which featured a white lower part and a deep French blue upper part, is the exception. Jordan played most of the
season in the ‘Taxis’ and ‘Chicagos’ or ‘Cherrys’. He wore the Air Jordan 12 ‘playoffs’ in the – you guessed it
– playoffs and brought out a pair that would develop its own moniker in the season.
The ‘Flu Games’ (also known as ‘Breds’) would be named due to Jordan’s performance while sick in the NBA finals.
Although it is debated today what Jordan had – he claims it was bad pizza – the Flu Game name sticks and is
exclusive to the Air Jordan 12.
Jordan would narrowly finish second to Karl Malone in the 1996-1997 season. He settled this debate in the NBA
finals by winning his fifth championship and taking home the Finals MVP.
The Air Jordan 12 original colorways are as follows:
AIR JORDAN XII - WHITE/BLACK-TAXI
Release Date: 1996
Referred to as: Taxis
Photo Credit: Jordan Collection
Date: 12/13/1996
Photographer/Credit: Lou Capozzola/Getty
AIR JORDAN XII - BLACK/VARSITY RED-WHITE-METALLIC SILVER
Release Date: 1996
Referred to as: Playoffs
Photo Credit: Jordan Collection
Date: 2/9/1997
Photographer/Credit: Andrew Bernstein/Getty
AIR JORDAN XII - WHITE-VARSITY RED-BLACK
Release Date: 1996
Referred to as: Chicagos/Cherrys
Photo Credit: Jordan Collection
Date: 1/10/1997
Photographer/Credit: Gary Dineen/Getty
AIR JORDAN XII - OBSIDIAN-WHITE-FRENCH BLUE
Release Date: 1996
Referred to as: Obsidians
Photo Credit: Jordan Collection
Date: None
Photographer/Credit: None
AIR JORDAN XII - BLACK-VARSITY RED
Release Date: 1996
Referred to as: Breds/Flu Games
Photo Credit: Jordan Collection
Date: 6/11/1997
Photographer/Credit: Nathaniel Butler/Getty