A true classic is returning on August 2. The Air Jordan 10 ‘Steel Grey’ is one of the most recognizable sneakers in the Air Jordan series. You can find them at Shoe Palace stores and on shoepalace.com.
Steel Grey
The Steel Grey has been on ice since 2013. Its 2025 comeback is highly anticipated. The shoe was originally designed by Tinker Hatfield during MJ’s first retirement. The 10 chronicled MJ’s career accomplishments on the outsole. This is one of the most recognizable parts of the shoe and one of the most memorable parts of the Jordan line. This 2025 version returns the OG ‘Dark Powder Blue’ branding. The OG toe cap overlay is also back.
The 10
Michael Jordan’s baseball career was short. Eventually MJ would return to the basketball court and once again dominate the league. Michael Jordan talked to Tinker Hatfield, the longtime Jordan Brand designer, at the beginning stages of development for the Air Jordan X. The talks weren’t as in depth as they were when Jordan was still playing basketball. MJ’s attention was focused on baseball, a sport he wasn’t mastering as easily as basketball.
Tinker Hatfield was mostly on his own when it came to the design of the shoe. The X also didn’t have Jordan’s game to use as inspiration. Hatfield and Jordan both tried to base the design of the Air Jordan sneakers on MJ’s game in that moment, and his current needs as a basketball player. Hatfield had to be more creative with the design and goals of the X.
Since the Air Jordan X was the tenth iteration of the Air Jordan released, it made sense to Tinker to treat the 10 as a homage. The shoe was built and crafted as a tribute to his remarkable career. The 10 was a lightweight shoe and worked well as both a basketball sneaker and casual shoe. The tribute to MJ’s career was accomplished by listing Jordan’s career highlights on the sole of the 10. Nike and Jordan Brand encouraged NBA players to wear the 10, since MJ was retired.
Shoe Palace
The Air Jordan 10 ‘Steel Grey’ launches at Shoe Palace on August 2.
- Adam C. Better
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