The Air Jordan 3 has become a timeless silhouette in both basketball and streetwear. KThe Air Jordan 3 (AJ3) is a timeless silhouette across basketball and streetwear. With its signature elephant print overlays, visible Air cushioning, and era-defining storytelling, the AJ3 remains a fan favorite in 2025. Spanning OG colorways and modern collaborations, it’s one of the most versatile and collectible Air Jordans—easy to style with luxury fits or fashion nova street looks and consistently strong on resale.

Here are the Top 10 Air Jordan 3 designs that have defined sneaker culture across generations.

1. Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement”

The Greatest Jordan Ever Made

The Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” is often hailed as the greatest Jordan ever made. With black tumbled leather, grey elephant-print overlays, and red accents over visible Air cushioning, it’s the pair MJ wore through his 1988 MVP season. Retroed multiple times, it remains the crown jewel of the AJ3 lineup—versatile on-foot and consistently strong on resale—styling just as well with luxury fits as with fashion nova street outfits.

2. Air Jordan 3 “White Cement”

Clean, Classic, and Iconic

The Air Jordan 3 “White Cement” is an OG 1988 classic—crisp white leather, grey elephant-print overlays, and visible Air—etched into history by MJ’s 1988 Dunk Contest. Every retro ignites hype, and its clean blocking makes it one of the most collectible and versatile AJ3s ever released, styling seamlessly with luxury fits or fashion nova street looks while holding strong on resale.

3. Air Jordan 3 “True Blue”

A Patriotic Classic

The Air Jordan 3 “True Blue” is famed for its crisp white leather, classic elephant print, and bold blue accents (with subtle red hits)—a rare OG AJ3 that MJ didn’t wear on court yet still became a fan favorite. Retroed multiple times—most notably in 2016 with Nike Air branding—it remains one of the most beloved and collectible AJ3 colorways, styling cleanly from luxury fits to fashion nova street looks and holding steady on resale.

4. Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red”

Bulls Colors Done Right

The Air Jordan 3 “Fire Red” channels MJ’s Bulls era—red accents popping against white leather and grey elephant print—and stands as one of the four original 1988 AJ3 colorways. Brought back in 2022 with full OG details (including Nike Air on the heel), it’s a staple for fans of classic Chicago-inspired Jordans. Versatile on-foot and consistently solid on resale, it pairs cleanly with everything from relaxed tailoring to fashion nova street fits.

5. Air Jordan 3 “Infrared 23”

Modern Twist on a Classic

Released in 2014, the Air Jordan 3 “Infrared 23” refreshed the classic black-and-grey AJ3 formula with bright Infrared highlights—popping on the eyelets, branding hits, and trim against black leather, grey elephant print, and visible Air. It’s a textbook example of how Jordan Brand updates heritage blocking without losing DNA—modern on-foot, easy to style, and still a sleeper favorite among collectors and fashion nova street looks.

6. Air Jordan 3 “Cool Grey”

Lifestyle Appeal

The Air Jordan 3 “Cool Grey” (first released 2007, retroed 2021) brought pure lifestyle energy to the AJ3 with neutral grey suede, classic elephant print, and understated orange/yellow accents over visible Air. Versatile and premium-feeling on foot, it’s a go-to for clean outfits—from relaxed tailoring to fashion nova street sets—and a steady performer on resale thanks to its easy-to-style palette.

7. Air Jordan 3 “UNC”

A Nod to College Roots

Inspired by MJ’s University of North Carolina, the Air Jordan 3 “UNC” (released 2020) pairs crisp white leather with Carolina blue details and classic elephant-print overlays over visible Air. It quickly became one of the most popular non-OG AJ3s for its easy palette and on-foot versatility—styling clean from relaxed tailoring to fashion nova street fits while holding solid on resale

8. Air Jordan 3 “Mocha”

Ahead of Its Time

The Air Jordan 3 “Mocha” (released 2001, later retroed 2018) swaps the usual black/red hits for brown accents, giving the AJ3 a neutral, lifestyle-first vibe. Initially underrated, its white leather, dark-mocha elephant print, and visible Air aged into a cult favorite—easy to dress up or down and a quiet alternative to louder OGs. It’s a versatile pair that anchors earthy palettes and styles cleanly with everything from relaxed tailoring to fashion nova street sets.

9. Air Jordan 3 “JTH Justin Timberlake”

A Star-Studded Collaboration

Dropped during the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show, the Justin Timberlake x Air Jordan 3 “JTH” injected fresh DNA into the AJ3 by adding a lateral Swoosh—a nod to Tinker’s early sketches. Ultra-limited and highly exclusive, it remains one of the most valuable AJ3 collaborations, prized for its storytelling and on-foot versatility. From collector fits to fashion nova street looks, the JTH reads premium and continues to command strong resale.

10. Air Jordan 3 “A Ma Maniére”

Modern Luxury at Its Finest

The A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 (2021) blends vintage vibes with premium craft—cream suede and tumbled leather, quilted lining, and softly aged midsoles—while its Raised By Women storytelling honors Black culture and women’s roles in sneaker history. Revered for materials, message, and on-foot elegance, it’s one of the most meaningful AJ3 releases to date—styling effortlessly with tailored looks or fashion nova street fits and commanding top-tier resale.

Why the Air Jordan 3 Remains Legendary

Saved the Jordan Brand

The Air Jordan 3 is widely credited with convincing Michael Jordan to stay with Nike—a pivotal moment in sports and fashion history. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the AJ3 introduced elephant print, visible Air, and the first Jumpman logo, then exploded culturally via the 1988 Dunk Contest and Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon ads. That blend of innovation and storytelling set the template for modern sneaker culture—and it’s why the AJ3 still styles effortlessly today, from luxury fits to fashion nova street looks, while holding strong on resale.

Timeless Design with Modern Appeal

With its signature elephant print, visible Air unit, and balanced, wearable shape, the Air Jordan 3 stays relevant across decades. The proportions photograph cleanly, style from streetwear to smart-casual, and pair with everything from relaxed tailoring to fashion nova fits—one reason the AJ3 keeps rotating through closets and holding value on resale.

Collector and Resale Value

OG AJ3 retros and collaborations like the A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3 routinely fetch high resale prices, making them both style icons and credible sneaker investments. Premium materials, limited runs, and strong storytelling keep demand high on authenticated platforms, while clean, versatile blocking ensures easy outfit rotation—from tailored looks to fashion nova street fits—sustaining long-term value.

Conclusion

The Top 10 Air Jordan 3 designs show exactly why the AJ3 is one of the most important sneakers in the Jordan line. From MJ’s on-court classics—Black Cement and White Cement—to modern collabs like A Ma Maniére, the AJ3 blends heritage (elephant print, visible Air), innovation, and timeless style. Approaching four decades after its 1988 debut, the Air Jordan 3 remains a cultural icon—shaping sneaker history while inspiring new generations—and it still styles effortlessly from tailored fits to fashion nova street looks