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The Air Jordan 3 Lucky Shorts takes inspiration from a little-known piece of Jordan lore — the University of North Carolina shorts MJ supposedly wore under his game uniform for good luck throughout his career. This release nods to that tradition with a clean UNC-adjacent colorway and subtle vintage touches.
There’s no Nike Air on the heel — you get the Jumpman logo instead — but the inside of the tongue features a special throwback-style tag that reads: “Air Jordan XL (87-88), DO NOT MACHINE WASH, DO NOT TUMBLE DRY, DO NOT BLEACH, DO NOT IRON DESIGN.” It’s a fun detail that plays into the whole “lucky pair of shorts” theme.
I wasn’t sold at first, but the colorway kept growing on me until I finally grabbed a pair. Shoutout to Youtube sneaker reviews and pics on IG! Glad I did — the Hydrogen Blue hits are super clean, and the vintage midsole effect adds just the right amount of retro flair without going overboard. It’s a nice blend of aged and fresh. Not to mention, 25% off at Sneaker Politics to seal the deal!
Comes in a special box featuring a mix of elephant print and sail tones, plus a pair of white laces.
Materials
Materials are surprisingly solid for a quieter release like this. You get a quality leather upper paired with suede panels in place of the usual elephant print. The texture gives these a slightly elevated feel, and the shape looks sharp. Definitely better than expected at this price point.
Fit & Comfort
Fit is true to size and consistent with most recent AJ3 retros. The 3s have always been one of the more comfortable Air Jordan models to wear casually, and these are no different. They’re not packed with modern tech, but they hold up well for everyday use.
If these are sold out at different stores online, you can try looking for them on eBay.
Colorway: Summit White / Hydrogen Blue
Style Code: CT8532-101
Retail Price: $200
Year of Release: 2025