When the Chicago Bulls stormed through the 1996–97 season with 72 wins, Michael Jordan gave the Air Jordan 12 its legendary status. Fast forward to today, and sneaker fans are about to relive that moment as the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” makes its long-awaited return on November 8, 2025, priced at $210 and dropping in full family sizing.
The “Taxi” isn’t just another Jordan retro. It’s one of MJ’s go-to pairs from that season, making appearances throughout the regular games before he switched into the “Playoffs” and the black-and-red “Bred” editions for the postseason. Anyone who remembers the iconic “Flu Game” in the Finals has those images of Jordan hunched over in a pair of 12s burned into their memory.
First released in November 1996, the Air Jordan 12 came from the mind of Tinker Hatfield, the same designer behind the Jordan 11 and countless other classics. Inspired by Japan’s Rising Sun flag and women’s derby heels, the shoe introduced a quilted leather upper, a bold stitched design, and for the first time ever in the Jordan line: Zoom Air cushioning. It was performance-first but packed with style, and Jordan showed it off on his way to his fifth NBA championship.
The “Taxi” colorway kept things clean with a crisp white leather base with a textured black mudguard wrapping around the shoe. Black covered the outsole and most of the midsole, while metallic gold eyelets gave the laces a hint of luxury. A yellow square with the Jumpman logo sat proudly on the heel tab, right above the number 23. Subtle yellow hits on the shank plate earned the shoe its “Taxi” nickname, a nod to New York City cabs.
It wasn’t long before the “Taxi” cemented itself as one of the most beloved colorways in Jordan history. The sneaker returned in 2008 as part of the “Countdown Pack” with the Air Jordan 11 “Bred,” then again in 2013 and 2018. Since then, fans have been waiting over a decade to see it hit shelves again. And while Jordan Brand has been busy experimenting with wild new colorways lately, this release brings things back to basics with a shape and build closer to the original.
Collectors are already buzzing, with reactions on X ranging from excitement to skepticism. “Need em in the collection,” one fan posted. Others weren’t as convinced, with another writing, “the quality of materials they’re using on Jordan’s are diminishing with every retro. smh. sad to say.” One person simply said, “Hate that shape.” Clearly, expectations are sky-high.
What makes the “Taxi” so timeless is its versatility. It looks just as good with jeans as it did on Jordan’s feet while he was dropping 30 a night.
If you’re thinking about grabbing a pair, don’t wait until they hit resale sites. On November 8, the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” lands through Nike’s SNKRS app and select retailers.
