Nike’s official website presents the Air Jordan Jumpman MVP 678 with the following description: “We didn’t invent the remix—but considering the material we get to sample, this one’s a no-brainer.” This is probably the most fitting description for this new Jordan silhouette, especially considering how it effectively merges the best aspects of three other iconic basketball shoes into one. Here is our take on a sneaker that is widely regarded as the finest Jordan hybrid to date.
The Thing About Hybrids
Hybrids are curious things. When it comes down to it, we create hybrids by taking two or more things with different characteristics so that we can develop or produce an entirely new thing. The key is to take only the best and most interesting qualities of the original parts. If we’re trying to weaponize something, we may take the most dangerous aspects of one component (think any movie you’ve watched about super-soldiers built in labs).
Still, the hybrid game isn’t a game of guarantees. Just because the constituent elements of a product are good or great doesn’t mean the resulting fusion will be a sure thing. Just because Breaking Bad and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are considered among the best television shows ever made doesn’t mean a hybrid of the two would give us something worth our time. In fact, some attempts at hybrids create monsters, and who wants that?
RELATED: The Upcoming “Yellow Ochre” Might Be The Jordan MVP’s Best Colourway
6 + 7 + 8 = 678
The same dangers exist when we move over to the world of sneakers. A fantastic shoe crossbred with another excellent shoe doesn’t an amazing hybrid shoe automatically make. That’s not the case with the Air Jordan Jumpman MVP, thankfully. Pulling together elements from the Air Jordan 6, 7 and 8 (the shoe is also called the 678), this is an appealing sneaker that gets the hybrid ‘formula’ just right.
Our editor, Jarrod Saunders, reviewed the “Cardinal” colourway, a delicious mix of white, vivid orange, black and cardinal red. The one I’ve had about two weeks to try out now comes in a sweet, sweet mix of black, white and university red. It’s not as loud and proud a colourway as the “Cardinal”, but it still managed to turn a few heads (and mind you, I’m a guy that likes to keep things on the DL, attracting as little attention to myself as possible). In short, I thought I could hide behind the presidential gravitas of the dominant black, but the bright and cheery pops of university red weren’t having it and let out a bold and confident “Hey!”
Of course, the colours are just one part of the whole.
Air Jordan Jumpman MVP Sneaker Design and Build
Coming to the design and construction of the sneakers, we have a patchwork of premium materials, with the smooth leather panels, sole and tongue of the 6, the textured nubuck upper and heel pull of the 7, and the iconic TPU paint splatter of the 8. This isn’t a hybrid for hybrid’s sake but exists to celebrate Michael Jordan’s three back-to-back championships (his second ‘three-peat’) with the Chicago Bulls. In all three of these victories, he won Finals MVP, an incredible feat.
So, you can imagine how I’ve felt in the three weeks I’ve had these – like a champion. As a kid who grew up watching MJ play, these shoes, at a sentimental level, capture a feeling I’ve never wanted to let go of.
RELATED: The Jordan MVP 678 “Charcoal Bulls” Is Not Just A Sneaker But An Experience
How Do They Wear?
It’s all fair and fine to get sentimental about sneakers, but they cost money, so comfort matters a lot when sliding into a pair. I’ll go ahead and say that though I’m a huge NBA fan, I’m not an active hooper, so I’ve only worn the shoes as lifestyle kicks. Having put that disclaimer out, I’ll say that getting into the shoes is a pleasure, made so by the heel pull, which does its job perfectly. The full-length Air cushioning is plush and responsive, making it a dream to walk around all day. The ankle collar is supportive without being restrictive, and the grippy outsole inspires confidence no matter what surface you wear them on.
Though I didn’t wear the 678s on a playing surface, it’s fair to say that when it comes to playing, things may get a little tricky in some areas. You see, the Jordan MVP is heavier than your average basketball shoe, and the high ankle collar could restrict some flexibility, so while that might not be so bad for a casual game of pickup with friends from the neighbourhood, I have a sneaky suspicion that it might not be the one you want to wear to the championship game at the local ball club.
Should You Buy Air Jordan Jumpman MVP Hybrid Sneakers?
I’ve enjoyed my time with the Air Jordan Jumpman MVP so far. It ticks the right boxes in terms of looks and comfort. Probably more than anything else, it’s the story the shoes tell that makes them special. This is a pair that proves that hybrids, when done right and in honour of something significant, can be magical.
RELATED: Jordan MVP 678 “Cardinal” Review
Watch our unboxing video of the Jordan MVP 678 below:
