With Michael absent from the NBA, Nike decided to playfully have His Airness take on a disguised alter-ego by the name of Johnny Kilroy for the Air Jordan IX campaign. The Kilroy character appeared in various TV and print ads, and even had his own 1993-1994 Upper Deck SE basketball card. This fall, Jordan Brand gets an early start on the 20th Anniversary of the IX with a lineup of original and new colorways, including a pair that pays tribute to Kilroy.Black nubuck and platinum tumbled leather do the job on the upper of the “Kilroy” Retro 9, while red works the inner lining, pull-tab and globe. Kilroy personalization comes int the form of a custom tongue tag, number “4” embroidery on the heel and “Kilroy Kicks Butt” on the insoles and backside of the tongues.
