Michael Jordan’s Most Popular ‘Black Cat’ Sneaker Is Rumored To Return

Riley Jones

August 29, 2024 at 1:39 AM·2 min read

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Fans of Jordan Brand’s stealthy “Black Cat” Retro sneakers already have a lot to look forward to over the next year, but the latest rumored release could be the biggest one yet.

The fan-favorite Air Jordan 4 Retro “Black Cat” is now expected to return during the holiday 2025 season. This news comes by way of leaker @zsneakerheadz, who reports that the popular pair will return with an improved shape to more closely match the silhouette of the original 1989 model. The sneaker features an all-black nubuck upper, with the colorless shade appearing throughout the entire shoe except for on the tongue’s branding in Light Graphite.

The “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4 has had a unique trajectory, becoming increasingly popular far after its original release. The colorway first launched in 2006 alongside an all-white “Pure Money” Air Jordan 4 counterpart. In that era, the Air Jordan 4 model was popular among fans, but it hadn’t yet experienced the mainstream crossover it enjoys today. Thus, the original “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4 ended up discounted at many stores.

Air Jordan 4 Retro ‘Black Cat’ 2020 (Pair). Credit: Nike

Over time, the style was more appreciated, and it finally returned in 2020 (pictured) to quite a bit of fanfare. It has managed to become even more sought after in the years that followed due largely to its popularity on platforms like TikTok. StockX sales data shows the sneaker’s aftermarket value rising steadily, beginning around the $200 to $300 range and topping $800 by late 2021. Since 2022, the “Black Cat” Air Jordan 4 has seen countless sales in between $800 to $1,000.

StockX sales data for the 2020 Air Jordan 4 “Black Cat” shows the sneaker reached an $880 sale in January 2022. Credit: StockX

Jordan Brand’s “Black Cat” theme — inspired by one of Michael Jordan’s on-court nicknames — has been used on a number of its sneakers over the years, but none have been as coveted as the Air Jordan 4 Retro. In ’25, the brand is also set to launch a “Black Cat” version of the remixed Air Jordan 4 RM. Meanwhile, another popular “Black Cat” entry from the past, the Air Jordan 3, is also expected to return.

As of now, the Air Jordan 4 Retro “Black Cat” is slated for a late ’25 launch, although the specifics could shift between now and then. This story will be updated with any changes.