The Air Jordan 21 “Light Graphite” released in June 2006 for $180, right around the time Jordan Brand was getting used to life without Michael Jordan on the court.

D’Wayne Edwards designed the Air Jordan 21 with a cleaner shape than a lot of the Jordans that came before it. The shoe looked pretty simple, but there was still a lot going on with the materials and performance setup.

By 2006, there really was no reason to expect another Michael Jordan comeback. He had retired before and returned, but this time it felt final. That meant Jordan Brand had to keep the signature line moving without MJ playing in the league, and the Air Jordan 21 was one of the first models to really deal with that shift.

The shoe took inspiration from the Bentley Continental GT, which matched the more upscale direction Jordan Brand was going for at the time. The “Light Graphite” pair came covered in suede with tonal “23” branding near the lateral heel. It also featured a double-overlasted Phylon midsole, I.P.S. cushioning pods, a carbon fiber shank plate, and a modified rubber outsole.

The Air Jordan 21 never became one of those models everyone talked about, but it still has a loyal following. A lot of that comes from collectors who remember when the shoe originally dropped and still appreciate how different it felt from the rest of the line.

Anyone still looking for the Air Jordan 21 “Light Graphite” can find a few sizes floating around on resale sites like StockX.

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