The Black Toe Air Jordan 1 and the Chicago Air Jordan XXX1 both celebrate Michael Jordan’s love of the game and his second home.

“Michael was the third pick in the draft, so he came in with a mentality that he was going to have to prove himself,” recalls Howard White, VP of Jordan Brand. “Training camp was at the Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood, Illinois and when he arrived to the city, he kept thinking ‘this is where I am meant to be’. His love of being the best, and leading the team, all meshed together. The city of Chicago was looking for a winner, looking for a hero. Some say that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. So I believe that he wanted to take that challenge of being that for Chicago — the city that drafted him.”

Michael’s defiant play on the court put Chicago at the center of the basketball universe. His competitive drive was different from any other player on the hardwood. To wit, his love for the game transcended beyond the arena: For Michael, no place represented the game’s freedom like the playground.

“Michael bonded with the kids that played at the 18th and State courts in Chicago. Before every game, he went down there and gave away a few pairs of tickets,” says White. “Kids would line the streets waiting for their chance to see Michael drive by and the potential opportunity to see him play live.”

Look for the Air Jordan XXX1 “Chicago” and the remastered Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” to release on November 5th, 2016 at select Jordan Brand retail stores.