The Air Jordan 3 “Black Cat” Returns In 2024

If you’ve been waiting for the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cat” to return, 2024 could finally be your year.

Although there are still several days left to 2023, Nike, Inc. (and all of us, really) are already preoccupied with what the new year will bring. Michael Jordan’s eponymous label is no different, having already confirmed over a dozen Spring 2024 Jordans. More recently, reliable sneaker leakers @zSneakerHeadz and Sneaker Files shared that the all-“Black” makeover of Tinker Hatfield’s first design for the Air Jordan line will return for Holiday 2024 (a season that’s also expected to include a retro of the Air Jordan 11 “Columbia”). The pair was last seen in 2007.

The news arrives after the silhouette’s 35th anniversary. The Air Jordan 3 celebrated in style, returning in its iconic “White Cement” colorways in addition to handfuls of other ensembles. A pair like the “Black Cat” option, however, has long-been forgotten, being understandably overshadowed by the Air Jordan 4 “Black Cat,” which debuted in 2006 and was last seen in 2020. Neither official photos nor spy shots of 2024’s retro have surfaced yet, but it’s likely the sneakers will faithfully follow their predecessor from ’07. Changes to the sockliner and/or shoe box wouldn’t be uncommon, however, and would even fall in line with some reissues of the last handful of years. The pair’s nubuck upper, elephant print, and patent leather panels should return in their all-“Black” glory, though. “Jordan” text on the outsole is also expected to reprise its “White” role, keeping the style from being truly uniform.

A firm Nike SNKRS launch date hasn’t been disclosed by the brand at the time of this writing, but that’s likely to change as the second-half of the new year gets going. In the meantime, enjoy detailed photos of a “Black Cat” Jordan 3 pair from 2007 ahead.

For more sneaker news, check out the Kobe 8 Mambacita expected to release throughout Spring 2024.