Air Jordan 17 Retro OG ‘College Blue’ 2027 Release Date JA4259-100

One of Michael Jordan’s beloved, yet never-before-reissued Air Jordan sneakers is making a comeback.

After a lengthy 25-year wait since its original release, the Air Jordan 17 “College Blue” colorway is set to return in early 2027 for the first time ever. The pair is notable for being worn by Jordan himself in NBA action as a member of the Washington Wizards during the 2001-02 season.

Designed by Wilson Smith III, the Air Jordan 17 took heavy inspiration from Jordan’s love of jazz music. This was represented through both on-the-nose references such as music notes across the shoelace eyelets and packaging inspired by instrument cases as well as more nuanced details such as flowing lines throughout the sneaker.

From a tech standpoint, the Air Jordan 17 was highly capable on the court with Zoom Air heel cushioning and a full-length shank plate paired with a large TPU heel counter for stability. And like its Air Jordan 16 predecessor, the Air Jordan 17 featured a removable shroud covering its laces.

Air Jordan 17 College Blue 2002 (pair).

GOAT

Historically, sneakers beyond the Air Jordan 14 that were issued after Jordan’s tenure with the Chicago Bulls have been less celebrated by sneaker enthusiasts, but that trend has slowly shifted.

In 2024, Nike, Inc.’s Jordan Brand began issuing limited-edition low-top Air Jordan 17s including All-Star Lightning and University Blue colorways followed by a popular Infinite Archives collaboration in 2025. And most recently, the standard Air Jordan 17 was featured in Nike’s latest Doernbecher Freestyle collection with a popular design by Doernbecher Children’s Hospital patient Zach Rumbaugh.

According to @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, the Air Jordan 17 Retro College Blue will be released to coincide with NBA All-Star Weekend 2027 with an expected launch date of Feb. 19. The sneaker will come in its original metal briefcase packaging which contributes to a premium retail price of $350. With expected availability from Nike’s Snkrs app and select retailers, the style code for the upcoming pair is JA4259-100. While we await images of the ’27 version, the original 2002 iteration appears below courtesy of GOAT.