SoleGRIND
| 👟 Sneaker Release Info | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jordan Brand |
| Model | Air Jordan 5 |
| Style Code | CZ1786-001 |
| Release Date | May 16, 2020 |
| Retail Price | $200 |
| Available At | StockX |
2020 was the 30th anniversary of the Air Jordan 5, and Jordan Brand went all out to celebrate. We got the Fire Red 3M retro, the alternate Bel-Air, and then this. The Air Jordan 5 “Top Three.” Honestly, this might be the most creative retro release of the entire anniversary celebration. Instead of dropping another OG colorway, Jordan Brand mashed up three iconic AJ5 colorways into one shoe, and the result is genuinely special.
The “Top Three” concept takes the Black Metallic as the base and pulls elements from the “Fire Red” and “Grape” colorways. The upper is built on a black nubuck foundation, which gives the shoe a clean, dark canvas for the other colors to pop against. The midsole features red Fire Red accents around the heel and midfoot, while the signature AJ5 shark teeth on the lateral forefoot come in a white cement print with black speckles. It’s a lot going on, but it works.
The tongue is where the Grape influence hits hardest. The padded AJ5 tongue comes in purple with teal trim along the top edge, which is a direct pull from the Grape 5s. The lace locks are clear, and there’s a teal Jumpman logo on the tongue. When you see that purple and teal against the black upper and red midsole, it creates a color combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
The heel is where things get really interesting. On the lateral side, you get the classic embroidered “23” in red, which is a Fire Red detail. On the medial side, the “23” appears in purple, bringing in the Grape element. The heel tab features a white Jumpman logo. These small asymmetrical details are the kind of thing that sneakerheads notice and appreciate. It shows that someone actually thought about how to integrate these colorways rather than just dumping them all together.
The outsole is a translucent icy blue, which ties into the Grape color theme. It’s a nice finishing touch that keeps the colorway cohesive from top to bottom. The inner tongue tag features a special design that honors the three OG colorways that inspired the shoe. It’s the kind of detail you only see when you’re holding the shoe in hand, but it adds to the collectibility factor.
The Air Jordan 5 “Top Three” carries style code CZ1786-001 and retailed for $200. It was originally scheduled to release on May 16, 2020, but like many releases that year, it got pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final release date landed on June 20, 2020. The shoe dropped in full family sizing, which was a great call for a 30th anniversary celebration shoe. Kids sizes, grade school sizes, and adult sizes all got the “Top Three” treatment.
Resale value on these has been solid. On StockX, the “Top Three” has maintained decent pricing compared to retail, which tells you the demand was real and not just hype-driven. The mashup concept gave it a uniqueness factor that standard retro colorways don’t always have. When you combine that with the 30th anniversary narrative, you get a shoe that feels like an event rather than just another release.
Jordan Brand followed up the “Top Three” AJ5 with a “What The” colorway later in 2020, which took the mashup concept even further by mixing six non-OG colorways. But the “Top Three” hit first and arguably hit better. It’s more restrained, more cohesive, and more wearable than the “What The” version. If you’re an AJ5 fan, this is one of those shoes that deserves a spot in the collection. It tells a story about the silhouette’s history while standing on its own as a genuinely good looking shoe.
