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Michael Jordan at Madison Square Garden. That combination has produced some of the most iconic moments in basketball history. The Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Last Dance At The Garden” dropping September 26, 2026, is a tribute to one specific night that still lives in NBA lore.
March 8, 1998. MJ’s final season with the Bulls. He walked into Madison Square Garden wearing the “Chicago” Air Jordan 1, laced them up in black Bulls alternate uniforms, and dropped 42 points on the Knicks. The shoes were too small for his feet by that point. They were cutting him up. He bled through them during the game. He still went for 42. That is the story this shoe tells.
Style code IR0088-001. Colorway is Black, Varsity Red, and Summit White. Retail price is $155, and it is launching in full family sizes. Adult sizes at $155, grade school at $120, preschool at $80, and toddler sizes at $65. Everyone gets a shot at this one.
Jordan Brand took the “Chicago” color blocking as the starting point and then changed the story. The base uses textured white leather, which is premium feeling in person. The overlays are black, but instead of the standard red piping you would expect on a Chicago 1, they went with red embroidered florals. The floral pattern is a nod to Madison Square Garden and its nickname. It is a subtle touch that you might miss at first glance, but once you see it, the whole concept clicks.
The Swoosh is done in black textured leather with a gold outline. That gold detail elevates the whole shoe. It adds a premium feel without being loud about it. The Wings logo on the heel is gold embroidered too, tying that metallic accent together front to back.
Where the Knicks connection really hits is the tongue and insole. Orange and blue accents show up on the tongue branding. Those are Knicks colors, no question about it. This release also quietly ties into the Knicks’ 2026 NBA Championship run, which makes the New York connection even stronger. Jordan Brand confirmed special packaging for this release, so expect something extra when you open the box.
The build quality on this pair is worth talking about. Woven textile and full-grain leather. This is not the standard leather you get on a generic AJ1 Low. The materials feel intentional, like the design team picked each component to serve the story. The textured white base leather has a slight grain that catches light differently than smooth leather would. The black overlays with floral embroidery require a different construction process than printed or painted patterns.
I think the smartest thing Jordan Brand did here was keeping the color block recognizable. Anyone who sees these from across the room will think “Chicago 1.” It is only when you get close that the florals and gold accents reveal themselves. That layered approach is what separates a storytelling release from a basic retro.
The white midsole and red rubber outsole keep the Chicago DNA intact. A red outsole on an AJ1 is always going to look good. It is one of those design decisions that has aged perfectly over four decades.
Now, $155 for an AJ1 Low OG is not cheap. The Low OG models do command a premium over the standard Low versions because of the construction quality and the storytelling. This one earns it. The materials, the embroidery, the gold accents, the special packaging. It adds up.
September 26th is the date. SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers. Full family sizes. I expect these to move fast. The Last Dance era has only gotten more popular since the documentary, and anything that ties MJ to MSG carries that extra mythology. If you are a Jordan collector, a Knicks fan, or just someone who appreciates when a sneaker tells a real story, this is a cop.
