Nike To Release the 23rd Edition of the Air Jordan

BEAVERTON, Ore. — It's gotta be the shoes, right?

No other basketball shoe has changed the face of business, athletics, and marketing like the Air Jordan. This month, Nike releases the 23rd edition, and it is expected to be just as venerated as its predecessors.

The sleek design and link to Michael Jordan's jersey number make it a touchstone in the line. It's also Nike's first basketball shoe designed under its "Considered" ethos, which aims to reduce waste and use environmentally friendly materials wherever possible.

The Air Jordan XX3 will be released in three hyped-up rounds between January and February, starting with a limited edition to be sent to only 23 retailers to be sold for $230 and concluding with the national launch at $185.

There had been talk at Nike about retiring the shoe at No. 23, because of his iconic jersey number. But company officials won't say whether this will be the last of the line. Neither will Mr. Jordan. "You'll just have to wait and see," Mr. Jordan said in an e-mail to the Associated Press, responding to questions about the release.