One of the handful of sneakers often singled out as the most beloved in the Air Jordan line, the ”White Cement” Air Jordan 3 makes a triumphant return to retail this month. This time around, the retro carries OG designation, meaning ‘Nike Air’ branding will be featured on the heel for the first time since the first re-release in 2011. A lot of things have changed since Tinker Hatfield’s creation first hit the market more than 30 years ago, but the Jordan 3 will once again rule All-Star Weekend.

Last week’s Air Jordan III White/Cement Grey release marked the fourth overall release of the shoe; before 2018 was a Retro release in 2011 and 2003, and of course, the original debut in 1988. With the 2011 version arriving with a great Jordan box inspired by the original, an Air Jordan III retrospective might’ve ran through your thoughts once or twice. Here’s a look back at the Original 1988, 1994 Retro, and 2011  and 2018 Retro box packaging of the White/Cement III; the original version, in which the 2011 version was modeled after, featured a black box-top with a red Jumpman and Nike Air insignia, while the 2011 version features a Jumpman and Jumpman Air logo (for obvious reasons). So what’s the deal with the 1994 box? If you remember, 1994 was Michael Jordan’s first full year of retirement, and Nike was planning ahead on keeping the Air Jordan Legacy alive after he was no longer an active player, and re-issuing classic Air Jordans was one way to rekindle the fire. The box itself is a mosiac of all the Air Jordans up to that date, depicting the Air Jordan models from years before as well as Spike Lee and the popular Air Jordan III ad campaigns in which he was a part of.

the air jordan 3 white cement 2018 In the final round of the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, MJ raced from the opposite end of the court, planted his left foot on the stripe and launched himself toward the rim. As he drew the ball back toward his shoulder, the audience held its breath and the cameras flashed from every angle. It was a gravity-defying, time-bending, immortal dunk. The judges awarded it a perfect 50, sealing the contest for MJ.Down below, a Red stripe cuts across the translucent outsole to mark the spot where MJ left Earth and made history.

The latest Air Jordan 3 arrives in the colors of its 1988 debut – the same worn by MJ during that extraordinary flight. It includes the original Nike Air branding on the back. Down below, a red stripe cuts across the translucent outsole to mark the spot where MJ left Earth and made history.

In addition to comparing the previous boxes is a nice side-by-side between the Air Jordan III from 1994 and 2011 and 2018. The ’94 version was the last of its colorway to feature Nike Air on the heel (the 2003 version featured a Jumpman and was housed in a plain Jordan Brand box), but the branding issue isn’t the only discrepancy; the upper dimensions have been slightly altered over the years, although noticeable only when juxtaposed (how often will that really happen?). There are a lot more comparison shots below so check give them a quick look and let us know what you think. A big thank you to the Kicktionary team for sending these great shots, and if you still haven’t picked up a pair of the White/Cement IIIs yet, grab a pair now on 2018jordans.com.