The 9 this Saturday is the warm-up. The shoe Mike wore against the Monstars comes back December 12, and the first real photos are out.
## The drop Air Jordan 11 Retro "Space Jam," style CT8012-900, $255, December 12 on SNKRS and at Jordan retailers, full family sizing. That price is $20 over last December's "Gamma" 11, and $35 over the 2016 Space Jam. It's the 30th anniversary of the 1996 film and the first Space Jam 11 since the 2016 retro, which was the biggest Jordan release of that year.
## What's different this time WWD's first-look photos and Sneaker News' retailer images agree on the details. Black mesh and patent leather, white midsole, translucent blue outsole for the second run in a row, chosen because clear soles yellow and blue ones hide it. The heel says "23," not the "45" Jordan Brand used in 2016 to match the number Mike actually wore in the movie. The Jumpman is Varsity Royal, not Concord purple. "Jumpman Jam" branding sits on the tongue and on the box lid.
## Why "23" matters The 2016 pair was the accurate one; MJ came back from baseball wearing 45, and the 11 in the film had 45 on the heel. This retro goes with the number everyone knows. Purists will argue. Everybody else will buy the shoe with 23 on it, which is the point.
## Where it sits The Space Jam 9 drops Saturday at $215 and the market is saying retail is available. The 11 is the bigger shoe with the bigger memory attached, and December is when the money's out. If you're choosing one, choose the 11 and get the 9 at retail on the way.
## Sources - WWD, Michael Jordan's 2026 Air Jordan 11 Space Jam: first photos: https://wwd.com/footwear-news/sneaker-news/air-jordan-11-space-jam-release-date-2026-ct8012-900-1239047639/ - Sneaker News, Aug. 20, 2026, official retailer images of the Air Jordan 11 "Space Jam": https://sneakernews.com/2026/08/20/space-jam-jordan-11/ - House of Heat, best look yet: "Space Jam" Air Jordan 11 30th anniversary retro: https://houseofheat.co/jordan/2026-air-jordan-11-space-jam-release-date - Complex, Air Jordan 11 "Space Jam" December 2026 release date: https://www.complex.com/sneakers/a/victor-deng/air-jordan-11-space-jam-2026-release-date

