How a Pair of $10,000 Spike Lee Air Jordan 3s Ended Up in a Donation Bin

The Air Jordan 3 “Reimagined” made a comeback on social media this week when it surfaced on clearance shelves at Ross. However, the March 2023 release wasn’t the only Jordan 3 found in an unusual setting in December, as Spike Lee’s highly sought-after Air Jordan 3 from the 2019 Academy Awards recently emerged in a Portland Rescue Mission donation bin.

As reported by the New York Times, the $10,000 pair was contributed to the nonprofit organization in April 2023. After verifying the pair’s authenticity at a local sneaker store, Portland Rescue Mission reached out to the model’s renowned designer, Tinker Hatfield. Upon Hatfield’s visit to the organization, he brought a replacement box and a framed design graphic, which he signed while further confirming the model’s legitimacy, with only four to five pairs ever created.

The exquisite Jordan 3 was initially designed for the acclaimed filmmaker to wear to the 2019 Oscars, where Lee showcased the shoes while receiving the award for best-adapted screenplay for the 2018 film “BlacKkKlansman”. The mid-top trim marked a significant point in the enduring relationship between the two, which began with Lee’s “Mars Blackmon” commercials with Jordan, followed by the introduction of the Jordan Spiz’ike in 2006.

Dressed in premium gold foil, the remarkable colorway features “University Red” and jet-black accents at the inner lining and midsole, with a completely translucent tread underneath. Adorned with stitched profile Swooshes – a trademark of Hatfield’s recent range of AJ3s – the right heel tab showcases the logo of Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks production company.

Spike Lee’s Air Jordan 3s are currently available for bidding at Sotheby’s in a men’s size 12.5 with a current bid of $13,000 as of Sunday afternoon. The auction officially closes on December 18th at 9:50 am PT, with an estimated sale price ranging from $15,000 to $20,000. In the meantime, the pair can be viewed in detailed imagery.

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