Air Jordan 11 Magic Ball: A Glowing Space Jam Tribute

Instead of retreading the same classic patent leather colourways we’ve memorised over the past three decades, Jordan Brand is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Space Jam by mining the movie’s lore. The Air Jordan 11 Retro WMNS “Magic Ball” takes direct inspiration from the glowing sphere that the Monstars used to steal the basketball abilities of ’90s NBA stars.

The “Magic Ball” keeps the model’s high cut and sweeping lower panel. But this pair replaces the glossy patent leather look associated with many Jordan 11s with a muted, colour-shifting finish similar to the “Green Goblin” Foamposite. In the images, the upper moves between bronze, green and purple as the light changes. Black laces and a black midsole give those shifting colours a firm outline, while the blue outsole adds a cooler note beneath them. The result still looks like an Air Jordan 11, though its changing surface makes the shoe feel closer to a prop from the film than a straightforward retro.

A 30th anniversary graphic appears on the insole, and a message behind the tongue celebrates the film’s basketball icon. Those details reward a closer look, but the finish does most of the storytelling. Even someone with only a passing memory of Space Jam can see why a basketball with stolen powers led to this particular treatment.

For Jordan heads, the draw is a fresh twist on the standard black “Space Jam” look without losing the 11’s recognisable outline. For casual buyers, it’s much simpler: do you want a shoe that changes colour when light hits it? That eye-catching shift is the defining feature of the “Magic Ball,” making it the ultimate dealmaker or dealbreaker. Expect the Air Jordan 11 “Magic Ball” to drop on November 11th via SNKRS and select UK retailers.