Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan 18 before retiring for the third and final time following the 2002-03 NBA season. Inspiration for the design came from motor sports as a tribute to Jordan’s passion for racing and high-speed vehicles. The 18 incorporated looks reminiscent of traditional race-car driving shoes and also included design elements found in fine Italian dress shoes.On April 16, 2003, MJ took his final bow. And wearing Air Jordan XVIIIs, he went out in style. Like several models before it, the shoe took Italian design and sports cars as its muses. It had royalty at its core, with tasteful colorways and notable craftsmanship. The “Black Royal” pair came with a towel, brush and a driver’s manual.Although MJ would no longer wear a uniform, his namesake brand would continue to speed ahead with innovative designs and technologies and become a catalyst of creativity and athletic mastery across all games.