In March 2017, I sat down with NBA champion Derek Anderson on Scoop B Radio Overtime for a conversation that shifted from the court to the design table. While sneakerheads revere the Air Jordan XI as a high-top masterpiece, it was Anderson—one of the original handpicked members of Team Jordan—who revealed the “buttoned-up” truth: he was the catalyst for the shoe’s iconic low-top transformation.
Reflecting on this in 2025, with the Air Jordan 11 Low now a staple of summer fashion and performance, Anderson’s story is a reminder of the power of an athlete’s voice in shaping a global brand.
“Can’t We Cut These Shoes Off?”
Anderson recalled a pivotal meeting at the Jordan Brand offices early in his career. While sitting at the table with Michael Jordan himself, the discussion turned to performance needs. Having always preferred the mobility of a lower cut, Anderson made a bold suggestion to the G.O.A.T.
“I was sitting in the office with Michael Jordan,” Anderson told me. “We were all sitting at the table. I was used to playing in low cuts, so I told him, ‘Can’t we cut these shoes off?’ He looked at me and was like: ‘What?’ And I was like: ‘I just wanna cut that shoe off, I like these in a low cut.’ He said: ‘Let’s try it.’ We tried it and we came up with a low cut shoe and I’ve been wearing low cut ever since.”
The Prototype to the Product
While Michael Jordan famously wore a low-top PE (Player Exclusive) during the 1996 Championship Parade, it was Anderson who championed the style as a primary performance option.
- The “Concord” Connection: During the 2000-01 season with the San Antonio Spurs, Anderson teased an unknowing public by wearing “Concord” XI Lows that looked identical to MJ’s early PEs.
- The Performance Pivot: Anderson’s insistence on “cutting the top off” paved the way for the “Summer XI” releases that have dominated retail for over two decades.
The Elite Team Jordan Circle
Anderson was part of a legendary “first wave” of ambassadors that MJ selected when he launched Jordan Brand as a subsidiary of Nike in 1997. This “buttoned-up” group was chosen for their character as much as their game.
| Original Team Jordan Signees | Key Achievement |
| Derek Anderson | NCAA & NBA Champion; “Low Top” Designer. |
| Ray Allen | 2x NBA Champion; 3-Point Legend. |
| Derek Jeter | 5x World Series Champion; The “Captain.” |
| Eddie Jones | 3x NBA All-Star; Defensive Ace. |
2025 Retrospective: The Legacy of the Low
Today, the Air Jordan 11 Low is often more sought after for lifestyle wear than its high-top predecessor. Anderson’s 2017 session on Scoop B Radio reminds us that the best innovations often come from a simple, practical question: “Can’t we make this better for the way I play?”
As Anderson told me:
“I played in everything. Everything low cut. But to me, 3s, 4s, and 11s are the ones.”
In 2025, whether it’s on the feet of a casual fan or a modern “Key One” like De’Aaron Fox, Derek Anderson’s DNA is baked into every patent leather low-top that hits the streets.
