Within the 1997 Air Jordan 12 lineup, Obsidian was the odd one out. That season, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to a championship run in the 96-97 campaign, and five colorways dropped alongside it — but Obsidian/University Blue/French Blue was the one he never wore on court. The reason was simple: the blue-and-white palette just didn't match the Bulls' red-and-black uniforms. That awkward backstory of never quite "matching the jersey" is exactly why fans have long linked the shoe to Jordan's alma mater, the University of North Carolina, even though that connection has never been officially confirmed.
The Obsidian 12 didn't get its first — and so far only — retro until 2012, releasing at $160. But it left plenty of collectors disappointed, as the shape diverged noticeably from the 1997 original and was widely criticized for drifting too far from the OG. That letdown has lingered for over a decade.
