Air Jordan 4 Zen Master

Jordan Brand honored NBA head coach Phil Jackson’s spiritual coaching approach with the Air Jordan 4 Zen Master.

Paying homage to the “Zen Master” nickname of Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson, the Air Jordan 4 Zen Master features a calming color palette with a soft blue and pink tie-dye canvas upper, along with translucent TPU eyelets and heel tabs. Black TPU mesh panels and woven Jordan Flight tongue labels add a touch of contrast. From there, a matching sole with an Air unit under the heel completes the design.

The Air Jordan 4 Zen Master reps will be released in June 2022.

For Spring 2022, the Jumpman has updated his sneaker preview a bit, offering far fewer details than previous seasons. But in the case of the Air Jordan 4 “Zen Master,” we really only have to part with the nickname, which the colorway shares with MJ’s trainer during the athlete’s legendary Chicago Bulls era.

The pair has been teased quite a bit beforehand and is a colorful nod to Jackson’s habits—specifically, his penchant for meditation, interest in Buddhism, and use of spiritual traditions. To visually capture this, Jordan Brand applied a tie-dye print to most of the upper, blending bright purple and pink hues in a way that’s somewhat galaxy-like. Elsewhere, the heel tab and support wings fade into the background thanks to their translucent finish, while the mesh, laces, tongue label, lining, and midsole do the opposite thanks to their black shading. Finally, in an obvious homage to the man himself, the words “Zen Master” are embossed on the inside of the tongue.

Enjoy an official look at the “Zen Master” here. A release is currently scheduled for March 19, 2022, but that could very well change given recent supply shortages and shipping delays.

Next year, the Jumpman will celebrate one of the most important figures in MJ’s legendary career. Aptly dubbed the “Zen Master,” this Air Jordan 4 pays homage to Phil Jackson, whose Buddhist practices were often incorporated into his training style.

Appropriately placed on the AJ4—when Jackson was promoted to head coach in 1989—the colorway seems to originate from a greater plane of existence, reflecting this state with a delicate, galaxy-inspired print. This runs nearly entirely across the shoe, covering both the tongue and the upper paneling. The support wings and heel complement each other with a seemingly translucent finish, while the lace unit, branding, lining, mesh, and trim feature a more standard mix of black, white, and gray neutral tones.

Anthony Kicks – Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro Zen Master – DH7138-506