DJ Khaled Teases First Look at the Highly Anticipated 2026 Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" Retro
Confirming the return of the coveted “Nike Air” heel branding, the legendary 1988 colorway is making its way back to retailers this summer.
Name: Air Jordan 3 “True Blue”
Colorway: White/Varsity Red-True Blue-Cement Grey-Anthracite
SKU: IF4396-102
MSRP: $230 USD
Release Date: July 18, 2026
Where to Buy: Nike
When it comes to securing the rarest and most anticipated sneakers ahead of schedule, DJ Khaled is always at the top of the list. In his latest social media sneaker haul, the hip-hop mogul quietly dropped a massive bombshell for Jordan Brand fans, offering the very first look at one of the biggest retro releases of the year. Re-emerging from the vault for the first time since 2016, the iconic Air Jordan 3 “True Blue” is officially returning to shelves in true OG form this summer.
While Khaled’s preview only offered a glimpse of the sneaker’s heel, it was enough to confirm the one detail the sneaker community was waiting for: the return of the “Nike Air” branding on the back tab. For longtime collectors and purists, the original heel text is an essential component that directly connects the modern retro to its initial 1988 debut.
The “True Blue” makeup remains one of the most recognizable and beloved original colorways in the Air Jordan 3 lineage. It eschews the traditional Chicago Bulls color palette in favor of a clean, versatile look, blending a white leather base with signature grey elephant print overlays. The design is brought to life with bold “True Blue” accents along the midsole, inner lining, and eyelets, perfectly contrasted by sharp pops of “Varsity Red” on the tongue’s Jumpman logo and lower eyelets.
Interestingly, while Michael Jordan never actually wore the original 1988 “True Blue” pairs during his tenure with the Bulls, he famously laced up the 2001 retro version during his late-career run with the Washington Wizards. Since then, the colorway has seen sporadic rereleases—including drops in 2009, 2011, and 2016—but the decade-long wait for another “Nike Air” version has hype at an all-time high.
