PJ Tucker is shocked that the Air Jordan 1 High OG "Royal" is still on store shelves. The former NBA player posted about it on his Instagram Story this week.
He said he randomly walked into a Nike store and spotted the "Royal" pair. An employee asked if he wanted them, and Tucker asked if they had his size and they did.
Tucker called seeing the "Royal" on the shelf a week or two after release insane. That is not how this colorway usually behaves.
The "Royal" is one of the most beloved Air Jordan 1 colorways ever made. It dropped on October 10th for $185, and it was the first OG leather version since 2017. Pairs came in full family sizing, so adults and kids had plenty of options. That likely played a role in the supply.
Reviews also mentioned how good the pair looks. WearTesters praised the quality of the leather and the special packaging inspired by Michael Jordan's early Nike photo shoots.
PJ Tucker's Reaction
This is a big shift for the Air Jordan 1. Only just a few years ago, a "Royal" release would have been gone in seconds. Now, the model is facing a very different market and we're starting to see pairs that would be hard to cop, sitting on shelves.
Reports say demand for the Air Jordan 1 has cooled, especially after Jordan Brand flooded the market with colorways. The 2023 "Royal Reimagined" also underperformed, although that would be expected a bit more than the classic Royal pair.
Nike CEO Elliott Hill addressed this earlier this month. He said Jordan Brand has been oversupplying retros and plans to reduce volume in 2027, pointing to the Air Jordan 1 as an example.
That plan makes sense. When shelves stay full, hype drops, and the brand loses the feeling of scarcity.
For fans, there is a bright side. Collectors who missed past drops can pick up a clean pair at a fair price. For resellers, it is a reminder that not every retro is a sure thing.
