The Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" Has Nine Lives After All

It appears that the Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" retro is releasing after all.

Originally believed to form part of Jordan Brand's Holiday 2024 roster, the "Anthracite/Black/Off Noir"-colored pair was scrapped by September of that year. Team Jumpman never commented on the project, but followed up speculation of it by re-releasing the Air Jordan 4 "Black Cat," the all-black pair from 2006 that spawned the "Black Cat" nickname for footwear styles featuring tonal, pitch-dark finishes.

The "Black Cat" AJ5 was reportedly releasing with the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) code of FZ2239-001, but it's unclear if this number will apply to the eventual Fall 2027 retro.

Stay tuned for firm Nike.com/Jordan launch details and official photos of the versatile pair.

Originally reported by Sole Retriever, it is now confirmed that the Air Jordan 5 "Black Cat" (Anthracite) is just one of the pairs removed from Joran Brand's Holiday 2024 schedule. The pair has not been issued a future release date.

This release is part of a lineage of all-black Air Jordans that have garnered acclaim over the years, including the Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 4; the former is expected to also be released in 2025.

The “Black Cat” moniker, inspired by one of Michael Jordan's many enduring nicknames, has been a recurring theme in Jordan Brand's offerings. These all-black sneakers are known for their sleek, stealthy aesthetic, and the Air Jordan 5 “Black Cat” is expected to continue this tradition.

Though first looks at the release are unavailable at this time, details shared by zSneakerheadz and Sneaker Files give us a glimpse into what could be another standout release of the year.

Arriving in Anthracite, Black, and Off Noir, the pair is expected to arrive in a tonal black build; though that's all the speculative mock-ups can go off.

If it's Jordan Releases you're after, then you can check out our comprehensive list of upcoming drops right here on our dedicated Air Jordan Release Calendar.