The Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” releases on November 8, 2025, for $215, marking the first retro of this classic colorway since 2013. Originally launched in 1996, during Michael Jordan’s fifth championship season with the Chicago Bulls, the white, black, and taxi yellow colorway became one of the most recognizable versions of the Air Jordan 12.
Sneaker: Air Jordan 12 “Taxi”
Color: White/Black-Taxi
Release Date: November 8, 2025
Style Code: CT8013-117
Price: $215
Where to Buy: Nike, Finish Line, Foot Locker, Champs, JD Sports, DSG
More Info: Air Jordan Release Dates
Jordan Brand is bringing back the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” on November 8, 2025, marking the first proper retro of this colorway since 2013. The shoe releases through select Jordan Brand retailers and Nike.com at $215. This white, black, and taxi yellow colorway is one of the most requested Air Jordan 12 releases, and the 12-year gap between retros has built significant demand.
History of the “Taxi” Air Jordan 12
The Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” originally released on December 20, 1996, during Michael Jordan’s fifth championship season with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan wore this colorway throughout the 1996-97 regular season, making it one of the most visible Air Jordan 12 versions in game footage from that era. The taxi yellow accents on a predominantly white shoe created a look that stood out on the court without being overly loud, striking a balance between team colors and individual style.
The nickname “Taxi” comes from the yellow accents that reference New York City taxi cabs. Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 12 with inspiration from the Japanese rising sun flag and women’s dress shoe stitching, but the taxi yellow color became the defining feature of this particular version. The color choice wasn’t directly connected to any team Jordan played for, making it one of the few Air Jordan 12 colorways that worked purely as a standalone design rather than matching a uniform.
Previous Retro Releases
The first Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” retro came in 2008 as part of the Countdown Pack series. Jordan Brand packaged the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” with the Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” in a special box, selling them as a set rather than individually. This packaging strategy frustrated buyers who only wanted one shoe but had to purchase both, and it limited availability because not everyone was willing to pay for two pairs.
The Countdown Pack retail price was $310 for both shoes, which worked out to $155 per pair. This pricing seemed reasonable at the time, but the forced bundling meant people couldn’t just buy the Taxi if that’s all they wanted. The 2008 retro also used slightly different materials than the 1996 original, with complaints about the leather quality and the shade of yellow not matching the original taxi color accurately.
Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” again in 2013, this time as a standalone shoe rather than part of a pack. The retail price jumped to $185, reflecting inflation and Jordan Brand’s general price increases across retro releases. The 2013 version improved on the 2008 retro with better leather quality and a more accurate taxi yellow shade, though some collectors still felt it didn’t perfectly match the 1996 original.
The 2013 release sold out quickly, proving demand existed for the Taxi colorway when not bundled with another shoe. Resale prices stayed elevated for years after, regularly reaching $300 to $400 for deadstock pairs in popular sizes. The sustained resale value showed Jordan Brand that another retro would sell well, but they waited 12 years before bringing it back.
Alternative Versions
Jordan Brand released an Air Jordan 12 Low “Taxi” in 2004, cutting down the original silhouette and using white on the liner instead of black. The low-top version appealed to people who wanted the Taxi aesthetic without the mid-top height, making it more suitable for casual wear during warmer months. The white liner created a cleaner look than the black liner would have provided on a low-top shoe.
Another Air Jordan 12 Low “Taxi” dropped in 2011, this time using black on the liner to match the original mid-top version. This change addressed complaints from collectors who wanted the low-top to stay more faithful to the 1996 colorway. The 2011 low-top version is considered the better release among the two low options because the black liner matches the mudguard and creates better visual consistency.
Jordan Brand also released an Air Jordan 12 Golf “Taxi” in 2022, adapting the basketball shoe for golf courses. The golf version used the same white, black, and taxi yellow color scheme but replaced the basketball outsole with golf spikes and modified the upper materials for weather resistance. This release showed Jordan Brand was willing to apply the Taxi colorway to performance footwear beyond basketball, expanding the colorway’s reach to different sports.
The 2025 Release
The 2025 “Taxi” uses white leather on the upper, maintaining the material choice from the original 1996 release. Full-grain leather provides durability and a premium appearance, though it requires break-in time compared to synthetic materials. The leather ages well with wear, developing creases and patina that some collectors appreciate as character rather than damage.
Black covers the mudguard, which is the lower section of the shoe that wraps around the base. The mudguard uses a different material than the white leather upper, likely a synthetic overlay that provides structure and protection. Black also appears on the Jumpman branding and heel sections, creating contrast against the white leather base.
Taxi yellow accents appear throughout the shoe, with the most prominent placement on the midsole sections. Metallic gold covers the top eyelets, adding a premium detail that elevates the shoe beyond a simple three-color design. The gold eyelets catch light differently than the matte white leather and taxi yellow sections, creating visual interest when looking at the shoe from different angles.
The rubber outsole is black with visible details in red, taxi yellow, and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber was a premium material in basketball shoes during the 1990s, used in the shank plate to provide torsional rigidity. The visible carbon fiber on the Air Jordan 12 outsole served both functional and aesthetic purposes, offering stability during quick cuts while creating a technical appearance that signaled advanced engineering.
The 2025 pair will differ from past retros as Jordan Brand has tried to get the shape close to the 1996 iteration.
More Jordan 12 Releases
Release Date, Availability, and Price
The Air Jordan 12 “Taxi” drops on November 8, 2025, through select Jordan Brand retailers and Nike.com at $210. The November timing positions the release early in the holiday shopping season when basketball interest peaks during the start of the NBA season. Select retailers include major chains like Foot Locker, Finish Line, and Champs Sports, plus Jordan-specific boutiques and Nike’s own retail locations. The wide retailer distribution suggests Jordan Brand is treating this as a major retro release rather than a limited collector’s item.
Bottom Line
I’m excited about this release, mainly because the Taxi is one of those Air Jordan 12 colorways that just works with everything. I’ve always preferred it over the Flu Game version for everyday wear because the white base, and the taxi yellow adds just enough color without being too loud. The $215 price is what it is at this point, I’ve accepted that retro Jordans aren’t getting cheaper.
We now have a first look at the 2025 “Taxi” Air Jordan 12 via Complex. The shoes will debut on November 8th.
The “Taxi” Jordan 12 will return on November 8, 2025. Exclusive details are in collaboration with zsneakerheadz.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Air Jordan 12 generally runs true to size but fits narrow, especially in the midfoot where the strap system creates lockdown. If you have wide feet, going up half a size is recommended. The leather upper does break in over time, which can provide a bit more room after several wears.
Yes. Jordan Brand typically releases popular Air Jordan 12 colorways in full family sizing, including men’s, grade school, preschool, and toddler sizes. With the Taxi’s popularity, it will be available across multiple size ranges.