The 'Nike Air' branding was still on the in-soles, which Air Jordans VIII–XI also had. This was the first Air Jordan in the line that did not have any distinctive 'Nike Air' on the outer portions of the shoe.

A few things were no longer featured on the new model, such as the visible air sole, the Nike Air logo, and the translucent soles. This shoe introduced the huarache technology which allowed the shoes to better conform to the user's foot. The Air Jordan VII was released in 1992 with a new design by Tinker Hatfield. The shoe originally retailed at $100 when it was released from 1986 to 1987. MJ only got to wear the Air Jordan II for 18 games in the 1986-87 season due to a broken foot. The Air Jordan II was the first Jordan not to have the Nike swoosh featured on the upper, though 'Nike' was stitched across the heel counter. The AJ II introduced better cushioning with a polyurethane midsole and a full-length encapsulated Nike Air capsule for maximum comfort. This design aesthetic would factor into the Air Jordan line later in the series. The AJ II featured a faux lizard skin and swooping lines that resembled the detailing of a sports car. The shoe bore a similar silhouette to the Nike Air Python that would release the following year. The Air Jordan II featured a full-length Air-Sole unit intended to cushion's MJ's sore feet. In early tests, MJ actually wore a prototype that fused the upper of the original Air Jordan with the cushioning being designed for the new model.

Designed by Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore, the Air Jordan II was unique in that it was made in Italy. The success of the Air Jordan I encouraged Nike to release a new Air Jordan in 1986 for the new basketball season.

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