Paolo Banchero Unleashes the Air Jordan 4028 at MSG

Paolo Banchero didn’t just pull up to Madison Square Garden last night – he rolled in with a plot twist. On his feet? The Air Jordan 4028, a wild hybrid that drags the legendary Air Jordan 28 into 2025 and bolts it onto next-gen Air Jordan 40 tech. No press release. No tunnel drip preview. Just Paolo letting the shoes do the talking.

At first glance, the 4028 looks like a time capsule cracked open. The infamous AJ28 shroud returns, but this isn’t the floppy spacesuit fabric from 2013. The new build sits tighter, sharper and far more weaponised, wrapping the upper in a slick sheath that Paolo immediately folded down to stunt the inner bootie. Inside is his personal logo – a quiet flex wrapped inside a loud one.

The story here isn’t just the shoe – it’s the strategy. Jordan Brand love a heritage reboot, but the 4028 feels different. It’s part retro resurrection, part science project, and part ‘let’s see what Paolo does with this.’ Maybe it’s a one-off PE, maybe it’s a test balloon for something bigger.

Banchero’s season only adds fuel to the moment. He’s taken a noticeable step forward – stronger on drives, calmer in traffic, and far more comfortable carrying Orlando’s offence for long stretches. Night to night, he’s bullying mismatches, reading doubles with patience, and flashing the kind of star-level composure that made him the No. 1 pick in the first place. So when he breaks out a wildcard PE like the 4028 at MSG, it doesn’t feel random – it feels like a young superstar growing into the spotlight in real time.

For more on exclusive hardwood heat. Make sure to check out Devin Booker's latest PE.