Header: Nike, Inc.
Luka Dončić is known by many nicknames. Before “Luka Magic” became popular during his rookie season, the Dallas Mavericks star was called “El Matador”, a nickname a team staff member gave in reference to his time playing in Spain before joining the NBA. In line with this name, the Jordan Luka 3 has appeared in a new fashion to celebrate the player, drawing inspiration from the bullfighter theme for the design.
This isn’t the first time the “El Matador” nickname has influenced Jordan shoes. In 2022, before the launch of Luka’s signature Jordan line, the brand released a Jordan 36 “El Matador” model featuring red and gold accents. The latest version, however, takes a softer direction in its design.
The most striking detail appears on the medial side, combining gold stitching with hot pink floral embroidery. The flower details were taken from the bullfighting tradition, where matadors are often showered with flowers as a form of recognition after a successful fight. Gold accents the heel, tongue, and midfoot isolate structure, while the hot pink color reappears on the medial mesh panel and outsole. To top it all off, the inner tongue includes a gold and white “El Matador” tag. The rest of the shoe maintains a minimalist design with a clean white base, allowing these details to stand out.
The Jordan Luka 3 “El Matador” was released on October 10th, ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.
