NBA All Star 2019; Nike & Jordan Brand edition
ITS ALL STAR WEEK! Team Lebron vs Team Giannis, its the best of the best in the league going at it. Albeit offensively, But still should be a great show to watch. who you got? Team King or Team Freak.
This year Nike and Jordan Brand are releasing a plethora of shoes for all star weekend, a couple paying homage to Michael Jordan’s home state of North Carolina - where all star weekend will be held, an alternate Laney high color way to Nike’s new adapt technology. The swoosh and jumpan are pulling out all the stops to bump their sales this first quarter of the year.
Air Jordan V - Varsity Royal aka Laney alternate
Nike.com
First up is the Air Jordan V “Varsity Royal”, but throughout the sneaker community its called a Laney alternate. The shoe features a varsity royal nubuck upper, maize hits, gray midsole with splatter, and a maize chanel jumpman on the tongue. This color way looks to have been executed nicely, but with a $200 price point thats steep for a non OG CW. Currently available in most sizes on NDC, but definitely a nice cop once they go on sale.
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
Air Jordan IX - UNC aka Midnight navy
Nike.com
Another call out to one of the GOAT’s alma mater, the Air Jordan 9 “UNC”. What looked to be mid version of a color way last seen in a low version back in 2002 is not what what we thought. White the 2002 version was a pearl blue this mid top version of the shoe features a midnight navy patent leather layer on top of a white synthetic leather. Carolina blue hits on the tongue, midsole, and heel representing his airness’ college. Personally I woud’ve much rather seen Jordan Brand bring back the powder blue 9s last seen in 2010 - Cmon JB bring THOSE back please. Not a must have for me but at $190 you could wait for them to drop in price if you’re a fan of 9s.
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro “Draft Day”
Nike.com
If you didn’t know, Kobe Bryant was selected as the 13th in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, and then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. In 2009 Kobe, Designer Eric Avar, and nike wanted to change the way we looked at basketball shoes, by releasing a low top shoe with all the fixings. Hyperfuse, Flywire, Cushlon (later known as lunarlong), and zoom air all packaged in a low-the-ground high performance basketball shoe, except it was a low top. Yes we know kobe wasn’t the first to release a low top basketball shoe (see Adidas Gil Zero low OG released in 2006) , however Kobe was the only player of his caliber and essentially in the tail end of his prime playing in primarily low top shoes. The Kobe 4 changed the way we looked at basketball shoes, these were lighter than anything out at the time, durable, and updated-for its time. These comeback on February 15th at $175 in PROTRO form. Will you cop?
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
Nike PG3 - All Star
Nike.com
This 3rd installment of Paul George’s line with nike pays homage to his love for fishing and braving the elements. if you’ve been following PG’s line, you know that the PG1, PG2, and PG2.5 are all solid performers so I wouldn’t expect anything less from the PG3 after an extensive break in period. A very basic looking shoe, which by no means is that a bad thing especially if you’re looking to wear them casually, but keep in mind the line is notorious for being non wide-foot friendly. The shoe releases on 02/15/19 with a retail price of $110.
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
Jordan Brand Why Not Zero.2 “Own The Game”
Nike.com
The Why Not Zero.2; It’s loud, its bold, its aggresive, it’s everything that Russell Westbrook is on the court. Forefoot Zoom, flight speed, sticky traction, mesh with fuse upper, mid foot strap, and neoprene inner booty, all the bells and whistles to give you a high performance basketball shoe. Initial reviews of the model are mixed, but if you’ve worn the Air Jordan XXXIII then these should feel the same from a midsole aspect. Keep an eye out as Rus will be wearing these on court this all star weekend. Retail Price $125 releases 02/17/19 (all star game)
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
Air Jordan 6 - Black Infrared 2019
Nike.com
Was it coincidence that an Air Jordan 6 “black infrared” releases during all star weekend in MJ’s home state? the shoe that Jordan debuted in the 1991 all star game? nope, not a coincidence at all, at least to me its not. Black durabuck upper, black midsole with true infrared hits, infrared lace locks, translucent outsole, and NIKE AIR on the heel, a true air jordan classic to satisfy Jordan fans alike. Not much to say here that hasn’t already been said, definitely a MUST COP. Retail price $200 releases on 02/16/19
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
NIKE ADAPT BB
Nike.com
To round out NBA all-star weekend, Nike releases its latest and greatest*? technology. A basketball shoe that you “lace up” using your phone with an app. Ever since the hype of the Nike Air MAG-the shoe worn in back to the future- nike had been alluding to implement self lacing into their shoes. So far this shoe has been seen on the feet of nike athletes like Kyle Kuzma and Jason Tatum. If trying new tech is your thing, this might be the shoe for you. As of right now the shoe feels like a gimmick, but then agian Jordan brand came out with the XXXIII with it’s fast fit lacing system, so Nike was already heading into this direction. If the $350 price point isnt too steep for you they drop on 02/17/19, good luck copping.
Purchase link: NIKE.COM
As you can see theres plenty of drops this coming all-star weekend just from Nike and Jordan Brand alone. We hope that everyone that wants these pairs gets their pairs! Good luck to everyone and happy all-star week!
