The Nike Basketball Elite Series is the very pinnacle of basketball footwear performance and design. Returning in this year's Nike Elite line-up are LeBron with his LeBron X PS Elite and Kobe with his Zoom Kobe 8 Elite. Joining the squad is KD with his improved KD V Elite - lower, faster, and more versatile than ever.
Today, I would like to quickly share with you, visually, what this new series is all about - from designer insights, to production briefing, to the break down of each shoe's tech upgrade.
So without further delay, here it is... The Nike Basketball Elite Series 2.0.
For more than 25 years the Air Max family has remained a flawless fusion of sport and visible technology. With roots firmly planted in the soil of sport innovation, Air Max grew to become a cultural phenomenon, making its presence felt in music, art, and most importantly, on the feet of those seeking comfort and a vehicle for self-expression. Last year, illustrator and designer Matt Stevens created the collectible book MAX100, a compendium of 100 visual interpretations of the Nike Air Max 1 — or, as he calls it, “the greatest sneaker of all time.” The book's visuals range from computer-generated images to photographs of physical objects. Coinciding with the release of the Nike Air Max Engineered Mesh series, Nike further celebrates the reinvention of Air Max by commissioning Stevens to expand on his tribute to the famed sneakers in a project aptly titled #AIRMAX. Creating additional images of the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, Air Max 95, and Air Max 97, Stevens sheds new light on the heritage of these sport classics. Along with Stevens’s personal reinterpretations, some images will align under the themes of design inspiration, color, cultural significance and reinvention.
I always say that shoes are my favorite way of curating history. From a certain decade's identity, to the technological wonders of an era, down to the bare sentimentality of a moment - for me, shoes are the best medium to immortalize time.
In our first infotainment exercise, Locker Room Legends will narrate the story of Nike's fabled "Air Pack", and how it saved the company from impending bankruptcy. I could have done this the old-fashioned way - a long-ass post filled with text and no photos... But I'm sure you wouldn't read that. Heck I wouldn't read that myself. So I made a nice infographic/timeline based on Brett Golliff's interview with Tinker Hatfield.
Check HOW THE AIR PACK SAVED NIKE after the jump. Scroll down and give it time to load.
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When our big brothers Dennis, Raoul and Levon left us with the responsibility of running the Cork release, this might've crossed their minds...
Fortunately for them, we're too lame to pull that off.
So yes, as I was saying, a couple of Saturdays ago Miguel, Jeremy, Sudan, Paul and I lead the release of NSW's breakthrough product, the Nike LeBron X "Cork".
Through a "By Invitation Only" event, select Elite Titan Players Club members, celebrities, ballplayers, influencers, and media guests were ushered into the Titan Flagship Store in TwoParkade for an afternoon of wine, good company and merriment. Oh, and yes... Shoes.
It was an intimate gathering of friends and LBJ fans. It's safe to say that everyone had a great time. Some more than others (i.e. the folks that brought home the Corks)
Right after that, we decided to let the Barkleyposites loose via lottery. That went quick as well, not surprising for an ill shoe. It's our little token of thanks to the GREATEST CUSTOMERS IN THE GAME for the loyalty and love.
So there... Won't keep you guys waiting anymore! Check the photos below.
If I haven't said it enough (though I'm sure you know this very well by now), I am a big footwear DESIGN nerd.
There are pairs that I completely love that some see as weird or too outlandish. Regardless if it's manufactured in limited quantities or mass produced, Quickstrike or General Release - for me, a shoe's aesthetics come first, especially when there is some sort of innovation backing it.
Today in Nike's Inside Access, we tackle the EVOLUTION OF THE UPPER. Transforming uppers is a key example of Nike Basketball's focus on redefining shoe design since 1972.
Here they are - the shoe that everyone is waiting for. A month after it surfaced on local sneaker sites and on @Titan_22's Instagram, it's finally here: The Nike LeBron X EXT "Cork".
This is a shoe that even the most brutal of LBJ critics would want. Heck, I want one... And I don't even like LeBron! (That sounds like something a hypebeast would say, though! LOL) But truthfully, I want a pair because I'm a sucker for ground-breaking sneaker tech and new material applications.
The thin veneer of cork on this is unbelievable! I don't even know how to describe it: it's flat and smooth, but has texture... Ok, that does not make sense, but that's how it is. I've seen these in motion, and the shoe does not crease. The kitchen did it again.
I would like to think that the whole Nike NSW/EXT campaign rides on this flagship shoe. The leather is excellent, the waxed laces are top-notch, the construction is immaculate... It's damn near perfect.
Anyway, I took a bunch of detailed photos for your appreciation.
Titan TwoParkade - the only door that will release these - will have a special "By Invitation Only" event tomorrow. You might want to check your inboxes for an invite.
For more details, artwork, and full release mechanics, visit TITAN22.COM.
