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.
Last night, I was invited by Nike Philippines to experience the new NIKE FLYKNIT LUNAR 1. Along with veteran runners and athletic bloggers, we were the first ones to actually enjoy all the benefits that the new Flyknit model has to offer.
At around 7:30 PM, we gathered at Nike Bonifacio High Street flagship store to get familiar with the shoe. There was a quick huddle before the test run, lead by our friends from Nike Philippines, who gave us a closer and more intimate look at the shoe and its design. They also briefed us on how the technology came about and the new upgrades from the previous Flyknit silos.
The crew then went outside for the actual test run. I'm probably the noob of the group since I only started running this year, but I was able to keep up (thank goodness!) We took a couple of laps around High Street and both Parkades, roughly a little over a kilometer and a half.
I posted live updates via the LOCKERROOMLEGENDS Instagram during the run, but just in case you missed it, here's a more in-depth report of our Nike Flyknit Lunar 1 experience.
I was four when I saw my very first Air Max. My very young mind can not comprehend how that shoe worked or felt on feet. It was so strange to see a hole in its sole.
A couple of years after, I held a pair of Air Max 90s for the first time. Turns out it was not really a hole, but a bubble stuck in the foam sole! The six year old me put two and two together and thought that if I had those on, I can bounce endlessly... Higher and faster.
That little bubble in the sole changed everything, not just for me but for the entire shoe industry. From the moment it was conceived until today, the Air Max has stood as a symbol of stability, technology, and innovation. Simply put, the Nike Air Max was and still is that magical technology that made every other shoe boring.
Next in line in this proud lineage is the Nike Air Max+ 2013. Same technology, same magic... But a whole lot more flexible.
Look what @NikePh gave me for Christmas! A series of limited vinyl toys to celebrate Kobe's new joints - The Nike Kobe 8 System.
The four figures symbolize the "four mastery tools" utilized by The Black Mamba - Focus, Accuracy, Vision, and Speed. The same elements were also incorporated into the new Kobe 8.
These were used as promotional giveaways to retailers and media partners. Unfortunately, these were not sold in stores.
If the toys got you excited, wait 'till you see the Nike Kobe 8 System. Now available at Nike Basketball retailers and at Titan.
Thank you @NikePh! And to everyone, hope you're having a good start to the year!
From the mind of Leo Chang comes Kevin Durant's fifth signature shoe - The KD V. It is Kevin Durant's heart and soul manifested in a shoe; it's design is the most honest and pure yet.
The Nike KD line, in my opinion, has become the most genuine and conceptually rich among the footwear franchises today. The V just proves my point.
The depth of the concept is remarkable. Still present are the minute details that tell KD's history, a tapestry of symbols that represent his deep and unwavering love for his family and hometown. But completely unique to this model is the incorporation of the numeric symbol "V" and the pentagon. Symbolizing his fifth shoe, the "V" is also a representation of the "team" - five men on the court aiming for victory. On the other hand, the Pentagon is a literal symbolism of The Pentagon, the military landmark in his hometown Washington, D.C.
The KD V is a truly inspired piece of art. Yes, I said ART. It looks like art, and I'm sure it performs like one, too. This partnership of Leo Chang and KD will go down in Nike Basketball's 20 year history as one of the most exciting and inspiring footwear lineages to ever grace the hardwood.
I just had to do this - The KD V on my feet. Are you inspired yet? The detail on the tongue is crazy...
Thank you FIVE TIMES FIVE TIMES, Nike Philippines.
Just a year ago, I hated LeBron James with a passion. But now, I'll be the first to admit that he has gained my respect. Although I am still one of his biggest critics, he has showed me and the rest of the world enough of himself and his abilities to make believers out of haters.
LeBron James through the years has developed the type of maturity that can only be molded from the pain of defeat, year after agonizing year. Resiliency forged alone in the fire of hate; both internally and from the masses. And the skill - not the raw, untamed kind - but the one acquired from constant pressure and battering. LeBron has been through the very bottom of the fiery pit, all the way to the top of the world.
Nike acknowledges this journey, and so for their tenth outing they created a shoe that would reflect everything LeBron has been through and his transformation.
The great thing about mid-week releases is you get to have a little spirit boost to get you thru the week.
Last Wednesday, September 12, Titan dropped the much coveted Nike Air Force 1 Low Supreme I/O TZ 30th Anniversary - Pearl Collection "Gold"(I'll give you a second to catch your breath...)
