The moment occurred in early April at Palais Brongniart, the former home of the Paris Stock Exchange. Donahoe reaffirmed Nike’s early investment in Wembanyama, who signed with the Swoosh years before his NBA debut.

“Victor is a generational talent,” Donahoe told Andscape at Nike’s “Nike On Air” event for the 2024 Paris Games. Set for his Olympics debut, the 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs star forward represents his country and first footwear brand, approximately four years after Nike first heard of the uniquely sized teenager playing in France’s top league.

“It’s remarkable how much he’s experienced at 20,” Donahoe said. “He’s handled everything with grace and had a standout rookie year.”

Wembanyama’s initial multiyear Nike contract carried into his unworldly 2023-24 debut NBA season as the Spurs’ No. 1 overall pick. After averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.6 blocks in 71 games, Wembanyama emerged as the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year, a milestone Nike celebrated with the release of his own special-edition sneaker.

Nike

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama's Nike G.T. Hustle 2 is inspired by his outstanding talent.

Nike

The insoles of San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama's sneakers include the extraterrestrial logo.

Nike

The outsoles of San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama's Nike G.T. Hustle 2 includes the tagline "Be Unique Every Day," a guiding motto for the French star.

Nike

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama's Nike G.T. Hustle 2 features his "Alien" logo.

Nike

The glow-in-the-dark elements of San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama's Nike G.T. Hustle 2.

On May 15, the Nike Air Zoom G.T. Hustle 2 Victor Wembanyana dropped online for $170 a pair. The shoe sold out in minutes.

“The relationship with Nike, it makes sense to me and feels good because I can’t see a more ambitious brand that matches my own ambition,” Wembayana said during his Rookie of the Year news conference. “They’re thinking ahead, outside of the box.”

Highlighted by a custom alien head illustration on the heels and insoles, Wembanyama’s Hustle 2s, from Nike’s “Greater Than” (G.T.) series launched in 2021, marked the first retail shoe release of his young career. However, the true beginning of Wembanyama’s Nike origin story took shape exactly a year before his alien-adorned debut shoe came out.

On May 16, 2023, Nike hosted a lottery watch party for Wembayana at the company’s Paris headquarters. After the Spurs secured the top pick, Nike reps handed out celebratory hats adorned with an alien graphic, according to The Mirror and San Antonio-Express News.  

“I met Victor and his parents in Paris last year,” Donahoe said. “And when I shook his hand, it completely engulfed mine.”

Though Nike has yet to confirm whether terms of Wembanyama’s endorsement include the design and launch of an official signature shoe line, rumblings in basketball and sneaker circles speculate it’s a matter of when — not if — Wembanyama will become Nike’s next NBA signature headliner. The Swoosh, however, has already delivered a concept sneaker designed exclusively for Wembanyama.

At the end of the Paris activation in April, Nike unveiled a collection of 13 sneaker prototypes, each inspired by one of the brand’s Olympians. Wembanyama’s A-I-R prototype, displayed inside Palais Brongniart, materialized in a design resembling a spaceship than a sneaker.

“Just look at the prototype of his shoe concept,” Donahoe said. “Victor’s foot is really THAT big.”

With the Olympics opening this week, Wembanyama’s A-I-R prototype remains on display in Paris, where people can go see the concept shoe finalized in size 21, Nike confirmed to Andscape. Wembanyama’s prototype, exhibited at the historic Centre Pompidou museum, looks like a UFO you’d imagine he arrived on from the extraterrestrial world Nike is building its basketball brand around.

Yet, an even more alien reality: Wembanyama’s feet are still growing.

Back in October 2022, that one word — “alien” — organically aligned the stars of marketing inspiration for Wembanyama and, eventually, Nike.

During an NBA preseason news conference, Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James became the first person to call Wembanyama an “alien” after Wembanyama’s 37-point game with France’s Metropolitans 92 on U.S. TV.

“Everybody has been a unicorn over the last few years, but he’s more like an alien,” said James, praising Wembanyama’s fluidity and grace on the court. “No one has ever seen anyone as tall but as fluid and graceful as he is out on the floor.”

For the past few years, many have considered Wembanyama — by metrics of athletic ability, uniqueness of size and global marketing appeal — the most-hyped hooper to surface since James entered the NBA at 18. James’ debut signature shoe, the Nike Air Zoom Generation, was released in October 2003 at the start of his rookie season. Three months later, Wembanyama was born in early January 2004, five days after King James’ 20th birthday.

Now 20 himself, Wembanyama also received his first Nike shoe, though not technically a signature model, as an NBA rookie.

“At his size,” James said in 2022, “with his ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot stepback jumpers out of the post, stepback 3s, catch-and-shoot 3s, and block shots … He’s, for sure, a generational talent.” His words foreshadow Nike CEO John Donahoe’s acknowledgment of Wembanyama as one of the brand’s highest-profile signings since his tenure began in 2020.

“Wemby is nothing short of an awe-inspiring, difference-maker of a generation,” Nike’s basketball footwear director Deepa Ramprasad told Andscape. “Our team has a uniquely exciting challenge to meet the call-to-action of an athlete who a lot of us think has the opportunity to redefine and reimagine how the game of basketball looks.”

Yet even before James classified him as an alien, Wembanyama had begun to pinpoint his foreign differences, which extended beyond his physical stature.

“I feel like I’m an artist on and off the court. I love thinking about a lot of things — I love drawing. I love building Legos. I love writing,” Wembanyama said during an ESPN2 interview in August 2022. That summer also marked the 40th anniversary of director Steven Spielberg’s 1982 blockbuster film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which tells the story of an alien — named Zrek, but famously known as “E.T.” — trying to find his way as the only of his kind on Earth.

As weird as it sounds, E.T. ‘s nostalgic narrative and Wembanyama’s real-life experience aren’t all that different, save for a pair of plot points. The two actors who portrayed E.T. stood around 2-feet-10 — exactly 4½ feet shorter than Wembanyama. And unlike his movie character comparison, Wembanyama is in no rush to leave where he’s landed in the NBA.

“I like being called an alien,” Wembanyama said in a Sports Illustrated profile before the June 2023 NBA draft. “I’m really glad [LeBron] said that because I didn’t like to be called a unicorn. I like [alien] because it’s just something not from this world. It’s really what I’m working to be — something unique and original.”

It’s almost as if Wembanyama took James’ alien assignment and translated the words into a creative challenge of personal branding. Before Nike’s Paris draft lottery party in May 2023, Wembanyana began doodling Alien heads, stick figures and spaceships — drawings he proudly presented to Nike and the brand’s longtime ad agency, Wieden+Kennedy, in meetings.

“The Alien concept came from Wemby,” Rampsarad said. “That was something that the team talked about in partnership with him. ‘Hey, how do we want to position you and storytell?’ Specifically through some of the player-exclusives that you saw him wear this season. So, the concept arose during a collaborative conversation with him and our design partners.”

Within minutes of the Spurs winning the No. 1 overall pick, Nike posted a custom image on social media with Wembanyama positioned in front of a Paris backdrop with a green streak flying over the Eiffel Tower. By mid-August 2023, Wembanyama appeared in his first brand campaign, promoting Nike Tech gear. “The Extraterrestrial has landed,” read the caption of Nike’s post.

“Wemby is all for the Alien storytelling,” Ramprasad said. “I think it’s kind of cool to see his confidence in our ability to tell an athlete’s story.”

True to Wembanyama’s alien fascination, one of the NBA’s most complex X-files concerns the mystery behind the 20-year-old star’s correct shoe size.

For this story, no representative — from the NBA’s league office, the Spurs organization, his agency or even Nike — would confirm Wembanyama’s official shoe size. Yet, there’s tangible evidence to substantiate the unearthly, yet not improbable, reality that Wembanyama’s feet grew as much as two sizes during his first NBA season. 

You read that right. 

If the claim still seems unfathomable, follow the trail of reports linking Wembanyama to wearing five different shoe sizes throughout his rookie year.

Last fall, ahead of the 2023-24 season, the NBA provided Andscape with an official spreadsheet featuring the apparel and footwear size of every player on the roster, reported annually by all 30 teams as a league requirement. Initially, the Spurs listed Wembanyama’s shoe size as 20, tying him with five fellow players — Rudy Gobert, Robin Lopez, Boban Marjanovic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ivica Zubac — for the title of biggest feet in the NBA.

Yet, during the preseason in early October 2023, the league’s @NBAKicks social media handle posted a photo of Wembanyama sitting courtside wearing a pair of Nike G.T. Runs. The caption: “Size 20.5!”

According to healthline.com, “feet usually stop growing at age 20 in males.” Midway through his rookie season, Wembanyama turned 20 in January, around the same time Nike reportedly began designing his A-I-R prototype to be unveiled at the brand’s Paris Games activation in April. According to Nike, the concept shoe’s final product measured at size 21. Yet, by the end of his rookie season, Wembanyama disclosed to at least one NBA writer that his shoe size had reached 21.5, the anonymous reporter who covered the Spurs substantially this season told Andscape.

“We’ll let Nike handle the shoe size question,” wrote Jordan Howenstine, director of basketball communications for the Spurs, in an email to Andscape when asked to confirm Wembanyama’s shoe size. As for his endorser’s explanation: “All of the Nike Basketball footwear worn by Victor is built to his exact specifications,” said a brand spokesperson.

But there’s at least one known pair of Wembanyama’s rookie Nike sneakers in a size 22.

On April 15, renowned international collectibles broker Sotheby’s listed an auction featuring a bright yellow pair of Wembanyama’s player-exclusive Nike GT Hustle 2s. Nike included the shoes in a batch of PEs, and the brand provided Wembanyama with options to wear while competing in multiple events during February’s NBA All-Star Weekend. Wembanyama never wore the bright yellow Hustle 2s in a game this past season. Yet, official photos of the sneakers released by Sotheby’s show the box’s label — clearly reading size 22.

“The G.T. Hustle 2s fit absolutely true to size,” explained Stanley Tse, a footwear product tester and contributor for WearTesters. And while it’s worth noting that many players wear custom insoles or orthotics, requiring them to go up a half or full size, the common NBA footwear trend isn’t exactly necessary with the GT Hustle 2 silhouette.

“The caveat is there’s already an insole in the Hustles that’s cut a specific way because the Zoom strobel cushion is directly under foot for comfort and impact protection,” Tse said. “However, it’s known that Nike customizes models for players to their exact liking.”

“I’m sure Nike did a clay molding of Wemby’s foot to get exact measurements,” Tse said. “But if his foot is still growing, which I wouldn’t put past him, Nike’s gonna have to keep doing moldings.”

If Wembanyama’s foot size officially reaches 22, he will be tied with Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal and center Bob Lanier for the largest in NBA history.

“One of the things that’s the most unique about working with Wemby so far is how he’s continuing to develop in his body, not just his game,” Ramprasad said. “For us at Nike, it’s about how do we keep up with Wemby’s evolvement anatomically to meet all the needs he may have from a footwear perspective.”

From 1992 to 1995, O’Neal’s foot grew from size 19 to 22. In five months, from October 2023 to February, Wembanyama laced up, or at the very least received, pairs of sneakers in sizes 20, 20.5, 21, 21.5, and 22.

“We’ve had athletes before who are considered big in the space of basketball and footwear,” Ramprasad said. “But, it almost feels like Wemby and his feet are ever-growing, right? An athlete that young, whose body is evolving at the rate his is? The best word to use is dynamic.”

When Wembanyama’s signature Nike line debuts, his suspected size 22 shoes will be the largest ever for a Nike headliner, surpassing Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning, who wore an 18 in his two Nike signatures from 1997 and 1998, and Kevin Durant, who also wears a size 18.

“The similarities between Kevin and Wemby are insane,” said Nike footwear designer Leo Chang, who crafted Durant’s first 12 signatures. “What I saw in Kevin was that he was almost this superhuman who had adapted to the game of basketball. He was this ultimate hybrid player who could play all positions. After growing up, he developed the handles of a guard but then stretched and could play even in the center.

“I think Wemby has similar versatility to KD,” Chang said. “And what’s amazing is Wemby will continue to develop that versatility to inform his footwear product.”

Durant’s signature line, which debuted 15 seasons ago during his 2008-09 sophomore NBA campaign, transformed the 6-foot-11 star into the “Durantula” and “Slim Reaper.” In 2019, Greek-born star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who wears a size 17, launched his ongoing signature series that branded him as the “Freak” of Nike Basketball.

“Just like LeBron said, everybody’s been a unicorn,” Wembanyama told reporters at Madison Square Garden in November 2023. “But, there’s just one alien, right?”

By NBA All-Star Weekend in February, Wembanyama debuted his alien-inspired Nike G.T. Hustle 2s. Before wearing the shoes on the court during the All-Star Skills Challenge, Wembanyama showed off the glowing green PE colorway on social media. Specifically, Wembanyama made sure that cameras caught his iridescent logo embossed on each shoe’s heel.

“An alien I drew one day,” Wembanyama said at All-Star in February, the first and only time he donned the special-edition G.T. Hustle 2s. Out of the 71 games he played this past NBA season, Wembanyama only wore Hustle 2s five times, and favored the Nike G.T. Run model, which he laced up in 66 games.

Yet, neither Wembanyama’s alien affinity nor his innate creativity were limited to the G.T. Hustle silhouette that Nike chose as the canvas for his first Alien-themed shoe. At some point during the 2023-24 season, Wembanyama’s customization of his light pink G.T. Runs showed up in images of his most-worn rookie PEs.

Wembanyama drew an alien’s face and spaceship in black Sharpie on the back of his left shoe. 

The 7-foot-4 star couldn’t wait for Nike to put his official alien logo out in the world.

In the past 40 years of Swoosh lore and marketing, Nike has launched Air Jordan’s Jumpman, Penny’s 1 Cent, King James’ crown and the Black Mamba’s sheath. Yet, no signature logo in Nike Basketball history experienced a rollout like Wembanyama’s alien.

Before the end of the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Nike unveiled Wembanyama’s extraterrestrial branding in a commercial opening with the line, “Somewhere in South Texas,” before a drone image reveals a crop circle in the form of an alien head flanked by two swooshes. Nike strategically released the 45-second spot — with the tagline “The total eclipse has just begun” — on April 8 during the afternoon that marked the first full eclipse to pass over North America in seven years.

Approximately four years ago, the first correspondence swirling Wembanyama sparked between a Nike sports marketing rep in Europe and the head of the brand’s sports research lab back at headquarters in Oregon. The message essentially decoded as, “There’s an athlete out here in France, unlike any being we’ve ever seen.” Soon, Nike embarked upon the challenge of solving for Wembanyama’s unique body type through footwear.

“Wemby is an athlete who really just inspires us to rethink our systems and innovation in a way that, without him, we may not be catalyzed in the same way,” Ramprasad said. “It’s nothing short of incredibly exciting. And it’s also one of those, ‘watch him in this space’ moments. Because his journey is only just beginning. And so too is ours in partnership with him.”

In the past 12 or so months since Wembanyama entered the NBA, Nike has closely examined the evolution of his growing feet while honing in on the exact fit and sizing of sneakers he needs on the court. Wembanyama has already begun testing another silhouette after announcing on social media in early July that the new Nike G.T. Hustle 3 will be his “shoe for the summer,” which he’ll lace up exclusively during the 2024 Olympics.

For the size-20-something wearing Wembanyama, a Nike signature line certainly doesn’t land outside the worlds of imagination or possibility.

“It’s a very beneficial relationship and it’s working,” Wembanyama said of his Nike partnership in May. “But, what we’ve done so far is not enough. We want to do more.”

As Smith travels from city to city, averaging 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season, she loves popping into her favorite store, Louis Vuitton, with all the bespoke nuances the luxury brand adds to its locations.

“I love Louis Vuitton,” Smith told Andscape. “I like how they put out a lot of clothes and shoes that have bright colors and different designs on them. My favorite pair is the green version from the Tyler, the Creator and Louis Vuitton collaboration.”

The 2019 NCAA champion never orders her Louis Vuitton Trainers online. Instead, she prefers the full in-store experience. “If I’m going to pay $1,000 for a pair of shoes, I want all parts of the experience and I’m going to get my money’s worth. I want the custom bottles of water and champagne, everything.”

Smith first realized her love of styling when she was in college and began to earn her own money. She prides herself on never using a stylist and was elated to begin executing the outfits in her mind once she started attending Baylor University.

The three-time All-Big 12 First-Team member credits her parents for always doing what they could to ensure she had access to the latest styles.

“The first shoe that made me say, ‘Oh, my goodness, I have to have these,’ was definitely the ‘Powder Blue’ Jordan 3s,” Smith said. “My parents would always do this thing, trying to make me think I wouldn’t get the shoe, but then they would end up getting it for me.”

When Smith was on her way to becoming the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and the Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2021, she mainly incorporated neutral tones into her outfits. Getting fly meant pairing her favorite Jordans with a matching fitted sweatsuit.

These days, the 2021 Wade Trophy winner enjoys looking back at her own “glo-up.” She said if the outfit is from college but still up on her Instagram, it indicates she’s proud of it and enjoys now having the means to take her game-day style up a few notches.

“One of my favorite outfits this season was what I wore when we played the Phoenix Mercury away for the first time,” Smith said. “I liked another outfit I wore with an oversized jersey and Timberlands. The jersey look was definitely inspired by the ’90s. I really like the super-baggy look. My second favorite would probably be when I wore a New York jacket.”

After the Fever drafted Smith as the second overall pick in 2022, Puma added the 23-year-old forward to its women’s basketball roster. Although she has several different Puma sneakers at her disposal, she tends to favor one specific model, preferably in bold, brash colors.

Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith wearing the Puma x LaMelo Ball MB.02 “Nickelodeon Slime” during the game on July 17 at the College Park Center in Arlington, TX. She favors wearing Ball's sneakers because "Melos always come in crazy colorways."

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith wearing the violet-hued Puma x LaMelo Ball MB.01 “Queen City” during a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19 in Indianapolis.

Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith wearing the Puma x LaMelo Ball MB.01 “Golden Child” during the game against the New York Liberty on July 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. "I like to stand out when I am on the court."

“I only like to wear LaMelos when I’m playing,” Smith said. “I like to stand out when I am on the court, and I don’t like to look like anyone else. The Melos always come in crazy colorways.”

As Smith continues to grow in the WNBA, she aims to incorporate vibrant colors into her signature look.

“My mom always tells me that she has a really easy time pointing me out on the court because I always have on the brightest and most colorful shoes. Over the years, I really have made that my thing and I try to stay away from the boring black and white shoes.”

June let everybody know that it was not a skippable month. July looks to up the ante partly due to the Olympic Games starting July 26. While many brands focus on Olympic-themed collections, July is more than just Paris apparel. Not to be lost in the shuffle: The mesh boyz are back, and a few homages to home with a bit of nostalgia.

Scratching a nostalgic itch

While Memphis Grizzles point guard Ja Morant spent limited time on the court this year due to a shoulder injury, he turned heads with his footwear choices when he did suit up. In particular, when Morant made his season debut, he debuted a pair of Nike Ja 1s in a flip of the fan-favorite “Scratch” colorway. When they saw the shoes, people immediately thought of the Grizzles’ former home of Vancouver.

This pair, now dubbed the “Reverse Scratch,” will finally be released. The predominantly white upper with hits of teal across the midsole and red on the heel shoe will hit shelves just in time for the Fourth of July and peak cookout season. Don’t be surprised if you see these on the feet of someone rocking a throwback Mike Bibby or Shareef Abdur-Rahim Vancouver jersey.

Release date: July 1

Retail price: $130

A subdued take on a style icon

Most people know New York Knicks play-by-play announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier as a fashion and style icon who can be found on the sidelines of New York Knicks games. However, before the legendary Knicks guard found ways to make all the animal prints in the Sahara come together, he made waves in his Puma shoes. There’s a legend that at one point, Frazier wanted a new pair of shoes and a new shoe color for every game he played.

If you believe that, this spectra green pair could have easily been something Frazier would have wanted on his feet during or after the game. Spectra green dominates the upper, and a frosted ivory Formstrip is paired with white shoelaces to finish out the uppers. Don’t be surprised to see Frazier wearing them at some point.

Release date: July 1

Retail price: $120

GT-2160 is another one for the mesh boyz

Asics returns with another GT-2160 for the mesh boyz, just in time for the start of the 2024 Olympic Games. The “Paris” colorway arrives in a soft cream base with neon orange and green hits complemented by a silver overlay. The color scheme plays on Paris’ nickname, the City of Light. Like any other pair of Asics, keeping things clean and simple is best with a nice black T-shirt and gym shorts.

Release date: July 5

Retail price: $120

Jordan pays tribute to Carolina’s history

There’s something unique and fitting about NBA legend Michael Jordan’s synergy of growing up in North Carolina, going on to star at UNC, and having the nickname of His Airness. The latest Jordan 1 High is a tribute to MJ’s Carolina roots and the state.

Carolina Blue is the star of the show, sitting on top of a sail white upper paired with navy blue on the heel and collar. The gold “Wings” logo combined with “First in Flight” underneath the Nike Air tag on the shoe’s tongue is a nice touch that makes this pair exceptional, not just another run-of-the-mill Jordan 1 release.

Making this pair a women’s exclusive shows that the Jordan brand can truly create unique products for women who are also sneakerheads.

Release date: July 6

Retail price: $160

The Sunders return

The Air Max Sunders are back for the first time since the cross-training model’s 1999 release, other than the Comme des Garçons collaboration in 2021. Early previews indicate Nike intends to reissue OG colorways and tooling, much to the delight of enthusiasts and purists. The only drawback would be the price increase, but chalk that up to inflation and be happy this retro means adding a wearable pair into the rotation.

Release date: July 11

Retail price: $180

Action Bronson’s latest gets a second chance

The initial releases for the Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R “Medusa Azul” and “Rosewater” were chaotic, especially the latter one, which initially required buyers to purchase a bundle that included a $125 crewneck. Needless to say, people were angry. It’s a shame, too, since all three shoes from the 1906R collaboration have been good entries for chef/rapper Action Bronson. The botched releases tend to leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Now, a wider release via New Balance is slated to give those interested another opportunity to purchase at retail. Everybody loves a good do-over.

Release date: July 12

Retail price: $185

A Ma Maniere returns to the Air Jordan 3

There’s a certain level of skill and care about one’s craft required to release products at the rate that James Whitner and A Ma Maniere do with their Jordan collabs, and each one feels fresh and unique. That’s the case here as A Ma Maniere returns to the Jordan 3 to deliver another unique take on the classic silhouette.

Unlike the “Raised By Women” collab from 2021, the new release takes on a darker tonal approach. It features a black upper with a soft plum tongue and A Ma Maniere and Jordan’s logo on the left and right shoe tongues. The highlight of this pair is the suede mudguard and heel counter used to replace the usual elephant print for which the model is best known. According to the standard with A Ma Maniere, we can expect all these details and more to be done with premium materials.

Release date: July 18

Retail price: TBD

The basketball shoe of the year gets updated

Ask most sneakerheads, and they’ll tell you that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards’ Adidas signature shoe, the AE1, is undoubtedly the basketball shoe of the year. Edwards’ play and personality on the court and Adidas’ fresh marketing approach made this shoe a must-have for hoopers and sneakerheads.

What do you do for an encore? Take the top off, of course. The AE 1 Low debuts in a marbled grey paired with a black upper colorway nicknamed the ascent. That name fits because Edwards and his shoes aim to climb to the top of the NBA and the footwear world.

Release date: July 20

Retail price: $110

A Jordan 3 made for rec league all-stars

Yes, this is a list of must-cop sneakers. However, when the greatest sneaker of all time returns as a cleat, it’s only right that we show a little love. The Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement” cleat features almost everything we love about the traditional version of the Jordan 3. The beloved “Nike Air” branding on the heel tab is the only thing missing. These will turn heads on the rec and intramural fields.

Release date: July 27

Retail price: $200

Kyrie Irving’s love letter home

When Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving signed with Chinese brand Anta, many were still determining how things would go for the star. Now that Irving has found his sneaker home, he’s paying tribute to the state that raised him.

This edition of the Anta Kai 1 “Garden State” has sage green hues that evoke the Statue of Liberty. However, the true beauty and nod to the “Garden State” of New Jersey come once you look closer and see the floral print in the sage green hues.

Release date: July

Retail: $120

Remembering that childlike ’90s fun

Any kid who grew up and ran around outside during the ’90s usually carried one of two things: a Super Soaker (you were really the cool kid if you had the backpack one) and a Nerf gun. The latest KD 4 retro recaptures that fun feeling, plus the essence of the shoe’s original 2012 release.

A primarily concord upper is dressed with red, grey and green to match the classic Nerf logo and color scheme from the ’90s. Black across the midsole paired with a red sole with a splatter effect ties this shoe together and perfectly completes the eye-catching appeal. Add in a concord-colored shoe box that features the same airbrushed graffiti effect that the straps on the shoe’s upper use, and it completes the “It’s summertime, and I’m outside with my friends” feeling the shoe was aiming for.

Release date: July

Retail: $130

A Yeezy firesale

When Adidas announced that it was ending its partnership with rapper Kanye West, many people wondered what would happen to the brand’s entire inventory of Yeezy products. Simple: Put it up for sale on Adidas’ Confirmed app and website and discount-specific models.

If you’ve been searching for a pair of Yeezy’s at retail, now is as good as a chance you may have to get them before they’re gone to the resale market for good.

Release date: June 23

Retail: Starting at $115

Powers designed the colorway with Jordan as a tribute to her father, a sergeant in the Marines. 

“It was a moment that I’ll never forget,” Powers said. “Jayson Tatum is one of my favorite basketball players. It really meant a lot to me that he wore those shoes in one of the biggest games of his life, not because it’s Tatum, but because those shoes are a thank you to my dad and all veterans.”

The 2016 All-Rookie team member credits her father for her work ethic and attack strategy for dealing with adversity. 

“Tatum wearing the shoes meant so much to me and my family and it gave me a sense of inspiration to keep going even with a chip on my shoulder especially after everything I went through last year with not playing as much,” Power said.

Before being traded to the Atlanta Dream in February, Powers played for the Minnesota Lynx for three seasons. She was a starter on the team, but as the 2023 season progressed, she occasionally saw the floor for five minutes. Powers is now a starting guard with the Dream, averaging 8.3 points and three rebounds per game.

Even with her fluctuating minutes, Powers still looks forward to styling outfits around her favorite Jordan 1 colorways for walk-in pictures. When Powers saw Tatum in her PE, it inspired Powers, who won a WNBA championship in 2019 with the Washington Mystics, to continue her quest for a second championship. As Powers watched Game 5, she continued to text and call her father.

“Seeing one of the top players in my shoe was a reminder to me and my dad about how hard we have worked towards this point and for me to continue to see success in this league,” Powers said.

The inspiration for the “Camo” Tatum 2 has been intertwined with different parts of Powers’ life since middle school, starting with her introduction to video games. Growing up, Powers and her younger brother Juan Jr. engaged in small bickering as siblings tend to do. Once, over the course of a few weeks, Powers noticed her brother playing video games and talking into a headset.

“Who are you talking to on that thing?” Powers asked.

Her brother explained he was playing Call of Duty online with strangers.

“Come on, man, show me, show me!” Powers said.

Juan Jr. showed Powers how to play, and she said she fell in love immediately.

“My dad eventually came in and was like, ‘You guys are too quiet in here,’ ” Powers said. “He was surprised to see us getting along. My dad is a Marine through and through so, he naturally likes Call of Duty, too. The next day, he came home with two more Xboxes and two new headsets. We were in this small house just driving my mom insane with all the noise. We’re screaming into the headsets but sitting right next to each other. Since then, it’s just been a part of my life.”

Powers has transformed her love of gaming into advocating for female gamers. She started out by representing the esports organization Team Liquid by spearheading their diversity and inclusion efforts and is now a co-owner. She’s also active with the Global Esports Federation and is a member of the organization’s Athletes, Players and Community Commission.

During the coronavirus pandemic, she grew closer to her soon-to-be teammate, Dream guard Allisha Gray, when they played Call of Duty and NBA 2K together.

“In the pandemic, we used to get on the game at 10 p.m. and wouldn’t get off until 3 in the morning,” Powers said. “I would get up, go work out and then get back on for another three or so hours.”

Powers also uses avatars within her games to express creativity in fashion and sneakers. Creating her My Player reminds her that much remains to be done to advance women’s equality.

“You can buy WNBA jerseys and WNBA T-shirts within the game for your player and put whatever sneakers you want on them,” Powers said. “But I think it can go even a step further to help girls get involved by having gaming charity events, tournaments and STEM programming to encourage them centered around gaming.”

Outside of her console, Powers has a real-life alter ego named Spiderwoman. When Powers activates her alter ego, she wears a white Spiderwoman costume and tries to go undetected to open runs and gyms.

“Spiderwoman has become so popular amongst my fans that in Los Angeles people know me as Spiderwoman before they know me as Aerial Powers the WNBA player,” Powers said.

To follow up the “Camo” Tatum 2, Powers wants to combine her obsession with gaming and sneakers. She wants to create a Spiderwoman PE colorway that includes the shoes of fellow Jordan athletes Tatum, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.

“Wearing Jordans and Jordan apparel is incomparable to me,” Powers said. “Everybody instantly sees you as soon as you walk into a room.”

Outside of a strenuous recovery, the Dream guard used the time to be strategic about showing off her style.

Canada’s interest in fashion has evolved significantly as her game has grown on the court. She now selects her footwear first and builds her outfits around it. Her shoe rotation for the sideline includes luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton trainers for style and Balenciaga Speed knits for comfort. She aims to let her statement pieces speak for themselves, often choosing oversized jackets or printed pants to make her outfits pop.

The two-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection is eager to contribute to her new squad. After starting her career with the Seattle Storm and playing one season in her hometown of Los Angeles with the Sparks, she was traded (along with the eighth pick in the 2024 draft) to the Dream in exchange for Aari McDonald and the 12th pick. Last season, Canada led the league with 2.3 steals per game, averaging 13.3 points and 6 assists.

Canada enjoyed immediate success as the fifth overall pick in 2018, winning a championship with the Storm in her first season. During Canada’s early days, she learned directly from five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird and emerged as the Storm’s starting point guard the following year.

In 2020, Canada signed an endorsement deal with Jordan Brand as part of “the next wave” of women athletes to represent the company on the hardwood. She has worn multiple models over the past few seasons, such as the flagship model, UCLA-themed colorways for her alma mater or even her own player exclusives to highlight initiatives she supports.

Andscape caught up with Canada as the guard prepared for her first game in a Dream uniform.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How has your dynamic with sneakers changed since you signed with Jordan?

I’ve always been versatile when it comes to sneakers. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of Jordan sneakers, other sports brands and luxury sneakers. Before I signed with Jordan, there were times when I couldn’t access a sneaker that I might want. I have always been a huge Jordan girl, and now getting them is super-smooth. I can get many exclusive sneakers that many people can’t get and even get an extra pair for a friend or family member. It’s a blessing to have this luxury, because not everyone gets the opportunity.

Growing up, what shoe was on your must-have list?

When I was younger, I used to hoop in Carmelo Anthony’s sneakers. I loved his retro shoes. When I got to high school, I was still wearing his shoes. In my senior year, we were sponsored by the Jordan Brand, and I used to wear Chris Paul’s PEs a lot. Those were the two I loved the most as a kid, but I wore Melos the most out of both. I got to meet both of them in passing at a Jordan event.

When did you realize you truly enjoy sneaker culture? 

I became a sneakerhead during my senior year of high school. When I went to college, I started paying attention to different brands and styles and noticing what I liked and didn’t like. At that point, it took off. Nike, Adidas, it didn’t matter, just anything that had a different look and allowed me to express myself, I was sold. Jordan has so many retro sneakers, too, and I enjoy using my partnership with Jordan now to dive into my style.

Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Jordin Canada of the Atlanta Dream looks on during the game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 26 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada before the game against the Las Vegas Aces on May 31 at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

Jordin Canada arrives to the arena before the game against the Indiana Fever on May 9 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada arrives to the arena before the game against the New York Liberty on June 6 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

How do you decide whether you want to adopt a classic look or follow the trends of the moment?

It’s about what I feel comfortable in and how I want to express myself that day. I always start with whatever sneaker I want to wear that day. Then, I decide if I want to dress it up or down. There will always be trends, but I like to get dressed based on how I feel and try not to pay attention to any of them.

With more emphasis on photographing WNBA walk-in outfits, has that caused you to think more about your outfits?

Fashion and the W have recently had more freelance or team photographers’ exposure. I think it’s great that people are invested in our fashion. Overall, as a league, people are starting to show up fashionably. It’s not just basketball players. It’s all women in sports. We have a lot of attention on us, and it’s really important to show our other side. Everyone has been doing a great job of showing their different personalities, their different styles and their creativity when it comes to clothing and dressing up.

Since you have not been able to play this season, how has putting effort into getting dressed helped your mental state?

I’m intentional about the styles and the clothes that I wear. When I sit on the bench, I focus on different statement pieces. My style has always been keeping it simple but with statement pieces. I like being intentional with details, too. I always come up with different looks. These past few months, with my game outfits, I’ve been trying different styles while staying true to who I am. I also consider how big the game is and whether it’s a national television game. If it’s a national game, then it’s more than likely that I’ll be on camera. Naturally, you want to make sure you look good.

What other causes do you want to bring awareness to or stories you want to tell through your PEs?

Last year, I used my [Air Jordan 38] PE to show my partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Los Angeles, and I’m truly passionate about that. This year, I want to show more of my personality, so for this year, I leaned into my spirit animal and my zodiac sign. I’m a Leo and show that through my on-court appearance and being a leader. I wouldn’t say I’m feisty, but I’m very passionate about how I play. I haven’t gotten the chance to wear them yet, but I will. Off the court, I’m like a dolphin. They are smart, caring, loving and helpful. Jordin off the court and Jordin on the court are opposites.

At the end of May, the Harlem Globetrotter agreed to join AND1 because she was seeking an opportunity to pioneer a path for women with a similar background to hers.

Morris wanted to be a part of a “cultural explosion” that differed from how people thought a brand deal should look, similar to how she stood at the forefront of the tipping point in popularity for women’s basketball after winning a national championship at LSU with her teammate Angel Reese.

The left-handed guard’s path has been nontraditional from start to finish, but she likes it that way. Morris began her collegiate career with coach Kim Mulkey at Baylor University and transferred to Rutgers University and Texas A&M University. After leaving Texas A&M, she thought she would never play basketball again until Mulkey gave her one more chance at LSU. As a fifth-year senior, she delivered 15.4 points and 4.1 assists as the point guard for the Tigers’ national championship squad.

The Texas native was drafted by the Connecticut Sun as the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft. She was later waived during the preseason and believes that if it had not happened, she would have never gotten the opportunity to sign with AND1.

Andscape caught up with Morris between the guard’s workouts in preparation for AND1’s upcoming Open Run event at Coney Island in New York on Sunday.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

When you first started playing basketball, how did you approach gathering your sneaker collection?

I really started to get into my swag when I was a senior in high school. At first, I was the player that showed up just to hoop. I would come to the gym with Adidas shorts and Nike shoes. It didn’t matter to me. Once I got to college, I got into even more. I based my shoes and swag on the jerseys we wore that day, especially at LSU. We had this one white uniform with purple lettering that I’d always wear purple shoes with. I don’t get to do ‘matchy-matchy,’ but I like to bring the colors out.

Once you pick your shoes out, how do you put together the rest of your outfit?

On the court, I wear an arm sleeve. Sometimes, I want to do all or nothing with my headband, arm sleeve and tights or nothing at all. When I started wearing tights, my teammates would always hype it up, and sometimes they’d tease me and say, ‘I got my legs out today.’ But then there’s ‘Lex Luthor,’ and I’m in that zone. If I put that headband on, just know it’s Lex Luthor, and it’s about to be one of those nights. Most basketball players can relate to that. Once you slide that headband on, I feel like I will have one of the best games of my life.

What’s so special about you that AND1 wanted to sign you as their first female athlete?

AND1 is a movement powered by Black people, Black culture, inner cities and urban basketball. I am all of those things. I grew up in Beaumont, Texas. There were minimal resources, and it was tough. But I am fortunate to be someone that made it out. I grew up playing streetball, and streetball is what made me great. Being at AND1 is like being back home for me. We’re perfect for each other. Most of the time, I played with boys and had to fight for my spot on the court, but 90% of the things you do in life are about confidence, and I got it.

What are you looking forward to the most about creating with AND1?

There is a continuous need for female representation in sports and especially street culture. People try to push out street culture, but it’s the foundation of what started basketball. It’s the swag. I am excited to get to design my collection. Getting a signature collection for me is a dream come true. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.

I’m in a position to empower Black athletes and Black creators. I bring a more androgynous side, which is also underrepresented. You don’t have to be the girliest of the girls to wear my collection. I want to incorporate some NIL deals under the Alexis Morris brand with AND1. I’m searching for my first female athlete to bring on board.

How does a deal with a streetwear brand help young female athletes see there are nontraditional avenues for endorsements?

Even before I got my deal, I looked up at A’ja Wilson and Nike with her shoes, Angel [Reese] and Reebok, Caitlin [Clark] and Dana Evans. I have the same feeling and excitement they’ve created for me, and I want to create that for other female athletes. I get to offer tangible proof that little young girls, young women, and Black women all across the nation can see what happens when you dream big, different and ambitiously.

What would it mean to you to be the first WNBA player to integrate the AND1 brand and culture into the league?

I am looking forward to returning to the WNBA. It’s been my goal since I was 8, not just to make a team but to play in a season. There’s a misconception out there that I hate WNBA veterans and expect them to give up the positions they’ve worked for. This is how they get their livelihood. I apologize to the people I offended. Without making those comments, I couldn’t be where I am today.

I’m never going to quit on myself. I think it’ll be so dope to mesh the different audiences together. There’s even more viewership and marketing around the WNBA now that would bring even more eyes to the street culture vibe. I have also gained a lot of streetball moves since being a part of the Harlem Globetrotters, which I can’t wait to implement into organized basketball. I will be able to express all of my experiences. If I return, I’ll definitely be a bit more crafty.

The quick bond between Bink! and Durant can be attributed to their shared passion for music, especially hip-hop. Bink! is known for grandiose, often soulful and hard-hitting beats despite staying largely under the radar after 30-plus years in the game. His résumé and discography span waves and generations. He’s crafted records with Jay-Z (“1-900-Hustler,” “Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)”), Drake (“You Only Live Twice”), Rick Ross (“Santorini Greece”), Dr. Dre (“It’s All On Me”) among many others.

The design of Bink!’s KD17 sneaker is a testament to the producer’s underrated and understated legacy. It features subtle flourishes that, when unwrapped, reveal Easter eggs related to his career, upbringing in Virginia, and personal history in music. Before the shoe was launched, Bink! spoke to Andscape about what it’s like to design a custom sneaker for one of the biggest brands in basketball footwear.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did the Bink! KD17 come about?

This was totally Durant’s idea. There was no pitch or anything of that nature. We recorded with 38 Spesh, Ransom, Durant and myself for a couple of days. It was a good session with a good vibe, but I didn’t think much about it. A few months later, Nike called me and said Durant wanted me to be involved with the Nike campaign. So I’m like, ‘OK, cool.’ So I’m thinking, ‘I wonder what kind of beat he wants for this commercial.’

I texted KD and said, ‘Yo, am I being catfished? Nike saying something about a Nike commercial.’ KD said, ‘Yeah, I’ll call you in a minute.’ So before Durant called me, Nike called me back, and I said, ‘So what kind of beat does Durant want?’ They were like, ‘Beat?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, what kind of music? What’s the vibe?’

He was like, ‘He doesn’t want a beat. He’s giving you a shoe.’ He had to break it down and give me the backstory on the Producer Pack they did previously with Cardo Got Wings, Boi-1da and 9th Wonder. The Nike rep told me [The] Alchemist, Metro Boomin, and I would be the new recipients this year. It was flattering and startling at the same time.

How long have you known KD? How did you and Durant get introduced originally? 

I haven’t known KD for too long. When we did the recording session, it was my first time meeting him.

Did he reach out to you, or how did that all come together?

38 Spesh reached out to me. 38 Spesh and Durant are close, so they orchestrated that together.

What was your reaction when you found out that it was a sneaker?

I didn’t know how to feel about it because I never had a sneaker. So I’m like, is this s— real? What is this? What’s going on right now? So it took a long time to kick in, you know?

Nike

The green and gold accent colors are a callout to historically Black Norfolk State University, located in Bink!'s hometown. (Nike)

Nike

The Nike KD17 x Bink! uses a mixture of denim and leather to create a more durable sneaker. (Nike)

Nike

The name of music producer Bink!'s company, Humble Monsta, appears on the outsoles of the sneakers. (Nike)

So he didn’t give you any heads-up. You just got a call from Nike one day saying, ‘Hey, we need you to make a sneaker. KD selected you’?

That is why I called and asked him, ‘Yo, is this real or are you all playing with me?’ He didn’t even forewarn me, so I was like, ‘What the hell is going on right now?’

Once you found out what you were doing, what were the next steps in the process?

We started doing the layout last June. We started doing a bunch of Zoom meetings and stuff like that to assist me in designing the shoe.

Did they tell you what shoe you were going to be doing?

Yeah, they told me that whatever the design of the KD17, we would have full creative control in making our own custom pair of those.

How does it feel that you have a KD sneaker coming out?

Listen, bruh, I’m still really trying to process it all. It hit me a lot at the photo shoot in Cali, and it was just some really dope production. It was amazing.

What are some of the elements that you added to your custom design? I noticed your signature on the side and an icon or logo on the back.

That’s a Virginia thing. That’s two up, two down, which is VA. That’s what we throw up to represent where we are from. I wanted to make it a Virginia shoe.

But I selected everything. The colors were a mixture of the high school I attended, Maury High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and then Norfolk State, which has a marching band I grew up adoring. I loved to listen to them at their football games. My mom would take me to the parades and the football games to listen to the band. And I’m just an earth-tone guy. It’s a mixture of those three things. That’s how I came up with the shoe design.

Very nice. And how about the ‘Easy’ on the heel?

Oh, that’s Easy Money Sniper. That’s KD’s stamp right there.

The ‘Humble Monsta,’ that’s you?

That’s me. That’s the name of my company on the bottom of the shoe.

Are there any other details we missed?

It has a beige sole with orange speckles, and brown denim is on the ankle collar. The detail that you may not notice is that the hands on the back of the shoe are a tattoo. It’s identical to a tattoo I’ve had on my arm for years. I sent them a picture of [my tattoo], and they put it on the shoe.

And the translucent sole is so you could see the Humble Monsta? Is there any other significance to that? I also noticed the back almost looks like basketball leather.

Right. And that’s what it is. It uses denim, leather, and then almost like mesh. I love those type of shoes because they’re hard to get dirty. Wipe it down, and you should be straight, you know? You can have that shoe for a long time unless you’re that hard on the shoe.

You said you wanted to create a long-lasting shoe, and you’ve been involved in hip-hop for 31 years. Does the sneaker’s longevity tie in with your own?

I’m absolutely representing staying power. It’s a blessing to be in something this long, still relevant, and not lose a step.

And since you’re affiliated with Metro and Alchemist, it’s like three different generations of producers in some ways.

Alchemist and I are in the same class. We came in around the same time. Metro is the new blood, but I’m in great company, you know?

How do you feel about being affiliated with KD after just knowing him for a short time? He is obviously from the DMV area as well. Is he somebody you’ve been a fan of? When did he first get on your radar?

When he first came into the league, maybe a little before, it was a phenom to be that tall and handle the ball like you’re 5 feet 10. That’s crazy. I always thought he was a phenomenal basketball player, so for him to recognize me for my craft, like I recognize him for his, was an honor.

How many pairs will you keep for yourself and your family?

I’m making sure I get them all a pair, but I just need two pairs, one pair to put up and one to put away to never touch again.

It’s for the archives and the museum, right?

Yep, that part. It’ll be right next to my drum machine.

Since age 10, the WNBA champion has known the player she is on the court but wanted to find a way to display her style while having her sneakers do the talking.

With the help of her marketing agent, Greg Jones, Evans went from camping out to buy Jordans to having any Jordans she desired delivered right to her front door. Fans can view Evans’ sneakers on the Instagram account @danaevanskicks, highlighting her footwear selections.

Working on set for a Jordan photo shoot combines everything at the center of Evans’ passion. From the bright lights to having her selection from curated outfits and an on-site hair stylist, Evans feels like she is dreaming.

On Evans’ “Cheat Code” Tatum 2 player edition shoes, she has “find a way” engraved on the shoe’s arch, the cornerstone mantra for her life on the court and in her closet. Evans is the first woman from Gary, Indiana, to play in the McDonald’s All American game. She is the first player in ACC history to go from winning sixth Player of the Year (2019) to becoming Player of the Year twice (2020, 2021). After being drafted in 2021, Evans won a WNBA title with the Sky in her rookie season.

Being the first from her city to earn these accolades puts her in a position to lead the young Chicago team that has everybody looking. This season, expectations are high for the Sky after the organization hired WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon as coach and landed two highly touted rookies, forward Angel Reese and center Kamila Cardoso. Evans is averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 assists while assuming a leadership role on the court.

Andscape caught up with Evans on her off day in between games to discuss sneakers, style and finding success.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Growing up, how did you get Jordans that were in high demand or had a limited supply?

In middle school, I would camp out for Jordans I really wanted. I have always been a sneakerhead. In high school, I got close to someone who works at Champs. They looked out for me with all the exclusive Jordans I needed. My dad would usually be the one to go with me to camp out. I’ve always been a big fan of the Jordan 11s and any Christmas colorway. The ‘Cool Grey’ 11s were the first pair I camped out for.

With Indiana being known as a basketball state, how would you describe playing there growing up?

It was extremely competitive. I loved every second of it because I was competing against the best of the best every day. Indiana has always been talented in sports, especially basketball. It got me prepared for every level of basketball.

When did you realize you could make a career out of playing basketball?

I started playing in the fourth grade, so the fifth grade was when I knew for sure. I got my first college letter from Valparaiso University. Getting that also made me feel like I could take this seriously and make a career out of it. Valpo is about 30 minutes from Gary, so it felt good. 

Growing up in Gary, Indiana, only 40 minutes from Chicago, how does it feel to return to the same market as a professional?

I love it here. I feel like I’m at home. I’m close to all my friends, family and people I grew up with. Having them close by to support me has inspired me to want to do more and more. This season, we have a new identity. We pride ourselves on the defensive end, which feeds off our offense. Everyone on my team has a story. Everyone here has that extra motivation and that chip on their shoulder to go a little harder. We’re a gritty team, and that’s what gets us through. 

What made you start chronicling the sneakers you wear on a separate Instagram page?

My marketing agent, Greg [Jones], suggested I start showcasing the shoes I wear on and off the court. Nowadays, it’s a big thing to have a lot of shoes, switch things up and show how versatile you can be on and off the court with Jordans.

How are you being intentional about enjoying all aspects of playing in the WNBA outside of the games?

I think it’s important to have a life. If you identify yourself as just an athlete or a basketball player, you’ll have no identity if things aren’t going well on the court and you’re too tied into it. You have to know how to make yourself happy by doing other things. It’s about knowing who you are and sticking to that because it gets hard basketball-wise. You’ll want to have something to fall back on and be able to go to.

With more attention on the WNBA, how do you tune out the outside noise, focus on your mental health and play the game?

It’s not easy. It’s important to know who you have in your corner. You have to know who you can fall back on when things aren’t going well. You have to know who will be able to lift you up but be honest and hold you accountable. My parents are a big part of my success. They keep me grounded and levelheaded. They’ve always told me not to get too low or too high. It’s never perfect. You have to stay positive through hard times when people make nasty comments. I lean into my faith and stay close to God, making sure that I know who I am.

What is the most exciting part to you about getting dressed?

I love how accessories change your whole outfit from basic to popping. I like adding colors and just having fun with it. I used to be ‘in the box’ when it came to dressing and was afraid to be different and try things. Now, I made sure I have different looks and not looking like anyone else. I like trying different colorways with shoes, too. In high school, I liked to dress up and wanted to tap into that.

It really cranked up when I got signed to Jordan Brand because just going into meetings with them and talking about the fashion side of things was pretty dope. I was able to see more things and learn how clothes are designed. Doing Jordan photo shoots is like a dream come true for me. I like seeing how everything comes together and the process behind it. I love everything about being there. Doing this with Jordan is a blessing because that brand has always been my go-to.

What elements do you want to explore with your upcoming player edition shoes?

I want to start adding more detail. My last ones were my college colors with a little splash of pink because I can’t ever have enough pink. I’m still trying to figure out ideas. Greg is really good at helping me with that because I’m not super-creative in that aspect, but I know I have some good stuff coming.

Every year, people try to jump from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day and ignore everything in between. When it comes to sneakers, everybody is trying to treat June like the lead-up to Christmas.

May was packed full of big-name collabs and releases to kick off the summer season, and July looks to be a massive month with Olympic-themed releases. June is in between two holiday months but still has plenty to offer. From a WNBA star’s new signature shoe to New Balance continuing its impressive run to Adidas’ first entry in this series, plus the return of a shoe we thought would never see the light of day again, it’s clear that June is not a skippable month.

To paraphrase Outkast: “June got something to say.”

A Kobe that’s not a Nike

Before joining the swoosh and releasing some of the best basketball shoes, young Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was making waves at Adidas. Many of those young Kobe highlights we all know and love, Bryant accomplished in Adidas.

The KB8 2 was one of the models with which Kobe made his name. It now returns as the Crazy 98 “Lakers Home.” If there’s an Adidas basketball shoe that fits the ’90s aesthetic, this is it.

A white mesh upper featuring synthetic leather overlays with just enough purple to fit the NBA’s dress code for shoes to match team colors shows how a simple design can be more than enough. This shoe is undoubtedly a must-have for Kobe fans and collectors.

Release date: June 1

Retail price: $150

Adidas moves into the NEIGHBORHOOD

Japanese streetwear brand NEIGHBORHOOD returns with another joint offering with Adidas. Last year, they created their take on one of Adidas’ newer models, the NMD S1. Now, the brand tackles one of the most iconic silhouettes in sneakers, the Adidas Superstar.

Keeping things clean and straightforward, the Superstar is primarily cement grey, with white hits highlighting the accents, such as the iconic skull and swords logo that NEIGHBORHOOD uses and the “craft with pride” on the heel tab.

Release date: June 1

Retail price: $160

One for the ‘Girl Dads’

A few of the more charming things many people learned about the post-playing career of Bryant was his deep appreciation for women’s basketball and how the sport created a bond between him and his daughter Gianna. The upcoming Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” pulls its inspiration from the widely recognized courtside moment shared between father and daughter, the bicoastal green drawing from his knit hat, the orange insoles inspired by his hoodie and the “Girl Dad” print on the tongue taken from the phrase popularized after Bryant’s death.

Release date: June 7

Retail price: $190

A perfect pink pair

Originally released exclusively in Japan in 2001, the “Linen” Nike Air Force 1 brings back warm feelings of a time when buying shoes required access more than cash. Finding these in order to buy them was an exercise in navigating sneaker messageboards, sites written in languages other than English, and excruciatingly long shipping times, as items took weeks to arrive from Asia. But they were worth it since the color combo was unfamiliar (in a good way), and the materials used at that time were splendid.

Now, it’s 2024, and anyone can buy them with an internet connection and a credit card.

Release date: June 13

Retail price: $135

Asics keeps things light and fun

The ASICS GEL-Kayano is one of the most iconic silhouettes in running. Mark Ong aka SBTG decided to go to the GEL-Kayano and simplify things while being creative. The vanilla and black colorways feature a silicon flood guard over the bottom half of the shoe’s upper and a removable “monsoon patrol” lace shroud to tie in and complete the wet weather theme.

Release date: June 15

Retail price: $222

Live and in Prime Time

If you ask most sneakerheads if they thought they would ever see the return of Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ Nike signature shoes, the answer would have been no. Given the history between Nike and Sanders when he said he would never work with the brand again, it seemed far-fetched that we would see the shoe, and if we did, it would be similar to Adidas’ Kobe Bryant models.

Now that Nike and Sanders have made amends, we can own arguably the best shoe made for a football athlete since former pro baseball and football athlete Bo Jackson’s Air Trainer II.

The Nike Air Diamond Turf Max ’96 returns for the first time since 2013. Featuring a white leather upper partially covered in black nubuck to create a ripped or torn appearance paired with a maize-colored swoosh, it is a shoe that is as subtle yet in your face as Sanders was.

Release date: June 16

Retail price: $170

Nina Chanel serves shades of green

When it comes to a Jordan Brand and Nina Chanel collab, you can guarantee that there will be a creative use of textures. The artist and painter’s upcoming Jordan 3 showcases just that by using suede and canvas on the upper, which features malachite-colored greens paired with a fossil midsole and rope laces to create a visually appealing and unique pair that will genuinely be different due to the materials the shoe uses.

Paired with a unique “Nike Air” heel tab that could easily be one of Mr. FlowerFantastic’s creations, this is another solid entry from Chanel and the Jumpman. 

Release date: June 20

Retail price: $225

An OG Jordan returns

Jordan Brand has been slowly releasing classic colorways over the past few years. In particular, it has released colors and models from the Jordan 1 “Metallic Pack.”

The metallic burgundy colorway is the latest pair released from the metallic pack. Simple, clean white leather is paired with a burgundy red swoosh, collar, and outsole. This release also includes the shoe returning with the 1985 design specifications, which include a higher collar and cut than the usual Jordan 1 high releases. 

Release date: June 22

Retail price: $200

A Kobe that’s not a Kobe

That was the reception to New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s debut shoe, the Sabrina 1. From the looks to how the shoe played, it felt like one of Bryant’s Nike signature shoes. The Sabrina 2 takes that feeling and clarifies that Ionescu’s relationship with Bryant inspired the shoe.

Combining a solid black embroidered upper with purple accents on top of a predominantly white midsole creates a look that allows the shoe to be an eye-catcher on and off the court. Add in Nike Zoom Air and Cushlon 3.0 in the forefoot and midsole, and you have the perfect setup for a shoe that can be comfortable both on and off the basketball court.

Release date: June 28

Retail price: $130

An updated take on an Adidas hoops classic

The Crazy IIInfinity is unique shoe because while it’s obvious that it’s meant to be a spiritual, if not lineal, successor to the Crazy 1 that Bryant made famous during the 2000 NBA playoffs, it’s classified as an Adidas Original lifestyle release instead of being marketed as a basketball shoe.

The latest colorway takes full advantage of the shoe’s minimalistic design by using shades of white to highlight those design elements. The breathable mesh upper and shroud are the primary focus, as the use of chalk white that started in the midsole gives way to the laces and tongue underneath, unlike previous models.

Release date: June (TBD)

Retail price: $160

New Balance stays ‘Made in USA’

In May, we discussed the Teddy Santis’ versions of the 993. This month, the brand returns with a 993 that doesn’t have a collaboration attached but is equally good.

Starting with the shoe’s sole, New Balance carefully builds this pair of 993 to make the most of a simple colorway. A gum bottom sole gives way to another two-tone midsole that seamlessly pairs sea salt white with regular white, providing a contrast with the sole. A white mesh-backed upper of sea salt white with black accents completes the shoe and provides a perfect summer shoe that goes with everything.

Again, we’re bending the rules a bit here because the shoe was released in May. However, the release date was just confirmed, and the shoe is still available in plenty of sizes.

Release date: May 31

Retail price: $220

Not your dad’s boring gray shoes

Rapper and chef Action Bronson tends to go colorful with his New Balance collaborations – the “Baklava” and “Lapis Lazuli” New Balance 990v6s turned heads from last year. The “Rosewater” New Balance 1906R follows the same script, using a blast of colors while taking advantage of the silhouette’s various materials and overlays to produce one lively shoe.

Release date: May 31

Retail price: $185

Andscape caught up with Loyd and Justice’s mother, Laci Swann, to discuss the shoe’s design and the impact of its release. The 2015 WNBA Rookie of the Year also discussed changes in the league and what it’s like to jump from college to the pros.

The Seattle Storm star said she took the design to Nike. She wanted something authentic to represent her while attempting to push the sneaker giant out of its comfort zone. “I [told them] the best way to understand me is to understand my surroundings and my people,” she said. “I wanted to start with Justice.”

Loyd and Justice’s family, the Swanns, have known each other for a decade. Swann and Jewell met through mutual friends and clicked immediately. When Swann’s husband, former Florida State University guard Isaiah Swann, began playing basketball overseas, Loyd visited them during the summer. The visits were how she and the family forged their bond. The relationship between Loyd and the Swann family is at the center of the G.T. Cut 3s.

“He’s my little buddy,” Loyd said of Justice. “We just always connected.” She didn’t know many stories about sports and autism and wanted her new release to connect them to each other. “It’s bringing awareness, and it’s also educational,” she said. “[We’ve] been able to do that with this shoe.”

Justice covered the sneakers in smiley faces with Nike’s iconic swoosh for a mouth. Loyd said he was already drawing them around the house. His mother hired painters to cover the smileys, but the former Notre Dame hooper would make sure Swann took pictures to replicate them on the sneaker. “He ended up doing [the design],” she said. “So, it kind of worked out that way.”

Nike

The "Jewell Loyd" Nike G.T. Cut 3 is inspired by Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd's special relationship with Justice Swann.

Nike

The color choices, smiley faces and messages on the midsole of the "Jewell Loyd" Nike G.T. Cut 3 are inspired by Justice Swann.

Nike

Sloan Swann's handwriting on the heel of the sneakers.

Justice’s sister, Sloan, also had creative input. The shoe has two messages: “Ready, Set, Go!” on the outer sole by the heel and “Got you!” on the back. Swann wrote on Instagram that Nike used Sloan’s handwriting for both phrases. She said she told the company it could do whatever it wanted with her children’s ideas. Nike reps told her they needed her to specify the design because that’s what Loyd requested.

“Every last detail, from the laces to the inside colors to the patterns and face placement, my kids shared their ideas and thoughts,” she wrote. “Sloan’s handwriting on the back is the chef’s kiss.” 

The 2014 ACC MVP said the sneaker’s release also helped others around her. Autistic friends and family members opened up to her about their diagnoses. People worldwide have reached out to her and are happy they can show their kids what’s possible. “There’s a story we can connect with [Justice] through sports, so it’s been really cool to see that,” she said. Loyd said she’s educating herself on how to help and provide more resources.

Some proceeds will help fund the Swanns’ summer camp for neurodivergent children through their nonprofit organization, the Little Boy Blue Foundation. The camp will be held in Tallahassee from July 22 to 26. They started the foundation after Justice was diagnosed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laci felt he was different when he was three months old. When the family moved to Italy, she noticed his speech regressed, and even though he said some words in Italian and English, she got him tested when he completely stopped speaking. “After being on quite a long waiting list, which is a common problem with families looking for a diagnosis, he did have a nonverbal, autistic diagnosis,” she said. “That’s when we jumped into advocacy mode and started to try and find resource therapies.” 

Justice’s mother said the release has been significant for her family. It allows them to “have more opportunities to advocate for children with fewer resources or who are unfamiliar with autism,” she said. “[We’ve been able to] shine a light on all of the special qualities that neurodivergent children have, and it’s been a beautiful, wonderful surprise for us and everyone around us.”

Loyd said it didn’t take long to pick a colorway. There were three to six iterations. However, the sneaker’s design is essentially a recreation of what Justice drew. She didn’t want to change that. “It’s more about making sure the colors he used, the markers, his favorite colors, the handwriting from his sister, and [to make sure that was] incorporated that on there as well,” she said. “So, it really was just putting us together, but it came together authentically.”

Nike wants to promote the G.T. Cut 3 as an official team shoe in the league, so it made sense to collaborate with them for her player editions. There are also other designs in the pipeline. “He did have [one] with some lightning bolts [that] I’m going to wear sometime this month,” she said.

The nine-year WNBA veteran enjoys the sneaker’s on-court performance because they give her an edge. They allow her to “stop on a dime” and “get off the ground even quicker” because she’s not “weighed down” by the shoe. “It’s really just that 1%, which I think is really important … that 1% rebound, that 1% angle. It cooperates with how I play,” she said. “It’s been really good, and I feel a difference [because of] the lightness.”

The “Gold Mamba,” as her close friend, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, nicknamed her, debuted the shoes during one of the most highly anticipated WNBA seasons. Following the record-breaking ratings for the women’s NCAA tournament in March, some of the college game’s biggest stars began their pro careers on May 14. Loyd, who entered the league in 2015, said adjusting to the physicality is one of the most significant differences for adjusting to playing in the pros.

“You’re playing against people who’ve played overseas. They’re smarter,” she said. “People get paid to stop you and to score on you, so it’s a different physical and mental approach than college.”

The Storm finished with an 11-29 record last season and hopes for a turnaround after the return of former Notre Dame player and WNBA veteran Skylar Diggins-Smith. Loyd said it’s nice to hoop with her old college teammate as they and the Storm work to reestablish the rhythm that brought the organization championships in 2018 and 2020.

As she strives toward that goal, she’ll have the support of close friends every time she laces up her G.T. Cut 3s. According to Kixstats.com, Loyd has worn several different on-court sneaker models — Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving’s previous signature line, Kobe Bryant models and other Nike-branded shoes. But, if they were building a statue of her outside the Climate Pledge Arena, could she only be immortalized in one pair?

“I’m going to say the new ones. The ‘Justice’ edition,” she said.