adidas Originals recently debuted the adidas Originals LQC Basketball at Sneaker Con NYC this past weekend. The ‘Light Quality Comfort’ adopts adidas Basketball heritage with contemporary footwear engineering, allowing the LQC to be an extremely lightweight shoe. Here’s a look at a new Black/White colorway, featured a full suede construction; with patent leather accents and perforations placed acutely around the upper of the shoe, the dual nature of the LQC – that of comfort and style – is hard to replicate. adidas Originals retailers are beginning to stock these, so take another look below and let us know what you think. via HS.

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Just last week Sneaker News gave you a heads up on the release info of the Nike LeBron 8 P.S. Dunkman. Looks like the high-flyer won’t be riding solo, as two more colorways of LeBron’s Post-season shoe will also release on the same day. Dropping on May 13th is the Black/Sport Red-White and Varsity Royal/Black-White colorways of the LeBron 8 P.S.; LeBron is presumed to wear the Black colorway during away games, and the Varsity Royal pair if he’s gone fishing. Of course LeBron, the Heat, and their fans have high hopes this post-season, but there are no guarantees! Check out the detailed images of both upcoming colorways and stick with Sneaker News for more Nike LeBron 8 info as it develops.

Style: 441946-001
Color: Black/Sport Red-White
Release Date: May 13th, 2011

Style: 441946-400
Color: Varsity Royal/Black-White
Release Date: May 13th, 2011

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Saucony’s got the retro-runner game on lock. It appeals to sneakerheads, casual wearers, hipsters, the old, the young, and everyone else in between. With a simple yet powerful combination of mesh, suede, and nylon, Saucony classics accomplishes a lot with minimal design and hype. Here’s a look at a new colorway of the Saucony Shadow 90 painted in a tonal red upper, a grey inner lining, a white midsole, and a translucent red outsole; just another example of why Saucony should not be slept on. Premier has these now in stock, so take a look at the detailed images below and cop a pair to diversify your collection!

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Nike Lunar on a basketball shoe? Nike Lunar has revolutionized Nike Running, but sometimes the technology may not transfer from sport to sport. For the all-new Nike Lunar Hypergamer, Nike has developed a basketball-specific LunarLon cushioning system that would accomodate to the sport, which emphasizes heavier strikes from landings and lateral movement more so than running does. The bottom chassis of the Lunar Hypergamer begins with a solid rubber herringbone traction outsole from the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse paired with LunarLon, which supports a Fuse upper. With several colorways expected to release during the Holiday 2011 season, the Lunar Hypergamer could be set for wide distribution a la the Hyperfuse/Hyperdunk 2010, so stay tuned for more updates on Lunar’s introduction to Nike Basketball, and check out all the upcoming colorways after the jump. via CK.

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A ton of Air Max trainers never reach across the pond to the states, but the recently released ‘Un-Infrared’ Air Max 90, currently available at retail stores, was a Euro exclusive? That’s right; you might have seen them in our Sneaker News Blogs: Best of WDYWT Top 20 from mid-February – a sweet Air Max 90 colorway using the classic ‘Infrared’ color-blocking, but with a ‘reverse’ hint, utilizing black instead of white. Could this lead to a trend of more Air Max 90 colorways hitting the states? It’s no hidden fact that Euro retailers get a lot more desirable colorways, like this sweet Black/Neo Lime-Anthracite release that just became available. Titolo has a full size run ready to ship out to hit them up if you need a pair, and let us know if you’d like to see more Euro-style colorways of Air Maxes in our side of the world.

Style: 309299-035
Color: Black/Neo Lime-Anthracite

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Now that you’ve been formally introduced to The ShoeZeum and officially welcomed, it’s time to really start getting into the good stuff. Does anybody out there like Air Jordans? If you consider yourself an admirer of the Air Jordan lineage, what you’re about to see is something truly breathtaking. If The ShoeZeum was only a quarter of its size and solely contained Jordan Geller’s nearly 500 pair Air Jordan collection, it would still easily be worth the trip out to San Diego. Over the years, Sneaker News has brought you looks at some pretty enviable Jordan collections, but it’s safe to say that none have ever flaunted a spread like this.

To describe The ShoeZeum’s Air Jordan exhibit as thorough would be a flagrant understatement. With the exception of only a handful of super-rare early OG’s and a few easily forgettable late model colorways, you will find just about every version ever produced of every Air Jordan signature model. The shoes are displayed in chronological order, starting at the beginning with a whopping 10 OG pairs of the Air Jordan 1 in various colorways, including the original AJKO. From there, every numbered Air Jordan is grouped from shelf to shelf as you make your way clockwise through the 360 degree display ranging from 1985 and Michael’s first shoe all the way up to the present with the Air Jordan 2011.

The fourth and final side of the Air Jordan section showcases a massive layout of the entire Countdown Pack with multiple sets of the juicier offerings. In front of the Collezione installment sits a large table with all the Nike Dunks inspired by Jordan models and that still doesn’t cover all the Air Jordan fire found within. Upstairs, you’ll find a collection of charity-related shoes that features all four Jordan models from the Doernbecher series, and a walk around the corner will lead you to the Eminem AJ II and both the Eminem and Undefeated Air Jordan IV’s.

Not too many holes to find here. From OG’s right up to a full set of Bin 23 Premios, The ShoeZeum has it all covered – and in many cases, multiple times. And the love for His Airness doesn’t stop there. The ShoeZeum’s sprawling concrete walls are adorned with over 100 Michael Jordan posters, as well as some amazing store displays and large promotional items. Enough setup – the images that await you will speak for themselves. Continue on after the jump for a video introduction to the Air Jordan segment of our ongoing look inside The ShoeZeum and head over to Sneaker News HD for the full gallery of images. You’re in for a treat. Enjoy!

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The Air Jordan XI in the original White/Columbia Blue colorway was graced with a #4 seed in the Southeast Region in the Sneaker News March Madness OG Air Jordan Tournament. After defeating the historic Air Jordan XIV ‘Last Shot’, the Columbias will now take on the Air Jordan IV ‘Bred’, and that certainly is an uphill battle. Win or lose, the Air Jordan XI ‘Columbia’ will be regarded as one of the greatest OG colorways of all-time, which is why even the 2000 Retro release of the shoe fetches a ton of money. Why? It hasn’t been retroed in over a decade, but there are rumors that these will release this year or next. In any case, if you’ve been looking for a crisp pair, we’ve found one for ya, and it’s a rarer version than the release because it’s a Sample version from 2000 (these released in January of 2001)! Check out the extra images below and if you’d like to test your bidding luck, check out the auction from solecollectorau on eBay.

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The Sneaker News March Madness OG Air Jordan Tournament moves on, as we get a look at the four advancing seeds in the Southeast Region. This might be the strongest bracket of the entire tournament, as the Air Jordan IV ‘Bred’, Air Jordan III ‘White/Cement’, Air Jordan VI ‘Carmine’, and Air Jordan XI ‘Columbia’ would all be worthy representatives of this bracket in the Final Four, but it’s up to you to decide who stays and who goes! The polls for the Southeast Region in the Sweet 16 round of play is now open, but remember to check back at the West and East Regions as well if you haven’t voted yet. Which OG Air Jordan is the best of all time? We’re taking it one step at a time so get your votes in by Midnight this Sunday.

SWEET 16 VOTING
West Region
East Region
Southeast Region

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The 40-Year-Old Legend. Michael Jordan was set to retire at the end of the 2002-03 NBA Season, his second overall with the Washington Wizards and fifteenth overall in his career. By season’s end, MJ averaged 20 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the entire season; for anyone else, that stat-line could’ve been a career year, but for Michael, it was his lowest seasonal output. Michael did manage three 40-point games during the course of the season, which included a 45-point outburst against the Hornets on February 1st and a 43-point performance just days after his fortieth birthday. It didn’t matter that the Wizards were a sub-.500 team, or that Michael would officially end his career on a losing note; it was about his uncontainable love for the game, a passion that served as the driving force behind six NBA Championships, 5 MVPs, 6 NBA Finals MVPs, 10 Scoring Titles, and one of the most unlikeliest yet celebrated comebacks in the history of professional sports. It marked the next page of NBA superstar history, led by rising stars Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, and Vince Carter, players who have risen to stardom using Michael as a blueprint. The league was in good hands.

There were plenty of memorable moments during his final season. Michael Jordan was not voted as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team, but was instead selected as a reserve. Starting Guards Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson offered their positions to Michael, who declined the generous offer. It wasn’t until moments before the game where Vince Carter shoved Michael, literally, onto the court right before tip-off. Michael Jordan typically shines brightest in the spotlight; he finished the game with 20 points, capping off an amazing performance with a go-ahead bucket with seconds to go via his signature fadeaway jumper, followed by his signature raised fist in celebration. The second half of the season served as a farewell tour for Michael; arenas were packed to see Michael’s final moments in action, hoping for a taste of 90′s dominance that Michael so easily possessed with his pump fakes, fadeaway jumpers, and clutch defense. In his final game as a professional, Michael, who was on the bench with just minutes to go, was coerced into the game by the chants of the Philadelphia crowd. Michael entered for one final minute of glory, and left with 1:45 to go, returned to the bench, and was given a 3-minute standing ovation by his teammates, opponents, the crowd, and the officials.

During his final season, Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan XVIII, the eighteenth shoe in the Air Jordan Legacy. Designed by long-time Nike designer Tate Kuerbis, the XVIII was inspired by a various collection of Michael’s passions, which included Formula-1 racing, race-car driving shoes, fine italian dress shoes, and Michael’s own Lamborghini Murcielago. The Air Jordan XVIII was released in February 2003 in a Black/Sport Royal colorway, and later followed by a White/Sport Royal and White/Varsity Red version later in the year. Two low-top versions in White/University Blue and Black/Metallic Silver were also introduced that year, followed by a classic Chicago Bulls Black/Varsity Red in 2008. Continue reading for a full visual recap of Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan XVIII, and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the next installment of Michael Jordan Through The Years.

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It won’t take more than one or two original colorways for people to get excited about the Nike Air Griffey Max II release, but here’s a look at three all-new colorways headed for a Holiday 2011 drop. The first combines a grey with a Chlorine Blue accent, which to its credit is fairly close to Seattle Mariner uniforms, while the remaining two use new combinations of black/yellow and a metallic platinum like that on last summer’s Air Griffey Max 1 release. If you’re a newfound Griffey fan, you’ll definitely appreciate these three upcoming releases, so take a look at all three below and expect them in the last quarter of the year. via TSG.

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Sneaker News has shown you a number of late 2011 Nike Basketball previews over the last 24 hours and with the Zoom Hyperfuse having been such a monstrous hit since its debut last summer, you just knew its sequel would join the party.  Have a look at these four new Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 colorways set to drop in Q4, each of which shows that just because the Hyperfuse 2K11 has room for more natural colorblocking options than its predecessor doesn’t mean they have to get too crazy.  Each of these goes with a Metallic Silver Swoosh on the midfoot for a nice contrast to color studies in orange, blue, green and black, so click through to see the entire set and let us know which one’s your favorite.  via aaronknows

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However paradoxical its name, there’s no denying the Air Jordan Sky High Low‘s appeal when it comes to summertime kicks with that classic athletic twist.  Jordan Brand’s Blazer-esque silhouette is back with a duo of canvas colorways that offer a subtle punctuation to your warm weather fits, each of the pairs going with a tonal upper plus white midsole for maximum matching possibilities.  The wolf Grey joints add tonal laces while a black pair goes for white strings plus a red tongue tag (a new addition since the April 2011 preview we saw last week) to get that immortal Chicago Bulls look, and both are available now at FinishLine.

Style: 440988-001
Color: Black/White-Stealth-Sport Red

Style: 440988-002
Color: Wolf Grey/White

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