Will this be the year LeBron James finally quenches his championship thirst?  The Miami Heat still need to win six more games to make that happen, but among the things we are certain of as we move into the summer is that the Nike LeBron 8 V/2 ‘Sprite’ is one of the season’s most eye catching releases.  These offer a nice change of pace for the use of neon on LeBrons when compared to the Dunkman series, their Treasure Blue uppers resembling the bubbles from a freshly poured can thanks to the heavily ventilated upper shell.  Click through to see more of these and let us know if they’re your favorite LeBron 8 V2 Low colorup yet.  via AGS

Nike LeBron 8  V/2 Low
Treasure Blue/White-Volt
456849-401

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Will Steve Nash rock the Nike Cradle Rock Low 2011 next season? Long after he signed a new endorsement deal with Chinese brand Luyou, Nash was still rocking the Nike Basketball line-up – namely his own signature shoe called the Nike Zoom Go Low. Perhaps he’ll make the complete transition next year, so who will take the helm for this low-cut, slasher-friendly basketball shoe? Look at diminutive yet super-speedy guards like Aaron Brooks and you might have an answer. The Cradle Rock Low 2011 arrives later this year or in early 2012 in six colorways, adopting the same low-cut, simplistic design like its predecessor. Check out all six after the jump and let us know what you think. via aaronknows.

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Memorial Day is an occasion to celebrate the soldiers’ heroism but here’s proof that it’s also a great time to come across some historic sneaker gems.  Following our glimpse at a pair of original Air Jordan 5 ‘Grapes’, here’s another vintage OG pair that’s probably even more rare, the Sky Jordan VII.  For a period during the early Air Jordan Legacy years, ‘Sky Jordan’ models were released instead of GS sizes, this Sky Jordan 7 a tiny take on the popular AJ7 ‘Raptor’ colorway that Michael Jordan wore during the 1992 NBA Playoffs.  You might not ever be able to un-DS them, but how many sneakerheads do you know with OG Sevens in their collections?!  Click through to see some more angles and pick these up from bojudosports on eBay.

Sky Jordan VII
Black/True Red
151010-061

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Never content to rest on their achievements, Nike Sportswear took the Nike Air Maxim 1 update a step further in 2010.  NSW added three-layer Torch mesh material to the toe and ankle collar of the Maxim to create the Air Maxim 1 Torch, the initial colorway of which was a black and Varsity Maize look not all that different from the classic LIVESTRONG palette.  And while they weren’t an official LAF collaboration, this new sample version proves that they could have looked even more the part.  This Air Maxim 1 Torch features a full yellow midsole to remove all traces of white and really looks the part of a LIVESTRONG release.  Maybe we’ll see something else like it in the future, but for now these are dead and buried save the US mens size 9 sample currently available from dballaholic on eBay.

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Now this is a story all about how/some vintage kicks got flipped for at least a thou’.  And in the twenty-one years since the Air Jordan V hit retailers, Will Smith has passed the ‘rapping’ reins to his daughter, but the ‘Grape’ colorway is still as fresh as if they came with a pair of dice in the mirror.  It’s one of the most popular OG colorups from the Air Jordan Legacy and reminds us of images like the Fresh Prince intro, Jerry Seinfeld killin’ it in the early ’90s and Michael Jordan himself on the front of a Wheaties box.  And while last year’s rumors of a Grape/Laney package of AJ5s has given way to a series of new colorways in 2011, you can get in on some OG action with this pair of US mens size 9 Air Jordan 5 ‘Grapes’ currently available from kudos416 on eBay.

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Owing to the groundbreaking combination of rugged high performance and attention-grabbing colorways, many of the Nike All Conditions Gear classics have become legendary releases.  But for every Mowabb or Wildwood, there’s a lost model that history has forgotten.  That might have been the case for the Nike ACG Tengu, but with new Low and Mid colorways on tap, we’re getting a quick refresher.  This H2O Repel-equipped waterproof design hearkens back to the proto-Flywire period, using diamond-quilted stitching on the side panels in lieu of the newer Kevlar-based material.  Click through to see two new colorways of each height and stick with Sneaker News for word on the US release dates.  via Step

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“Where will we run next?”

That’s where New Balance wants to direct your curiosity with this new video series starring Atlanta’s NB enthusiast extraordinaire, DJ Mars.  You might expect that he’d be up at 6am, but this first clip shows that it’s not from a night of partying, but rather, in preparation for another day of grinding out what looks to be a pretty sweet life.  Mars gets started by checking the net for the freshest new material, then it’s out for a run in the New Balance 992 with his dog, Max.  And judging by what goes down once he’s ready for action, that’s a solid morning routine, one which you can see documented in the first of a multi-part video series that follows after the jump.  Have a look and stick with Sneaker News for more on this DJ Mars x New Balance teamup.

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With the advent of Nike Air cushioning, the Swoosh became synonymous with cutting edge technology, but did you know that the earliest Nike Running shoes were hand made in a waffle iron?!  Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman started Blue Ribbon Sports with Phil Knight in 1964 and ten years later their Waffle Trainer started to make the industry talk, but it’s a model offered a year before that breakthrough release you see pictured above.  1973′s Nike Oregon Waffle is back with the VNTG treatment for summer 2011 in a trio of classic colorways including bred, tonal blue and green/grey.  All three Vintage Oregon Waffles have pre-yellowed midsoles and orange-Swooshed tongue tags for that classic look, and they’ve started to hit select European retailers so click through to see more angles and stick with Sneaker News for word on a possible US release date.  via FNG

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Arriving at Nike Running retailers this Spring 2012 season is the Nike Air Max Alpha 2011, an all-new Nike Running shoe which implements a Hyperfuse upper with a new running-specific 180-degree Max Air unit combined with a rubber outsole. With the 180-degree Max Air unit comes the supreme comfort and the added benefit of a lower pricepoint (if the $160 and soon-to-be $165+ price-tag of 360-degree Max Air sneakers is too high). The upper design features a somewhat 90′s motif to it, especially with ‘mountain peak’ upper panel that begins near the forefoot and wraps around the heel and the vintage ‘airmax’ badge on the tongue. Hyperfuse technology is also used generously on the construction of the shoe for a super-lightweight appeal. Expect these four colorways during the Spring 2012 season, and stick with Sneaker News for more Nike running updates. via CK.

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Nike rolled out quite the red carpet for the release of the Nike Trainer 1.3 Max, kicking off its debut with the limited edition Manny Pacquiao colorway that released earlier this month. Here we have a look at some new colorways slated for a released during the Spring 2012 season; you can expect the classic grey/black/volt colorway next to a grey/silver/photo blue versoin and a grey white/varsity red colorway. The Trainer 1.3 Max comes sans-forefoot strap, but does come strapped with Flywire at the forefoot, a stabilizing heel-cup, and of course, the 360-degree Max Air. The Trainer 1.3 Max will also retail for $170 instead of the expected $160, which shows that Nike is already beginning to raise its prices as it stated it would earlier this year. Check out the three new colorways below and stick with Sneaker News for more updates. via CK.

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Though its name might lead you to believe the Jordan Team Elite 3 is one of Jordan Brand’s performance basketball models, it’s really more of a lifestyle look.  The third Team Elite release keeps the overall feel of the series going strong, particularly with its use of smooth, angular lines.  And the TE3 is probably the cleanest yet, its upper comprised of relatively large, uninterrupted stretches of nubuck.  The first colorway is equally simple yet satisfying, a black base with Metallic Silver accents reminiscent of the ‘Black Cat’ Air Jordan IV that can compliment most outfits.  Click through to see more angles and look for the Jordan TE3 at retailers soon.

Jordan TE 3 Low
Black/Metallic Silver-Black
453454-001

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Nike Trainers have been a heavy comeback in the last couple of years thanks to fresh new designs, top-of-the-line performance technology, and successful retro releases of classic Trainers from decades ago. Here’s a look at the upcoming Nike Air Trainer Classic, a new design that does a great job at fitting in with its Trainer ancestors thanks to a familiar midsole (Air Trainer SC High). The upper details like the perforated toe, the tensile wire panel by toward the rear (like a primitive form of Flywire), and the molded tongue are cues from the Trainer SC as well. Check out four upcoming Spring 2012 colorways after the jump and let us know what you think. via CK.

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