2012 marks the fifteenth anniversary of most of the original Air Jordan XII colorways, and true to form, Jordan Brand will offer something of a celebration with a couple of Retros and at least one brand new colorup.  Aside from the ‘Flu Game’ colorup that was honored with a special variant just a couple years back, this Air Jordan 12 Retro ‘Playoffs’ edition is likely the most memorable for the majority of sneakerheads, owing both to MJ wearing them while capturing his fifth NBA Championship as well as the image from those 1997 Playoffs appropriated for the cover of NBA2K10.  The OG ‘Obsidians’ and a new ‘Cool Grey’ pair will join the recently previewed Air Jordan XII Clave and Runner lifestyle looks, so which one(s) will you choose next year?  We’ve got some new pics of the Playoff 12s to show you after the jump, so check them out and stick with Sneaker News for the US release date.  via SoleWings

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Undoubtedly one of the most popular choices for custom creations in recent memory, the ‘South Beach’ palette has found its way on to a pretty big range of sneakers since the original LeBron 8 colorway had sneakerheads in a frenzy. We’ve seen a couple of Jordan silhouettes take the look, and it’s even been extended to other iterations in the LeBron line. And with lead designer Jason Petrie pretty much confirming that the high energy colorway wouldn’t be returning for LeBron’s latest, customizer Da Prince took it upon himself to prove Petrie wrong with these custom creations. The look stays true to the Miami inspiration, with the unmistakable tone of the uppers and the popping pink laces. Hit the jump for a detailed look at the Nike LeBron 9 ‘South Beach’ customs from paintorthread, and if you’re still looking for the originals, there are a few floating around on eBay.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

When it comes to the relative degree of “must-have” for Air Jordan releases we all know the OG’s will trump the retroes every time. Of course if the OG pair in question has somehow been blessed with the autograph of Michael himself, well then you’ve got an even better collection piece on your hands. Oh what’s that you say, it was actually worn by MJ during his path to greatness? That of course is the cream of the crop, and all of those elements come together on this Air Jordan VIII, a beautiful original pair that has stood the test of time surprisingly well. Along with the game worn/autographed Air Jordan XI and Air Jordan IX that we featured previously, you could have yourself a pretty sizable collection of autographed MJ originals by now. So what are you waiting for? After you check out the images after the jump grab them now from kantorla on eBay.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Just before the Christmas holiday weekend, Sneaker News brought you a first look at a trio of upcoming Nike LeBron 9 colorways on the same day.  The ‘Dunkman’ is an tradition beloved by neon-seeking sneakerheads and the Ken Griffey Jr.-inspired model had a similar annual look to it thanks to being fairly close to an ‘All-Star’ PE, but it was the third colorup that blew them both out of the water in terms of reader response.  The LeBron 9 ‘Big Bang’ might be the most talked about release since the early flurry of special releases when this model debuted a couple months back, its fiery upper paired with a unique intergalactic graphic on the medial plate and insole.  Have a closer look at this burningly aggressive ‘Big Bang’ LeBron 9 and let us know which of Nike Basketball’s science/nature-inspired themes has been best so far.  via HC

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Much of the attention surrounding top-notch Air Force 1s this month has come from the Bespoke experience at 21 Mercer in New York, where not only do innovative new combinations of colors and materials seem to pop up each day, but also a new super-premium Vachetta leather edition that takes the Uptown to new handcrafted heights. But don’t think just because all that iD goodness is going around, that Nike Sportswear forgot how to put a deluxe twist on its basketball pillar. This new Nike Air Force 1 High Supreme is obviously a quality product from the second you lay eyes on it, the Red Mahogany leather upper offering a wide range of tones thanks to its grainy texture. They’re quite crisp with an all-white sole and tonal laces, the kind of simple colorblocking that attracts attention, but you can expect more nods of admiration than jaws hitting the floor. Click through for a look at these from every angle and expect them to hit stores as part of NSW’s summer 2012 collection, some time during the second quarter of next year. If you decide these are just too good and you can’t wait, check out the sample pair available now from dballaholic on eBay.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Shaping up to be a sneaker that just can’t miss, the Nike Zoom KD IV has a pretty strong track record despite only having a handful of colorways to its name. With that being said, we’d be pretty surprised if the 2012 ‘Year of the Dragon’ didn’t fly off the shelves as quickly as its predecessors. Like the ‘Nerf’ and ‘Weatherman’ before it, this release goes heavy on the graphics-with a wavy look for the strap and lining as well as a little dragon hit floating around the swoosh on the medial side of the sneaker. Follow us after the jump for the latest look at these and stick with us for updated info on the Nike Zoom KD IV. via HoopChina

Tweet

Continue Reading   

We expect the Nike Air Max 90 in at least three colorways blocked just like the OG ‘Infrared’ for spring, and maybe more now that we’ve seen a similarly-organized pack of Air Max 1s just expand without the most recent pair being previewed.  Here’s another motif for the AM90 that could be easily replicated across a variety of colors, so while we don’t know if these are part of plans for a pack for summer 2012, it’s clear that a range of neutral shades would look just as dope as this Neutral Grey edition.  They’re done in a mix of leather and textile matched so closely they look from a distance to be one, with Lemon Chiffon laces drawing your eye toward the pastel plaid sockliner that should make these a hit as we start to enjoy warm weather once again.  Have a closer look after the jump and if you don’t want to wait until Q2 ’12, check out the sample pair available from dballaholic on eBay.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Are the Lakers over the hill? Is the dynasty done for? They didn’t have the greatest out of the gate performance on Christmas Day, but if they come up short of a ‘chip again this year it won’t be for a lack of proper footwear. You’re probably already hip to Kobe’s special Christmas colorway, but did you get a look at Pau Gasol’s Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 PE in a similar combo? There is a bit of precedence for this kind of continuity between the two, with Gasol rocking a Grinch colored Hyperdunk last year to match the Kobe VI of the same name. Follow us after the jump for an extra look at Pau’s PE from this year and let us know in the comments what you think of this latest piece of Lakers footwear.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

The black and yellow look is one of those standby colorways for the Nike Dunk High, a combo that we’ve seen again and again which continues to be fresh thanks to minimal variations on the theme. The most sought after of those variations is no doubt the ultra limited Wu-Tang version, but much more widely owned and beloved were the original Goldenrods void of any Killa Beez tie-in. Here’s another pair to add to the running, an upcoming 2012 drop that sees the varsity maize applied to a nice tumbled leather. Also of note is the blank that runs down the the midsole, making the look more complete than previous version which allowed a little white into the mix. Hit the jump for the full view and stick with us for release info. via SneakerFreaker

Tweet

Continue Reading   

When a hot new Nike SB colorway drops, it’s always a race to coin a nickname based on the familiarity of the overall look of the sneaker. The first time we gave you a look at this Nike SB Dunk Low a handful of readers suggested monikers in the comment section, but apparently we’re going with ‘Medusa’ on these. The mythical tie-in is pretty spot on, with the pebbled suede coming in a stony shade along the lines of what you might get if you had a staring contest with the namesake lady. After that it’s the reptilian hits of green, coming as a nod to her serpentine hairdo. Hit the jump for the full look and stick with Sneaker News for more news on the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Medusa’. via N-SB

Tweet

Continue Reading   

There are a few things we’ve come to expect from the Ronnie Fieg collabos with Asics. Among those are: top-notch suede, release day madness, and indulgent photo shoots. With the official release date of the ‘Mazarine Blue’ Asics Gel Saga II right around the corner (following the Kithstrike drop last week), Fieg has let go an extra batch of images for his final pair of 2011, featuring Norwegian model, Siri Blomquist. Stick with us after the jump if you’re eager for another look at the…shoes, and let us know how these stack up against the rest of the RF Asics we’ve seen this year. Also, don’t forget to be on the lookout for them come December 29th.

Tweet

Continue Reading   

Looking to slim down a bit for its 30th birthday in 2012, the Nike Air Force 1 Low has been spotted with the stripped look a couple times now in recent memory. Of course the other was the Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke ‘Vachetta’, but with the high barrier to entry many of us may never get our hands on a pair of those. Check out the new Nike Air Force 1 Light though, a retake of the iconic sneaker that again goes with the no-lining set up on the guts, but also shaves a few inches off the sole. The resulting sneaker may have you doing double takes, as the new look is subtle enough to have you scratching your head the first time around. This first look is a WMNS release, but no word yet on whether they will crossover to the mens category as well. Hit the jump to see the full shots and stick with Sneaker News for more info on the slick new Nike Air Force 1 Low Light. via SneakerFreaker

Tweet

Continue Reading