John Kim 
Earlier this week, Nike Sportswear at 21 Mercer notified its followers of a special sneaker release – the Nike Lunar Force 1 “Sheed” in the two Knicks-based colorways. What made the evening a night to remember was an appearance by Rasheed Wallace himself – the UNC alumni who spent his entire career keeping it “old school” with relentless trash-talking and effective low-post play on both ends. “Sheed” has a firm spot in the sneaker culture as well, as he is recognized for his defiant predilection towards Nike Air Force 1 Highs during a decade of incredible advancements in Nike Basketball. Over the last decade, Air Force 1 fans have been treated with Nike Air Force 1 (in all types) releases bearing the iconic Sheed silhouette, but with Nike’s unveiling of the “Future of Force” in the Nike Lunar Force 1, it was about time Sheed got the Lunar treatment.
Yesterday evening, a formidable crowd lined up at the front stairs at 21 Mercer – a mix of sneakerheads, basketball fans, and followers of the Sheed cult; after a short wait, Rasheed Wallace emerged and spent some time chatting with Eddie Huang, the night’s host and an avid Knicks fan, about the NBA pro’s personal style of hooping and his reasons for sticking with the Air Force 1 throughout the years (dependable ankle protection, and custom insoles to keep his feet cushioned). With Rasheed Wallace done with NBA Basketball for good, will his AF1 influence continue? We sure hope so. Check out a quick recap of the night’s events, which concluded with a release of the Nike Lunar Force 1 “Sheed” ($135, limited to 100 pairs per colorways), and stay tuned to Sneaker News for more great updates on the latest happenings in the sneaker world.
Photography: Brendan Dunne
