Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Infamous Taxi Story Becomes A Nike Zoom Freak 2

Long before Giannis Antetokounmpo was a back-to-back two-time NBA MVP with a super-max deal, he was just another rookie getting by on a decent contract. In fact, there’s a legendary story from the Greek Freak’s first season that speaks to his general naivete and child-like approach to life – and it all comes full circle on the  Nike Zoom Freak 2.

As with previous propositions from the Milwaukee Buck, the forthcoming pair heavily indulges in a muted, greyscale palette. Medial sides, however, introduce stark yellow and red contrast, the former taking over the midfoot overlay. Branding on the tongue and lateral heel indulge in a mix of both eye-catching tones, but it’s placement on the latter sits right underneath a checkerboard reminiscent of old taxi cab detailing. Underfoot, designed-for-Antetokounmpo’s-eurostep-outsoles further indulge in the golden hue. While seemingly random, the styling draws inspiration from an incident the 26-year-old has during his rookie year (2013). Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix once shared a story about Antetokounmpo taking a cab to a Western Union to send money back to Greece, his home country. Without realizing it, Antetokounmpo sent forwarded so much money to his loved ones that he didn’t have enough for a return taxi. The 6′ 11″ athlete, then, began running back to where he was staying, as he had a game to get to.

An official Nike.com release date is unknown, but this Zoom Freak 2 is likely to launch ahead of spring. In the meantime, enjoy images of the pair ahead.

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