Matt Varga If you expected that the Nike Book 2 would cut down on the deluge of player-exclusive looks in Devin Booker’s line, the Suns superstar’s recent moves have left you sorely disappointed. As “Chapter 2” has started its official rollout almost at the exact top of the year, we’ve already outpaced confirmed general release colorways with ones that only Devin will get his hands on. An “Air Raid” throwback variant, unveiled a day before this writing, joined previous “Suns Spiridon,” “Black Tie,” and “Detroit Stompers” pairs.
In his latest, Devin Booker is aiming at more sentimental fare. Ahead of a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, #1 showed off a Book 2 PE minted in honor of George Raveling, an iconic basketball coach and formative figure within Nike, who tragically passed in 2025. A silhouette of “Coach Rav” on the insoles and “RAV” printed on the heels in Gothic script make for a subtle yet effective homage to a man cited as an integral player in attracting Michael Jordan to Beaverton. The rest of the shoe mirrors that simplistic air, splayed out in DIY-like cream and black. Most notable among the additional touches is the shift of the uppers to flat synthetics, a build we haven’t seen yet on the Book 2, and jagged embroidery that separates the mudguard.
In honor of Raveling, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame and the first African American coach in the Pac-8 (now the Pac-12), Nike kicks off George Raveling Week, which begins on January 21st; at Villanova, a screening of the Unraveling George documentary at the Connelly Center will be held in partnership with documentary director Mike Tollin. The observance continues on January 28th at the USC vs. Iowa game and again on January 31st at the Washington State vs. Portland game as well as the Howard vs. Norfolk State.
