Matt Varga Beyond suiting up in Trail Blazers gear for the first time and looking toward the debut of his Nike Ja 4, it’s an exciting time for the (newly minted) #1 as his overall roster under the Swoosh expands. A signal of how treasured his signature line is within Beaverton, the electrifying point guard will add his first-ever takedown series to bolster his tentpole model, and Nike has just unveiled the best look yet at the Twelve Time.
Shown in a Nike China press drop, the Twelve Time may be a more simplified entry into his canon, but it’s immediately understandable as an extension of the sharp, aggressive design language that’s defined his recent steps. Molded notches into the sidewalls evoke the same attitude-filled edge that the Ja 3 and Ja 4 have found success with.
Previously displaying a penchant for mismatched colorways, Ja doubles down on that aspect with the Twelve Time; the lace-stay design between the right and left shoes is materially different, with an exaggerated Swoosh on one and a notched design on the other creating his first name when viewed from above. Speaking of the color options, the three shown here lean toward simplicity: a classic black/red/white, a duskier purple/black, and a straightforward black/white. In the latter look, marbled patterning shines through on the tongue.
As of this writing, the finer tech details for the Ja Twelve Time haven’t been announced, but it’ll likely take a more simplified approach compared to the SPRPWR insoles and JA-Frame from its parent model. The silhouette is confirmed to launch on August 13th in Asia; a stateside release will likely coincide with it or follow shortly afterward.
