Nike SB

Nike SB is NIKE, Inc.’s skateboarding subdivision. Founded in March 2002 and formerly led by the late Sandy Bodecker, Nike SB is often credited for modern-day sneaker collecting because of its limited, concept-driven releases.

While Nike SB as it’s known today began in the early-2000s, The Swoosh’s earliest attempt to enter the skateboarding space took place in the 1990s. With the help of a young Brandon Cole “Bam” Margera, Nike launched the Choad, Snak, and Schimp to little commercial success and interest from skaters. (Margera notoriously skated in non-Nike shoes and taped swooshes on them.) The late Bodecker, who began working at the brand in 1982, recognized that die-hard skaters had already been using Nike silhouettes like the Air Jordan 1 and Blazer Mid.

Under Bodecker’s guidance, the imprint officially launched its first and most popular silhouette, the SB Dunk, as a skate-ready take of the Dunk High for basketball. The re-engineered sneaker featured a fat, padded tongue, Air Zoom insole, raised, exaggerated profile logo on ollie areas, and modified rubber sole for traction. While appreciated by skaters, these details arguably came second to Nike SB’s revisited marketing strategy. Unlike the brand’s previous corporate-style strategy (which directly opposed common anti-establishment sentiments among skaters), Bodecker’s approach was grass-roots-oriented: releases would not be mass-produced and distributed through big-box sportswear retailers. Instead, pairs would be available directly through select, independent skate shops.

Over the years, Nike SB has hosted professional skaters the likes of Lance Mountain, Paul Rodriguez, Stefan Janoski and Shane O’Neill. Nike SB’s earliest team included Richard Mulder, Reese Forbes, Gino Iannucci and Danny Supa, all of whom received the first four SB Dunk Lows.

Collaborations with Diamond Supply Co., Supreme and Jeff Staple, just to scratch the surface. Some Nike SB releases, like “Paris,” “Raygun” and “What The Dunk” versions of the SB Dunk Low, have garnered grail-status among many collectors, fetching six-figure buyouts on the after-market.

Although the skateboarding-division experienced mainstream lull throughout the latter 2010s, it’s regained widespread attention from casual consumers this decade, thanks in large part to Travis Scott and Virgil Abloh. Enthusiasts of both the sport and imprint have been enjoying and skating in models like the SB Blazer Low and SB GTS Return, among others.

Shopping Links

Nike SB

The Nike SB Nyjah 3 Dresses Up In A Cotton Candy Reminiscent Colorway

2023 has ushered in only a select few colorways of the Nike SB Nyjah 3. But now that Summer is finally here, it’s likely we’ll...

By Michael Le June 14, 2023
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The Nike SB Dunk Low Decon N7 Will Release Only Via SNKRS And Heard Museum

Nike N7 has been going on strong ever since 2009, awarding over $8 million in grants to more than 270 different communities and organizations. But...

By Michael Le June 12, 2023
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Leo Baker Is The Latest Nike SB Signature Athlete To Receive Their Own Signature Shoe

A champion of both inclusivity within the sport and for the LGBTQIA+ community, Leo Baker has become one of the most polarizing forces within the...

By Jared Ebanks June 10, 2023
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The Born X Raised x Nike SB Dunk Low Officially Releases On September 28th

UPDATE 9/26/2023: The BornXRaised x Nike SB Dunk Low is dropping exclusively on bornxraised.com at 12pm PST. No other shops or SNKRS will release them...

By Sneaker News June 6, 2023
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The “Have A Nike Day” Collection Returns With The Nike SB Force 58 In Tow

Each year The Swoosh enacts an expansive collection of color blockings spanning the near entirety of the brand’s lifestyle offerings. From the Air Force 1...

By Jared Ebanks May 26, 2023
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(DEBUNKED) The Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low Is Rumored To Restock In September

Updated June 6th, 2023: The Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low will not be restocking in September. The rumor was originally posted by Twitter...

By Sneaker News May 26, 2023
35142

Nike SB’s Latest “Court Purple” Orange Label Collection Includes The Blazer Mid

Made for skateshops only, the Nike SB “Orange Label” is ready to unleash its latest color-anchored selection of skate-ready footwear. “Court Purple” awaits eager skaters...

By Sneaker News May 25, 2023
3084

Official Images Of The Crenshaw Skate Club x Nike SB Dunk Low

Updated August 28thth, 2023: A NYC SNKRS Pass is expected for 1pm EST on August 28th, 2023. – Updated July 24th, 2023: Crenshaw Skate Club...

By Jared Ebanks May 18, 2023
22043

Nike SB’s Deconstructed Blazer Mid Appears In A Navy And Red Colorway

Nike SB has a history of redesigning the Blazer Mid, introducing several new models over the course of the last few years. And following its...

By Michael Le May 11, 2023
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