Like the player he grew up idolizing, Jayson Tatum will have his signature Christmas Day sneaker moment. Today, the four-time All-Star will debut his second signature sneaker with Jordan Brand during the Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers matchup. Every time these 17-time NBA champions meet, it’s a headline, so it happening on Christmas day is a double holiday for hoops fans. For Tatum, the day will have even more significance as he follows up on his successful debut sneaker against the team he grew up rooting for. SoleSavy got an early look at the Tatum 2 and insights from the design team. Below is what we learned.
The Tatum 2 is a “Familiar Funk.”
Jordan Brand designers revealed that the Tatum 1 was intended to be futuristic, while the 2 brings the lineage back to a “familiar funk.” The Tatum 2 looks more on par with basketball trends in the last few eras: low top, bold colors and shapes, in-depth storytelling. The Jayson Tatum line may only be two pairs in, but it’s showing range already.
Jordan Brand knows he’s (Humbly) one of the best players in the world.
After a clutch performance in a win-or-go-home 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals game six against the Philadelphia 76ers, Tatum went viral for humbly calling himself one of the best players in the world during a post-game interview. Later in that interview, Tatum shared his “find a way” mentality to winning. That quote is featured on the Tatum 2.
The Tatum line is the lightest in the Jordan Brand performance collection.
To perform like one of the best players in the world, you need a sneaker that is up for the job. The Tatum 2 is the lightest in the current Jordan Brand signature (Russell Westbrook, Zion Williamson, Luka Doncic). The lightness doesn’t come with a performance compromise. The Tatum 2 upper features large foam and textile pods strategically placed around areas of the foot that experience high pressure during games. The design team replaced the TPU plate with strategically placed pods that help keep the foot locked in when needed and relaxed and pressure-free when not. The outsole uses a reduced-weight herringbone traction pattern.
Jayson Tatum has one of the most personal signature sneaker lines.
Storytelling has become arguably just as important as performance design when it comes to signature sneakers. Fans create emotional attachments to colorways, and those become legendary. Look no further than one of the holiday season’s biggest releases, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Reverse Grinch.” For Tatum, his signature line has proven to be a canvas to express himself, and he’s not afraid to get personal. His son’s name, “Deuce,” can be found on the inside of the tongue along with “Like Father, Like Son,” which Tatum also has a tattoo of. Tatum’s close relationship with his mother shines on the “Momma’s Boy” colorway that features an all-over print of her favorite flower, the white calla lily.
Tatum loves the kids.
Like Michael Jordan did for generations, Jordan Brand’s mission is to inspire the future of basketball. Tatum has taken that to the next level by challenging designers to make innovative versions of his signature sneaker for children. The kid’s edition of the Tatum 2 follows in its predecessor’s footsteps with a collapsible tailgate on the heel, making it easier for kids to get in and out of.
The “Momma’s Boy” colorway will be available in adult sizing-only releases on March 5, 2024, on nike.com. The “Vortex” colorway will be available in full family sizing on April 4, 2024, for $125 (adult), $95 (grade school), $75 (Pre-School), $55 (Toddler)