his week is quiet on sneaker releases as most malls will eventually close for the holiday and nobody wants to take an L on SNKRS on Christmas Day. Still, there’s more heat than coal as Nike is bringing out a variety of Dunks, Jordan is offering another retro flip and the most celebrated Kobe ever is closing out the year. On top of that, adidas is returning to the origin of luxury basketball and perhaps presenting the future of it.
So, what’s dropping Christmas Week and why does it matter? See for yourself in the latest Sole Facts.
12/22
Nike Dunk High “Varsity Purple”
- The Nike Dunk High first released in 1986 with a focus on collegiate basketball by releasing in a slew of two-tone takes tied to the top college programs across the country.
- While the Dunk remained in rotation in NCAA action over the course of the ‘80s, the model became a lifestyle favorite in retro form in the late ‘90s followed by a skateboarding rebrand in the mid-’00s.
- This “Varsity Purple” pair releasing in women’s sizes – first seen on December 3rd in Europe – bares Be True To Your School styling in regard to the two-tone upper but differs with updated steeze in the form of a jelly outsole.
adidas Forum ’84 High OG
- The adidas Forum High debuted in 1984 as a luxury basketball shoe set to tip the scales by retailing at a then-outrageous $100. In the ‘80s, the Forum High was a status symbol in the streets thanks to its prestigious price point and a go-to favorite on the court for Patrick Ewing as a rookie on the New York Knicks.
- This vintage bringback continues to lean into the beloved aged aesthetic by bearing an off-white base, sail sole detailing, and slightly yellowed soles. Suede stripes and archival adidas Trefoil branding cap off the heritage look that’s both old fashioned and on-trend.
- Fun fact: before signing with Nike, a young Michael Jordan wore White/Blue adidas Forum Highs when scrimmaging in front of fans for Bobby Knight’s 1984 Team USA.
12/23
Titan x Air Jordan 35
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Philippines footwear purveyor Titan teams up with Jordan Brand on a collaborative colorway of the Air Jordan 35 – the latest performance model from the longest-running signature series in hoops.
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Previously, Titan has collaborated on Nike LeBron launches. Thus far, the Air Jordan 35 has also seen third-party design by way of Hiroshi Fujiwara’s fragment design.
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Pairs of the Titan x Air Jordan 35 will release on the Titan App and on TITAN22.com on 12/23. More pairs will be released globally on 12/29 and in North America on 1/23.
Titan x Air Jordan 23
- The Air Jordan XX3 originally launched in 2008, designed by Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith. Though Michael Jordan was retired when this shoe released, he played a heavy hand in the final product with his signature and fingerprint appearing on the tongue and toe box.
- Over the years, the Air Jordan XX3 has seen collaboration as a retro from the likes of Trophy Room and SoleFly. On top of that, PE pairs have been made for the likes of Chris Paul, Maya Moore, Rip Hamilton, and other Jordan Brand athletes.
- On 12/23, pairs of the Titan x Air Jordan XX3 will release on the Titan App and on TITAN22.com. More pairs will be released globally on 12/29 and in North America on 1/23.
adidas Yeezy QNTM/BSKTBL “Frozen Blue”
- Following years of preview wear and buzzy by Kanye West, the adidas Yeezy QNTM/BSKTBL released in Chicago at All-Star Weekend 2020. Pairs were famously distributed on the streets of the city in Sherp ATVs.
- Though almost identical in styling, the QNTM pair is produced for casual wear while the BSKTBL variation features performance tooling and fit for getting buckets on the hardwood.
- This “Frozen Blue” take of the QNTM/BSKTBL is said to be the first to glow in the dark iteration of the 2020 silo.
12/24
Nike Zoom Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch”
- The Nike Zoom Kobe 6 debuted in 2010 on the feet of Kobe Bryant. Designed by Eric Avar of Air Penny, Zoom Glove, and Foamposite One fame, the signature shoe looked to continue to carry the low top design language the pair had produced while evoking the Black Mamba personality through a scaled shell.
- Returning for the first time in Protro form in 2020, this revived retro has added a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot, softened the heel foam, and improved traction for greater play. NBA stars like Ja Morant among others will be playing in Protro Kobe VIs over the course of this season.
- The famed “Grinch” or “Green Apple” colorway was worn by Bryant and teammate Shannon Brown for a Christmas Day 2010 showdown against LeBron James and the retooled Miami Heat. Laker teammates like Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol showed Kobe support by playing in “Grinch” PEs of the Hyperfuse and Hyperdunk 2010, respectively.
MEDICOM TOY x Nike SB Blazer Low
- Much like the Dunk, the Nike Blazer was born in basketball and years later found a second life in sportswear and skate. The MEDICOM TOY x Nike SB Blazer Low pairs two tried and true staples of collectible culture for functional nostalgia.
- MEDICOM TOY is based in Japan with roots tracing back to 1996. The toy company is most famous for its BE@RBRICK collectibles that have seen collaboration from the likes of Pharrell, KAWS, A Bathing Ape, and many others.
- The Nike Blazer first released for basketball in 1973 as the third hoops shoe ever made by the Beaverton brand. After hardwood wear in the ‘70s and ‘80s by the likes of George Gervin and Maurice Cheeks, the shoe was reborn in skate during the ‘00s eventually seeing collabs from Supreme, Stussy, Soulland, and more.
12/26
Air Jordan 12 “Reverse Flu Game”
- The Air Jordan 12 debuted in the Fall of 1996 as Michael Jordan began the campaign for his fifth NBA title. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the ribbed upper found inspiration from Japan’s Rising Sun flag while carbon fiber responsiveness was carried over from the Air Jordan 11.
- Battling food poisoning symptoms against Utah in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan defied all odds in the Black/Red Air Jordan 12 for a 38 point performance and swing game win since known as The Flu Game. This flip on the Black/Red 12s worn in that infamous game replaces red on the mudguard and black on the upper for an inverted look on the court classic.
- Flipped favorites have been a running trend for Jordan Brand as of late, seen on the “Reverse Taxi” 12s in October 2019 and “Reverse He Got Game” 13s in January 2020.
12/28
Bodega x Nike Dunk High “Legend”
- Touching down during the 1985-86 NCAA basketball season, the Nike Dunk has since seen its wings spread to lifestyle and skateboarding takes. The Bodega x Nike Dunk High “Legend” is not an SB but rather a standard, premium Dunk, donned in raw materials meant to harken the olden times of quality craftsmanship.
- This pair is considered a Quickstrike release, though it has a formal drop date, and will launch on a first come, first serve basis on Bodega’s new arrivals page on 12/28 at 12 PM EST.
- In recent years, Bodega has collaborated with the likes of New Balance on the 997S, adidas on the Kamanda, and Nike on the Footscape to name a few noteworthy exclusives.
Images 1 & 4 – 7 via Nike
Images 2 & 3 via adidas