Nike Basketball Christmas Kicks 2010

This year promises to be a great year for marquee matchups in the NBA on Christmas day. The defending Champs, L.A.Lakers will host the red hot Miami Heat, the next big superstar, Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder will go against the next big free agent, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets. What better way to show the spirit of Christmas & competition than with super bright kicks.

Via LRJ23.com

Nike Zoom KD III Christmas - Kevin Durant (home vs Denver)

Nike Zoom Kobe VI Christmas - Kobe Bryant (home vs Miami)

Nike Air Max LeBron VIII Christmas - LeBron James (away vs LA Lakers)

Nike Air Max 24/7 Cool Grey/Orange Blaze

Since it's initial introduction/release in May 2010, the popularity of the Air Max 24/7 is still soaring at an all time high, especially in CLASSIC Air Max 95 colorways. The Nike Air Max 24/7 Cool Grey/Orange Blaze is one of those that will continue to fly of the shelves even at $160. If you don't know what you want for X-Mas, best bet is to stay with the CLASSIC.

Pics via Sneaker Bistro.

Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund x Nike Hyperdunk 2010 - Courtesy of Eastbay.com

Nike will be releasing the  Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund x Nike Hyperdunk 2010 in January 6th, 2011. In September 2010,  as part of the "Think Pink" collection, Nike released the Zoom Soldier IV & Zoom Kobe V in pink, this time around to continue with tradition, the Hyperdunk once again gets the "Think Pink" treatment. 

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund™ is a 501 c(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

UNDFTD + DISNEY + MEDICOM // Dec 11th 2010

Nike Zoom Kobe VI - Tech sheet

The excitement might not beat the Holiday season nor Christmas morning but it is pretty close, especially for sneaker-nerds all over the world. The official tech sheet of the Zoom Kobe VI is finally out. Some of the key features of Kobe's sixth Nike signature shoe are the Sculpted dual-density sockliner with memory foams, new flywire package and of course the SNAKE like cast urethane outer shell.

Nike Zoom Kobe VI - Dec 26th 2010 + NikeID Preview.

Many Nike Zoom Kobe fans have been waiting for a glimpse of the tech side of the shoe since pics were leaked a few months ago. Today, Nike has officially unveiled the Nike Zoom Kobe VI, Kobe Bryant’s sixth signature shoe with Nike, inspired by Bryant’s on-court alternate persona known as the Black Mamba. Continuing on with the quest of making a lightweight package, the Nike Zoom Kobe VI is staying put with the low-cut construction, similar to Bryant's previous Nike Zoom Kobe IV & Zoom Kobe V, but with all new upper constructions. The upper is comprised of three primary layers – the outer “snakeskin” shell that showcases miniature partitions of polyurethane that mimic a snake’s slithery skin, an inner breathable mesh layer, and a new Flywire skin in between. The inner of the shoe are now lined with a dual-layer memory foam for form-fitting adhesion.
Below is the Nike official script during the introduction of the shoe:

Nike and Kobe Bryant today announced the debut of the Nike Zoom Kobe VI, a performance basketball shoe inspired by Bryant’s on-court alter ego, the Black Mamba. The design draws cues from the fearsome snake and incorporates key performance elements in a low-profile shoe that weighs just 10.6 ounces in a men’s US size 9.

“The Kobe VI is a very character driven shoe with the alter ego of the Black Mamba prominently featured,” said Bryant. “We continue to evolve the technology to make it a performance based shoe, but aesthetically you haven’t seen a shoe pop like this before. It brings to life what drives me.”

Nike Performance Footwear Creative Director Eric Avar led a team of creatives who worked with Bryant to bring the Black Mamba to life in the Nike Zoom Kobe VI. The shoe’s upper features unique polyurethane “islands” that emulate a snake’s skin and increase or decrease in size throughout the shoe to protect against abrasion and increase durability exactly where needed. To add a lighthearted spin and play off the reptile’s deadly venom, “Venomenon” is inscribed on the front outsole.

“The Black Mamba to Kobe means being one of the deadliest predators on the planet,” Avar said. “That’s his approach to every game – he’s very calculating and he’s very quick.”

A customized fit
Bryant challenged designers to build a shoe with amazing fit. Nike responded with an innovative dual-layer memory foam sockliner that conforms to the foot for a one-of-a-kind custom fit. A Phylon injected midsole adds cushioning for a more anatomically correct fit, and Nike Zoom units in the heel and forefoot provide additional comfort on court.

To emphasize Bryant’s lethal on-court play, Nike’s team of designers built off the success of the Nike Zoom Kobe V shoe’s lightweight, low-cut profile. This year’s shoe features reduced midsole thickness to keep the foot closer to the ground for improved stability and better court feel. The shoe fulfills Bryant’s desire for a true low-top, similar to that of a running shoe or soccer boot, with a low collar design.

The basketball shoe also employs Nike’s innovative Flywire technology in a new, three-layer construction. Inside the shoe a layer of mesh lines the foot, followed by a layer of Flywire and topped off by another layer of breathable mesh with polyurethane islands for abrasion resistance. This unique construction is lighter, more breathable and more conformable to the foot than previous Flywire designs in the Kobe series.

To ensure excellent traction, the Nike Zoom Kobe VI has a solid rubber outsole with a Black Mamba inspired modified herringbone pattern. Certain China editions of the shoe include XDR, or Extra Durable Rubber, for sustained durability against the rough surfaces of outdoor basketball courts.

Blending science and art
The Nike Zoom Kobe VI emerged directly from conversations between Nike’s team and Bryant to ensure the shoe best suited his singular style of play.

“I always talk about good design being a balance between science and art, and one of the great things about working with Kobe is he always grounds every conversation in that concept, starting with the science,” said Avar.

The Nike Zoom Kobe VI launches in retail stores and online at nikestore.com on December 26, 2010. NIKEiD will launch an exclusive sneak preview of the Nike Zoom Kobe VI iD available to Facebook Fans on December 10 at facebook.com/nikeid. Customized versions will be available for sale on December 24 at NIKEiD.com.

Air Jordan 3 Doernbecher Freestyle releasing Dec 4 2010

Less than 24 hours until the release of the much anticipated the Air Jordan 3 Doernbecher Freestyle. Retailing for $160 and only Niketowns, Nike stores & Nike.com will have them. 


History of the collaboration:
Doernbecher Freestyle was created in 2004 when Doernbecher Foundation board member Michael Doherty invited one of Nike's shoe designers to take a tour of the hospital. It was designer Marcus Tayui's vision to see patients design shoes with the proceeds benefiting the hospital that in many cases has saved their lives.

Part of the program involves a launch party held in October where more than 300 business and community leaders come together to see the shoes, bid on limited pairs and meet the patients/designers in person.

Now in its seventh year, this extraordinary program has raised over $2.4 million for the hospital, which uses the funds for everything from clinical programs and hospital construction to providing care for uninsured children. This year's patient designers come from Doernbecher's cancer, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and nephrology programs.


This year's Air Jordan was designed by
 
Name: Cole Johanson
Hometown: Portland, OR

  

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