Victor Wembanyama had a special pair of sneakers on hand for the San Antonio Spurs’ first home game of the NBA regular season.

Ahead of the Saturday match-up against the Houston Rockets, Wembanyama was photographed with a customized version of his go-to Nike GT Hustle 3 sneakers. Referencing both his 2024 Rookie of the Year award and his well-documented fandom of the “Star Wars” franchise, Wembanyama’s “Wookiee of the Year” GT Hustle 3s were inspired by the furry Wookiee species which populate the films. 

Like their Wookiee inspiration, the Nike GT Hustle 3s were draped in a shaggy brown and black fur which covered nearly the entire upper. Further customization included an alien face on the tongue – a nod to Wembanyama’s extraterrestrial comparisons – and “ROY 24” (Rookie of the Year) printed on the heel 

Surprisingly, Wembanyama didn’t end up wearing the shaggy sneakers in the tunnel, nor did he lace them up for on-court action against the Rockets. Instead, the 7’3” French star wore a more standard white-based colorway of the sneaker. Built with double-stacked Zoom Air cushioning, the GT Hustle 3 is considered one of Nike’s top performing basketball shoes of the moment. Although not a signature shoe, Wembanyama has been marketed as the face of the model in promotional materials.

In April, Nike held its  A.I.R. (Athlete Imagined Revolution) exhibition in Paris which featured experimental concept designs including an AI-designed prototype created specifically for Wembanyama’s foot. 

As for the game, the Spurs inched by with a 109-106 finish to tally their first win of the season. Wembanyama led the way for the team with 29 points and added 7 rebounds.

Given its impracticality for performance use, it’s highly unlikely this “Wookiee of the Year” version of the Nike GT Hustle 3 will be released to the public. However, other styles of the GT Hustle 3 sneaker are available now from nike.com for $190 each.

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Jordan Brand just added four young NBA ballers to its athlete roster.

The namesake brand of NBA icon Michael Jordan announced via Instagram late Friday that it has welcomed rookies Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, Stephon Castle and Ja’Kobe Walter to its family. “Signed. Sealed. Now We Deliver,” the caption announcing the signings read.

Terms of their deals, however, were not revealed.

McCain was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 guard played college basketball at Duke. During both the preseason and the regular season, McCain has worn the Air Jordan 39, which NBA star Paolo Banchero debuted during the 2023-24 NBA Playoffs in April.

As for Knecht, he was selected with the 17th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a 6-foot-6 guard who played for Tennessee in college. Knecht has laced up the Air Jordan 39 and the Luka 2 during the preseason and regular season.

Castle, a 6-foot-6 guard who played college hoops at UConn, was selected No. 4 overall by the San Antonio Spurs. During the preseason and into the regular season, Castle has worn the Air Jordan 39 and the Tatum 2.

Walter was selected No. 19 overall by the Toronto Raptors. The 6-foot-5 guard played college basketball at Baylor. Walter has been sidelined to start the season with an injury.

The four promising young hoopers are now part of a stacked Jordan Brand roster of athletes that includes top-tier NBA talent, such as Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson and others.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Less than a week after assuming control of Nike, president and CEO Elliott Hill has made his first public comments.

Shortly after the Swoosh announced it had extended its apparel and uniform contract with the WNBA, the NBA and the NBA G League on Monday, Hill was featured on a panel at Nike’s headquarters in New York City. He was joined by Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty and NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo via Zoom. The conversation was moderated by ESPN and MSG basketball analyst Monica McNutt.

During the panel, Hill — a company veteran of 32 years — discussed Nike’s evolving role in basketball, as well as potential barriers to progress.

Below is what Hill shared on stage at Nike’s NYC headquarters, edited for clarity.

On the New York Liberty’s WNBA Finals Win

“The Liberty fans, if there is such a thing as a sixth player, without question I think it was the Liberty fans. The atmosphere in the building last night [Oct. 20] was electric, it was loud, it was fun, it was real. There’s no question in my mind they helped will them to victory.”

Nike’s Role in the Growth of Basketball

“For the last 50-plus years, Nike has been very much about putting the athlete at the center of the conversation. That helps drive the innovation around product and storytelling, etc., so we’ll continue to do that. Nike has always been about growth and growing sport around the world, and when we do that, we grow the industry, we make the industry bigger, and we’ll continue to do that. As it relates to our partnership, it’s very much in the same vein. We’re going to put the athlete — whether it’s the elite athlete or the everyday athlete or the fan — at the center and try to extend the game of basketball beyond the elite athlete to grassroots, men’s, women’s, boys, girls, different formats, three-on-three. You can go down the list. International is a big piece of how we grow the game of basketball, and it is at the core of what we continue to talk about. And I would add moving beyond just on court to lifestyle and the culture of basketball, it’s a tremendous opportunity for both of us to continue to grow the game of basketball.”

Barriers to Progress

“Sometimes we set our own barriers. We talk a lot about human potential at Nike. We all see the potential of the game, and I think we inadvertently maybe set some some of the boundaries around it. I think we — and I speak of our two companies and the partnership we have and all the brands that we have here — have to treat ourselves much like an athlete, and to continue to push ourselves to think differently, to get better, to put that athlete and that consumer at the center of everything that we do. If we can do that, we’ll come up with new and interesting ways to celebrate the game, move the game forward and I think help grow the game globally.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Nike has extended its contract with the WNBA, the NBA and the NBA G League to become their official apparel and uniform provider through 2037.

The Swoosh on Monday announced that it has signed a 12-year extension of the deal that includes merchandising, outfitting, marketing and content partnerships. The deal will also include a new joint membership program for fans across the leagues and an investment in programs to make basketball and athletics more accessible to youth of all backgrounds.

The announcement came that day after The New York Liberty won their first WNBA championship against the Minnesota Lynx.

“Nike has always been more than a league sponsor — we’re a strategic partner with an unwavering commitment to growing the game, alongside the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League,” says Nike’s newly appointed president and chief executive officer Elliott Hill in a statement. “Our collective power, global reach and genuine love for the game will only continue to create new pathways and opportunities for players and fans.”

The deal renews a similar eight-year deal that Nike struck with the NBA for the 2017-18 season that made it the league’s official on-court outfitter. Nike has been a marketing partner of the WNBA since 1997 and of the NBA G League since the 2017-18 season.

“Since our league’s inception, Nike has committed to a shared vision for girls and women’s basketball,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement. “Our continued partnership is an opportunity to fortify avenues for development and enhance touchpoints across our dynamic fanbase while globally showcasing the WNBA.”

The new deal will see Nike grow its presence at key events such as the NBA Global Games, NBA All-Star, WNBA All-Star, the NBA Draft Combine, the WNBA Draft, WNBA Changemakers and more. Nike also extended its group license agreement with National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to become an official partner of the group.

“This partnership extension reflects our enduring commitment to growing the game, championing basketball culture and supporting the next generation of athletes,” said Jordan Brand president Sarah Mensah in a statement. “We put athletes, and the game, at the center of all we do, and this extension serves to further galvanize hoopers behind a shared pursuit of greatness as only Nike, Inc. and our partners can.”

One of the most heartwarming moments in sports history will be immortalized next year with the release of a new colorway of Kevin Durant’s fourth Nike signature sneaker.

Inspired by Durant’s speech after winning the 2013-14 NBA Most Valuable Player award, the upcoming Nike KD 4 “Real MVP” honors the NBA star’s mother, Wanda. At the end of his thank yous during the 2014 acceptance, Durant turned attention to his mother, remembering how hard she worked as a single mother of two children. 

“We weren’t supposed to be here,” Durant told Wanda during the ‘14 speech. “You made us believe, you kept us off the street. You put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn’t eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You the real MVP.”

Often referred to simply as the “you the real MVP” speech, the on-the-fly moment remains one of the game’s most touching monologues. And although Durant had moved on to wearing the Nike KD 6 during the ‘13-14 season, Wanda’s unofficial MVP award will be commemorated on the KD 4 during 2025. 

The sneaker, which is done up in the colors of the Golden State Warriors and features metallic gold accents throughout, includes “you the real MVP” text printed on the left insole. Other unique features of this upcoming KD 4 include a basketball net-textured treatment on the toe box and a golden basketball badge on the tongue’s “KD” logo. 

While this isn’t the first time Wanda has been referenced on a Nike KD sneaker — there’s also a “Wanda” KD 9 Elite and KD 16 — it’s one of the more on-the-nose callbacks to Durant’s ‘14 speech.

Other upcoming Nike KD 4s of note include the “Aunt Pearl” and “Christmas” colorways, which are due to be released in October and December, respectively.

The Nike KD 4 “Real MVP” is expected to be released during ‘25 at a retail price of $150. 

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Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić is stepping into elite footwear territory with the confirmation of his very first signature shoe.

After Jokić signed with Chinese athletic brand 361 Degrees in December 2023, images shared from a preview event Thursday confirm that a signature model for the basketball star is on the way. The photos, shared by Sneakersbar on Chinese social media platform Weibo, show a range of upcoming 361 Degrees sneakers including early details on the Denver Nuggets star’s first shoe. 

Known as the Joker 1, only precursory details were shared along with a silhouette of a high-cut model with an elongated heel pull tab. Based on the translated product preview, the Joker 1 will feature 361 Degrees’ CQT Qu!k midsole cushioning and Diamond Grip traction. The Joker 1 will retail at 699 Chinese Yuan, which converts to roughly $100 as of publishing.

In addition to the high-top Joker 1, 361 Degrees also teased a lower cut Jokić shoe dubbed the Joker 1 GT. This pair uses technologies often found in 361 Degrees’ high-end running sneakers including CQT Extrem3 cushioning, a Qu!kbone carbon fiber plate for stability and an upgraded RPU outsole for enhanced grip. Coming in at a higher price than the Joker 1, the Joker 1 GT retails for 999 Chinese Yuan, which is around $140.

Prior to joining 361 Degrees, Jokić represented Nike during the majority of his NBA career, yet never received a signature shoe despite racking up countless accolades. He’s known for tying his wedding band to his shoelaces in games, something 361 Degrees referenced on a player exclusive colorway of its BIG3 Future model equipped with a see-through pocket on the tongue. 

A full unveiling of Jokić’s 361 Degrees Joker 1 line is expected soon. Meanwhile, Jokić and the Nuggets will open the NBA regular season on Thursday, Oct. 24 with a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coming off of a career year as the NBA’s leader and assists and being named to his first All-NBA Team, Tyrese Haliburton has locked down a new endorsement deal with Puma.

Puma confirmed the signing of Haliburton Tuesday after Boardroom reporter Nick DePaula first broke the news Monday. While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, DePaula reported the Indiana Pacers star guard has signed a “massive multi-year” contract.

“I’m super excited to announce that I’ve joined the PUMA Family,” Haliburton said in a press release. “I look forward to being a part of their commitment to the next generation of basketball. PUMA’s vision and dedication to supporting athletes align perfectly with my goals, and I’m excited to represent the brand on and off the court.”

Prior to signing with Puma, Halburton had played in Nike sneakers for his entire career and largely favored shoes from the Kobe line. Puma made no mention in the announcement of a signature sneaker for Haliburton and said he’ll take to the court in the All-Pro Nitro.

“Since day one, we’ve always focused on the next generation of basketball at PUMA. Tyrese is not only defining his own generation, but also is shaping the future of the game for many more to come,” Max Staiger, global head of Basketball at Puma, said in the the release. “We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tyrese to continue working on our disruptive next-gen approach to basketball.”

Haliburton joins Puma months after Salehe Bembury‘s work on the brand’s basketball line was announced. Bembury was confirmed to be designing the next signature shoe for Puma Basketball and to be involved with recruiting athletes.

A campaign video announcing the addition of Halburton was creative directed by Bembury.

While the Pacers have yet to begin their preseason schedule yet, they did play a team scrimmage in front of fans Sunday. During the contest, Haliburton wore the All-Pro Nitro, and in his Media Day photos he opted for square-toed Prada dress shoes.

Haliburton joins a Puma roster that includes LaMelo Ball, as well as WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart and second-year NBA player Scoot Henderson — all of whom have their own signature sneakers. As difficult as it’ll be to surpass the popularity of Ball’s sneakers should he get his own, particularly among the youth, Haliburton will now be the most accomplished of NBA players representing Puma.

Coming off his second-consecutive NBA All-Star appearance, Haliburton was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. Over the summer, he played for the gold medal-winning Team USA men’s basketball squad at the Olympics.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

“Like father, like son” was a theme for the Los Angeles Lakers 2024 NBA Media Day juncture Monday. Ahead of the regular season tip-off, LeBron James and son, Bronny, continued to make history by posing for photo shoots and conducting interviews in matching Lakers threads. As the first father-son duo to ever play in the NBA at the same time, the storyline promises to be one of the upcoming season’s most captivating, and it’s already off to a strong start.

For the big day, the elder James laced up his third signature shoe, the Nike LeBron 3, in a throwback-inspired “MPLS” colorway. But one could make an argument that it was actually Bronny’s shoes which stole the show. 

James Jr. wore two different player exclusive styles of his father’s Nike LeBron NXXT Gen AMPD sneakers. One of the PEs leaned toward traditional Lakers colors with a light purple patent leather base. The second used a shimmering dark green upper which was somewhat reminiscent of the “Abalone” LeBron 21 colorway. The latter pair featured reverse Swoosh logos reminiscent of Travis Scott’s popular collaboration as well as James’ own “All-Star” Nike LeBron 20.

While it’s more than likely a case of convenient timing, James’ off-shoot NXXT Gen line seems to be the de facto unofficial signature sneaker for Bronny.  In particular, the NXXT Gen AMPD model dons design characteristics from the first-ever LeBron Nike, the Air Zoom Generation, making it an even more fitting pair for Bronny to wear in his rookie year.

A public release for either of Bronny’s Nike LeBron NXXT Gen AMPD PEs is unlikely, but readers can expect Nike to continue to play up the father-son relationship on future sneakers. 

The NBA preseason begins Friday with two games including the Lakers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. Looking ahead, Bronny, LeBron and the Lakers will help tip off the regular season when they once again meet the Timberwolves at home on Oct. 22.

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Dikembe Mutombo, the Basketball Hall of Famer known as much for his finger wagging and singular voice as his defensive prowess, passed away Monday at the age of 58 after a battle with brain cancer.

The Congolese-American player nicknamed “Mt. Mutombo” was a global ambassador for the sport and prolific humanitarian who who donated millions of dollars to build a hospital in his home town, the Congolese capital of Kinshasa.

At 7 feet 2 inches, Mutombo held down the paint as one of the league’s best-ever defenders and shot blockers. As an Adidas athlete, he served as a rare exception to the rule that big men can’t sell shoes with his namesake model still counting among the most eccentric signature models in the history of the sport.

In a statement after his death, Adidas said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Dikembe Mutombo. He was respected and loved by so many for his skills on the court and the impact he left off the court. Dikembe was a trailblazing humanitarian who believed in the brotherhood of basketball, using his platform to promote cultural exchange from Africa to the world, furthering the game and human rights with equal fervor. We are grateful for his legacy that will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”

Below, Footwear News takes a look back at Mutombo’s sneaker legacy, including his Adidas contract and the iconic Adidas Mutombo.

Dikembe Mutombo’s Adidas Contract

In the early ’90s, Adidas was struggling in the U.S. The company’s American sales were flat at around $225 million per year compared to $3.4 billion for Nike and $2.7 billion for Reebok. Robert Strasser, the former Nike executive who helped launch the Air Jordan line and was almost single-minded in trying to take down the German rival, was named chief executive in 1993 for a new Adidas America subsidiary in Portland. Along with him came as creative director came Peter Moore, designer of the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike Dunk.

Mutombo entered the NBA in 1991 as the 4th overall pick for the Denver Nuggets after playing for Georgetown University under the legendary coach John Thompson. Having graduated with a degree in linguistics and diplomacy, Mutombo only played three seasons of NCAA basketball because he spent his freshman year playing intramural hoops before being recruited by Thompson.

Nike sneakers graced the feet of Mutombo for the majority of his rookie season, as they did in college, until he signed a deal with Adidas worth more than $1 million putting his compensation in line with Michael Jordan. His agent, Sony Vaccaro said in a newspaper story announcing the deal: “The one thing Dikembe has is he can have a signature line. That’s the key. The merchandise bears his own logo and brand, and he gets back royalties from these particular items. To get royalties is a major cause.”

Mutombo instantly became the face for Adidas Basketball when it had fallen dramatically behind the sport. The ’90s marked a golden era for big men in the NBA, but Patrick Ewing had already left Adidas in 1989 and launched his own label, Ewing Athletics. Reebok locked down Shaquille O’Neal in 1992, and Nike released signature models for David Robinson and Charles Barkley during the time period in addition to the star of all stars, of course, in Jordan.

In the lead-up to the release of his first signature sneaker, the first of many memorable Mutombo ads (from Adidas and otherwise) aired him with him preparing to block a shot beneath the rim with a soundtrack of drums and the sound of an airplane. “Man does not fly in the house of Mutombo,” he said in a deep voice that became even more gravely with age. The ad is widely seen as a subliminal shot at Jordan and Nike, given the language of flight they’d used since the genesis of the Air Jordan line.

Details of Mutombo leaving Adidas have been lost to history, but in 1998 he began playing in Nike sneakers once again — which he’d continue to do until his retirement in 2009.

The Adidas Mutombo

Designed by Moore, the Adidas Mutombo launched in 1993 for $80 during the center’s second season in the NBA. The bulky high top was made to support Mutombo’s massive frame — he wore a size 22 shoe — and was deeply personal, especially for its time, through a number of elements invoking his home country of Congo (then known as Zaire).

The Adidas Mutombo’s launch colorway mixing black and white with green, red and yellow represented the Zairian Flag but can also be seen as an invocation of that of the Pan-African movement. A beefy tongue hosts a shield logo making use of both the letter “M” and Mutombo’s no. 55, and the shoe’s sidewall is defined by a geometric pattern pulling from the cut-pile raffia textiles of the Kingdom of Bakuba, which sat at the heart of Congo in the 17th to 19th century.

In a 2013 interview with Sole Collector looking back on the shoe’s history, Mutombo said: “I remember the designing process and how much I was involved. adidas wanted to find the true identity of Mutombo, where I come from, and something that would represent my country of birth. They wanted to represent the African continent and what I stood for as a player. It was about representing me as a defensive player and my shot blocking career, as someone who always protected. And that’s what it’s about. The shield is about protecting my kingdom.”

The Afrocentric look of the Adidas Mutombo was well timed, as colors and patterns from the continent grew more popular in a ’90s America in part because of streetwear and hip-hop. This trend could be seen in brands such as Cross Colours and acts including A Tribe Called Quest and Brand Nubian. On the inner cover for the album “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” Raekwon can even be seen wearing the Adidas Mutombo while the rest of the members are wearing boots.

A second, more performance-driven Adidas Mutombo 2 followed in 1994 but was not received nearly as well as the first and would end up being Mutombo’s last.

Adidas brought back the original Mutombo as a retro for the first time in 2013 to commemorate the shoe’s anniversary. It also reissued the Mutombo 2 a year later, but once again the fanfare was much more muted compared to its predecessor.

More than 30 years since the Adidas Mutombo entered the world, it remains one of the most particular and personally-driven signature sneakers to grace the hardwood. By focusing on telling the story of Mutombo, the shoe’s bold pattern and colors have more in-common with the lifestyle-driven shoes that would emerge with the rise of sneaker culture in 2000s than the other performance basketball models of the time.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Dikembe Mutombo, beloved NBA Hall of Famer, died on Sept. 30 at the age of 58 following a battle with brain cancer. The seven-foot-two Congolese-American athlete, who was a leading shot-blocker in the league, is now remembered as a legend on and off the basketball court for his athletic skills and his humanitarianism.

Even if you weren’t a fan of basketball while Mutombo played, you might recognize him from his various endorsements, which led to a few memorable commercials.

Mutombo had an African-inspired signature sneaker line with Adidas, which included the tribal patterned Adidas Mutombo released in 1992. An Adidas commercial from that same year features the NBA star wearing the shoes, which also display his number 55, and blocking a shot; he says solemnly at the end, “Man does not fly in the house of Mutombo.”

Adidas released a statement following the announcement of Mutombo’s death: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Dikembe Mutombo. He was respected and loved by so many for his skills on the court and the impact he left off the court. Dikembe was a trailblazing humanitarian who believed in the brotherhood of basketball, using his platform to promote cultural exchange from Africa to the world, furthering the game and human rights with equal fervor. We are grateful for his legacy that will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”

Another Adidas commercial from the ’90s showcased Mutombo’s signature sneaker in outsized proportions compared to its surrounding landscapes.

Also ingrained in many memories, Mutombo starred in a Geico commercial that is widely regarded as exceptionally funny. The ad features Mutombo disrupting the everyday activities of unsuspecting strangers, blocking trash from reaching a bin or laundry from landing in a basket. “Not in my house!” he tells them, accompanied, of course, by his signature finger wag.

Geico commented on the death of the iconic defensive player: “Today, we mourn the loss of a beloved sports legend and ardent humanitarian. We are honored to have been able to work with Dikembe Mutombo, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Mutombo is survived by his wife Rose Mutombo, with whom he had three children and adopted four of her nieces and nephews.