When NBA All Star Weekend was in NYC 17 years ago, the crossover gawd Allen Iverson was breaking ankles, MJ was still dominating with the Bulls, and Kobe was drafted into the league only 2 years earlier. A lot has changed since then, but the feeling you get when you see the new legends like King James take the court remains the same. With so much going on, it’s easy to get caught up in all the hype and multiple releases from all the major brands. We break down the top releases for ASW. We know what you’re spending that refund money on.
First up: the Lebron 12 All-Star. This is Lebron’s 12th signature shoe with the swoosh brand, and was designed for maximum stability and explosiveness. The black hyperposite contrasts the white megafuse upper. The gradient neon green /blue sole really helps the hexagonal Nike Zoom Air pods stand out in pink. The pull tab featured on the back of the shoe is replaced with another hint of the translucent green/blue material. The geometric design on the black hyperposite was inspired by the world famous Flatiron building. Look for these to hit stores Feb. 14th for $220.
Brand new for 2015 are the NIKE HYPERCHASE AS, and look for Rocket’s shooting guard James Harden to wear these this year. They take design elements from fighter jets for a sleek, menacing look. The popular icey sole has a similar hexagonal pattern as the Lebron 12 for increased traction. The black mesh upper helps the exposed flywire really pop in light blue and neon green. The printed multi-color lining and metallic cracked outsole really help this model stand out against the sea of hyper bright models making their debut this weekend. Scheduled for release Feb. 12th for $120.
Continuing their domination of the game in 2015, Adidas bring us the J Wall 1. The three strip brand transitioned Wall over from Reebok, which now focuses on its growing CrosFit product line. At first glance the colorway is very similar to the Lebron 10 P.S. Elite, but that is where the similarities stop. What makes this model stand out is it Adiprene and Adiprene+ technology, which helps with shock absorption and rebound energy. The white double mesh upper and black outsole work well together, but they wouldn’t be complete without gold accents, which is
fitting since Wall is the reigning Slam Dunk contest champ. Look for him to bust a Nae-Nae in these Feb. 13th for $110.
Last but not least we have the Curry One from Under Armour. The Golden State Warriors point guard ‘s first signature shoe was recently revealed, and for the most part reactions to the look of the shoe are positive. The hype factor is Under Armour’s new Anafoam upper and it’s “Charged Foam” sole. This adaptive material allows for softer cushion during relaxed wear, but stiffer control for on the court performance. The Anafoam gives the shoe its shape, and allows for flexibility and breathability. With a full range of interesting colorways look for these underdogs to release Feb. 13th at select retailers, and Underarmour.com for $119.
