The NBA All-Star game is quickly approaching. The festivities will take place on February 12-14 in Toronto. Every year, Nike uses the weekend as an occasion to release a plethora of new product, and this year is no different.
In addition to the coveted white/cement Air Jordan 4 that will be released by Jordan Brand, Nike Basketball has a whole suite of kicks and apparel for their other stars’ signature lines. All the shoes take some sort of inspiration from the host country Canada. We’ll run through the specific inspiration for each, with images in the gallery above.
Kobe 11 Elite
By far the tamest (and our favorite) from the All-Star Weekend 2016 collection, Kobe Bryant’s signature shoe design is inspired by the colors of the Northern Lights that often grace northern Canada. The Flyknit adds to the effect.
Nike Air Audacity
Anthony Davis’ signature shoe, the Air Audacity features “Fear the Brow” detailing inside the air unit, a Canada-inspired embroidered crest on the tongue, and a bright yellow stripe on the back that some are already claiming is a unibrow.
KD8
Kevin Durant’s signature shoe gets a multi-colored, geometric design inspired by the flags throughout Toronto. The flags signify the city’s international connections and demographics, as well removable patches on the heel and tongue.
Nike Hyperlive
Paul George doesn’t have a signature shoe, but he gets a special player edition version of the Hyperlive that is decked out in all red for the Canadian flag. The gum outsole is supposedly “maple-inspired” and the tongue gets a maple leave logo.
LeBron 13
LeBron James’s signature shoe was a close second for our favorite, as it features a grey and green upper that are “reminiscent of the neutral tones of Toronto’s winter.” The outsole has a marbled look to evoke snow and ice.
Are y'all feeling any pair in particular?