Designer Brett Golliff Renders Nike Elite Versions of 10 Classic Basketball Sneakers

Renderings and co-written by Brett Golliff (@BGolliff)

The unveiling of the Nike Elite Basketball lineup has become a sneaker event all its own – around playoff time every year sneaker geeks get hype to see what the coats in Beaverton have cooked up for your favorite athletes. The regular season sneakers are already on point, but the upgraded quality and performance of the Elite series has people wondering why players aren’t rocking these on the hardwood all season. We decided to take it a step further — with so many players having a connection to retro heat, why not upgrade some of the iconic basketball shoes from The Swoosh’s past for the modern day game? Sneaker designer and writer Brett Golliff sat down and re-crafted some of your favorite basketball shoes from the past 20 years into designs incorporating the latest technology used by Nike. Hit the jump to check out the designs for 10 Classic Nike Basketball Sneakers That Need An Elite Edition Update and leave us a comment about which pairs you would pick up.

The Air Pippen II Elite sheds unnecessary layers by bringing the height of the shoe lower and cradling the ankle. The full-length inner-bootie hugs the foot while the all-Kevlar upper reinforces it during sharp cuts. The midfoot is supported by a carbon fiber chassis that extends into the midfoot and is integrated with the heel and forefoot rubber as well as independent Zoom Air units for maximum cushioning.

The Shox BB4 Elite evolves where the iconic Nike Shox platform has been. It features two different cushioning properties: a firm durometer of foam provides response to the foot while the second property of Lunarlon provides lightweight absorption directly under the foot. The pillars are harnessed to a carbon fiber platform that provides rigidity to the whole foot. The upper is crafted from Hyperfuse and features Dynamic Flywire. Even at 36 there's no doubt that Vinsanity could leapfrog a 7-footer for a dunk in these elite kicks.

The Air Jordan XIX Elite is re-engineered to reduce weight and improve fit throughout the upper. The Tech Flex shroud is replaced with a full FlyKnit upper with Tech Flex knitted in key support zones. To further lock down the foot, Dynamic Flywire is incorporated along with a carbon fiber heel clip to support both lateral and medial cuts. The re-engineered upper sheds weight dramatically from the standard XIX but it maintains the key performance cues with double-stacked Zoom Air in the sole unit. Lets get Jesus Shuttlesworth in a pair ASAP and extend that career a few more years.

Remixing the classic Chucks (the other Chucks) was a must. The Air Max 2 CB Elite is built to take the rigors of any athlete. It features a full Hyperfuse upper with integrated Dynamic Flywire that allows your foot to expand naturally but reinforces it at the same time. Carbon fiber is used in the heel and forefoot to give the athlete a secure feel during cutting. Air Max runs the length of the heel and mid foot providing a highly responsive cushioning system.

The Hyperflight Elite is engineered with as minimal amount of overlays as possible. The shoe features an internal fit frame that is welded to the back side of the mesh and provides support where it is most needed. The outside of the shoe is reinforced with a carbon fiber support structure that nestles in under the foot and wraps up through the mid foot and into the collar. This construction technique allows for an incredible amount of weight to be shed from an already lightweight shoe. Welcome to the new flight school.

The Shox Stunner Elite features almost every technology Nike Basketball has to offer. It incorporates the newly evolved Shox platform from the BB4, forefoot Zoom Air, an internal Dynamic Flywire lacing system and a Hyperfuse zip shroud that features Pro Combat zones that aid in fit.

One of the 20 designs that changed the game gets an update for the warriors of 2013. The Zoom UltraFlight Elite maintains what was iconic about its predecessor — its transparency — except this time the whole shoe is transparent. By utilizing a lightweight elastic TPU that is clear, the UltraFlight was able to shed weight and maintain its performance attributes. The shoe features a full-length Zoom Air midsole that is completely low to the ground and responsive.

The Air More Uptempo Elite evolves its cushioning from the standard full-length Air Max to the low profile and highly responsive Zoom Air. The upper moves from a traditional cut-and-sew pattern to a fully integrated Hyperfuse upper that not only rids unnecessary layers but also reduces weight and allows for more air flow to let the foot breathe. The whole shoe is supported by the carbon fiber "AIR" lettering that is contoured to the shape of your foot.

Yup, Zoom Air instead of Air Max for Anfernee. The Penny I Elite starts from the inside, as the full-length Kevlar inner bootie is exposed to minimize layers and reduce weight. The layers that were removed are reinforced by the carbon fiber midfoot wing that is contoured to the anatomy of the foot. The carbon fiber wraps under the forefoot to aid in support, and it's also used in the heel where there is an external heel counter. The whole upper sits on top of a full-length Zoom Air cushioning system that is revealed in the heel and midfoot.

The Air Jordan XI Elite features a fully-knitted sock upper that has been woven from Cordura nylon and Kevlar. The two materials are spun together to allow for a high amount of stretch that is balanced with a high amount of rigidity for reinforcement. This perfect blend allows for the shoe to go completely laceless. The iconic patent leather remains the same but is aided by an anatomically shaped carbon fiber heel counter. The sole unit is blessed with a full length Zoom Air insole unit that is tuned to be highly responsive. We believe the claims that MJ could drop 20 a game in the postseason (you know, at 50) if he was rocking these.