Image via Nike
An array of performance basketball models from Nike, Jordan Brand, New Balance, and Puma as the 2020 NBA Playoffs officially get underway highlight this week of sneaker releases.
The drops kick off on Tuesday with the "Blood, Sweat, Tears" Puma RS-Dreamer. On Wednesday, Jordan Brand releases the limited AJNT23 by Tinker Hatfield. The following day marks the debut of the "Four Bounces" New Balance Kawhi. On Friday, the "Samba" Nike Dunk Low, "Laser Orange" Air Jordan III, "Red Toe" Reebok Question Mid, "Joshua Tree" Adidas ZX 5000, and "Grey Heron" End Clothing x New Balance 1500 are all up for grabs. Releases wrap up this weekend with the "Indigo" Air Jordan XII, "Israfil" Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2, and beginning of Nike's "Mamba Week" collection honoring Kobe Bryant.
Take a detailed look at all of this week's best sneaker releases below.
Puma RS-Dreamer 'Blood, Sweat, Tears'
Price: $125
When: Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.
Where: footlocker.com
What You Need to Know: The second colorway of J.Cole's signature sneaker with Puma is releasing this Tuesday exclusively at Foot Locker. Dubbed "Blood, Sweat, Tears," this pair sports a bright red suede and mesh upper with white detailing. NBA fans might recognize this as the pair that Kyle Kuzma hit a game winner in against the Denver Nuggets on Aug. 10.
Jordan AJNT23
Price: $200
When: Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Tinker Hatfield's newest design for Jordan Brand is the AJNT23. The laceless model features a cable system that can be loosened or tightened to the wearer's desired fit, a strap wrapping the ankle, and Zoom Air cushioning in the heel and forefoot. The black and gold pair is limited to 2,500 units with each coming packaged in a matte black suitcase.
New Balance Kawhi 'Four Bounces'
Price: TBD
When: Thursday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.
Where: newbalance.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Kawhi Leonard's first signature model with New Balance, simply dubbed the Kawhi, makes its debut this Thursday. The "Four Bounces" colorway sports a black and royal blue upper with gold details. It's named after the number of bounces that Kawhi's infamous buzzer beater in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference Semifinals took before going in. Notable details on the Kawhi include the pattern on its quarter panel, Kawhi logo stitched on the tongue, faux crocodile leather wrapping the ankle, and three-dimensional New Balance logo jutting off of the heel panel. Expect to see the "Fun Guy" rocking these in Orlando's NBA Bubble for the remainder of the playoffs.
Nike Dunk Low 'Samba'
Price: $100
When: Friday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Originally released in 2001 as a Japan exclusive, the "Samba" Dunk Low is the latest colorway to get the retro treatment in 2020. The all-leather design features a navy blue upper, grey overlays, and red accents.
Air Jordan III 'Laser Orange'
Price: $190
When: Friday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The latest Air Jordan III remixes the iconic model ever so slightly for the brand new "Laser Orange" colorway. The pair maintains its OG white tumbled leather and elephant print overlays on the toe and heel. Laser Orange accents on the Jumpman branding on each tongue, bottom eyelets, and heel portion of the midsole provide a subtle pop of color.
Reebok Question Mid 'Red Toe'
Price: $140
When: Friday, Aug. 21
Where: reebok.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: In celebration of the Question Mid's 25th anniversary, Reebok is retroing the OG "Red Toe" version of Allen Iverson's first signature sneaker. The pair sports a white tumbled leather upper, red suede toe, speckled laces, and an icy blue outsole. Back in 1996, the suede toe was scrapped after an initial run of 5,000 pairs in favor of the leather toe box that many might correlate with the model because the original material bled through to the white upper so badly.
U.S. National Park Foundation x Adidas ZX 5000 'Joshua Tree'
Price: $130
When: Friday, Aug. 21
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The latest pair from Adidas' "A-ZX" series is the "Joshua Tree" ZX 5000 in collaboration with the U.S. National Park Foundation. It features a purple Cordura nylon upper, light pink nubuck overlays, reflective yellow laces, double-layered orange and yellow Three Stripes, and a special patch on each tongue representing the Joshua Tree National Park.
End Clothing x New Balance 1500 'Grey Heron'
Price: $180
When: Friday, Aug. 21
Where: End. Launches
What You Need to Know: End Clothing's latest collab is the "Grey Heron" New Balance 1500. The bird is represented with a grey and blue pigskin upper to resemble its feathers, and an orange suede tongue to mimic its beak.
Air Jordan XII 'Indigo'
Price: $190
When: Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: A subtle variation from the OG "Obsidian" Air Jordan XII, Jordan Brand releases the "Indigo" colorway this weekend. The pair replaces the tumbled leather upper used on the "Obsidian" with smooth leather. A white overlay and Carolina Blue detailing complete the familiar look.
Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 'Israfil'
Price: $220
When: Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m.
Where: Yeezy Supply, adidas.com, and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The latest Yeezy Boost 350 V2 is nicknamed the "Israfil" colorway, a nod to the Islamic archangel. It features a greyish blue Primeknit upper, orange stripe across the lateral side panel, and semi-tranclucent outsole.
Nike Kobe V Protro 'Mamba Week' Collection
Price: $180
When: Sunday, Aug. 23 and Monday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Nike's "Mamba Week" collection honoring the late legend Kobe Bryant is set to kick off this Sunday. The initial two releases include a pair that fuses the home and away "Big Stage" colorways into one on Sunday morning, followed by a Lakers-colored "5x Champ" option said to be inspired by the iconic Jeff Hamilton leather jackets gifted to Kobe after his second and third NBA titles the following day.
