The Best Undefeated Sneaker Collaborations

Image via Complex Original

Year: 2006

Allen Iverson is one of the flashiest NBA players of all time. Whether it was his killer crossovers on the court, or one-of-a-kind style off, Iverson is nothing short of a basketball icon. So, it only made sense for Undefeated to outfit the Reebok Question Mid in a colorway to fit the bill back in 2006. A more toned-down black and white pair released alongside it, but the multi-colored pair is the standout from the pack. 

Along with its teal leather upper and bright orange paneling, the shoe also boasted eye-catching details like large “Iverson” script on the side panels, a yellow “96” on the lateral heel to signify AI’s rookie year, 3M hits, and a speckled midsole. 

The best detail is the pink tongue emblazoned with a Liberty Bell to signify his prime years in Philadelphia as a 76er along with the quote, “There’s gonna be a million people that love Allen Iverson. There’s gonna be a billion people that hate Allen Iverson. Concentrate on the ones that care about you and keep steppin.’”While not one of the easiest pairs to pull off on the list, it shows that Undefeated’s hits aren’t just limited to certain brands. -Mike DeStefano

Year: 2020

It wasn't supposed to happen like this. The Kobe 5 Proto "What If" collaboration, a two-pair box set of sneakers released in August 2020, was originally intended to mark Kobe Bryant's induction into the NBA Hall of Fame this year. Instead, it arrived during Mamba Week as one of the first truly limited Nike Kobes dropped in the wake of his death in January.

The response to the release was mostly negative—everybody wanted the shoes, but barely anybody was able to get them. That's standard with high-profile projects from Nike and Undefeated, but felt twisted to some given Bryant's passing. The sneakers make sense with their throwback colorways referencing the teams Bryant could have landed on when he entered the league, but a lot more about this drop didn't. - Brendan Dunne

Year: 2007

This is the only entry for a New Balance collaboration on this list, but there were several collaborations contending for a spot. We thought that the brand’s work with Stussy and Real Mad Hectic on the MT580, for a certain type of collector, would be the most important. This shoe was wildly popular in Japan and took years to make its way to the States. The collaboration between Stussy and Real Mad Hectic was seen as more important, but these are a close second. Not something you often see among hype circles.  -Matt Welty

Year: 2019

There were so many other shoes that were considered for the list. But Undefeated getting to do the Nike Kobe 4 is a big deal. It’s arguably the most important Kobe Bryant sneaker, definitely the one that changed the trajectory of his line, and influenced a generation of players to wear low-cut shoes. The sneakers come in four different colorways and reference different parts of Bryant’s career, with 8 and 24 on the heel, like him playing at Rice High School. -Matt Welty

Year: 2018

The hometown shop got to work the hometown hero on his first signature Nike shoe. That’s a dream come true. And they made a ton of pairs. Some referencing Undefeated’s past -- white leather with a gum sole and another for the Air Jordan IV -- and a handful of pairs in camo. Instead of just being something for streetwear aficionados, they actually made it to the court. DeMar DeRozan, the current Mr. Kobe in the NBA, wore them during the All-Star Game. Giannis Antetokoumpo wore them, too. Good job. -Matt Welty

Year: 2006

This sneaker is peak mid-2000s streetwear. First, it’s an Air Force 1. Second it has crazy materials. Three it's purple. The list is Air Force 1 heavy, and we could have included a few more pairs, but we’re going with these instead. -Matt Welty

Year: 2017

Amid Nike’s year-long celebration of the Air Max 97’s 20th anniversary, Undefeated dropped a duo of Air Max 97s that paid homage to Gucci. Black and white-based pairs touted patent leather mudguards, and red and green stripes bearing Undefeated script branding wrapping the upper as a nod to the iconic fashion house. While both would sell out with ease, the brand would go on to drop a third pair featuring its signature olive green, black, and orange color scheme in much more limited fashion later in the year exclusively at ComplexCon in 2017 to much fanfare. Undefeated even had to shut down their booth to control the commotion once they sold out. When looking at the shop’s more recent work, this trio of 97s is certainly a standout from the bunch. -Mike DeStefano

Year: 2013

Undefeated is no stranger to the triple collaboration, and this project between itself, A Bathing Ape, and Adidas on the ZX 5000 is its best of the bunch. It’s also the shop’s best Adidas work to date. At times Bape’s camo can be overbearing, but this shoe is the perfect balance. Also the gum sole sets it of just right. The red, white, and blue stripes are the element that ties it all together. Undefeated has worked with Bape and Adidas since, but it’s yet to top this project from 2013. - Matt Welty

Year: 2009

Undefeated got its big pop culture moment back in 2006 when Turtle from Entourage went over to the shop to try and score fictional graffiti artist Fukijama’s Air Force 1 collaboration. DJ AM (rest in peace) would cop the last pair, but later in the episode Turtle got something even better—a one-of-one pair lasered by Fukijama from his buddy Vinny Chase. An identical gold, white, and black pair would surface three years later in 2009. It never got a proper retail release, but a select few were able to get their hands on them. The design doesn’t necessarily hold up today, but it’s cultural significance makes it an important touchstone on the shop’s sneaker timeline. -Mike DeStefano

Year: 2002

If Undefeated’s Dunk Highs weren’t rare enough for you, these low-tops should do the trick. Created in 2002, only 24 pairs of these “Splatter” Undefeated x Nike Dunk Lows were made. They feature dark grey underlays mixed with a light-blue-on-burgundy splatter pattern. Pink accents adorn the Swoosh, laces, and heel, details which set this version apart from the more attainable non-collab grey and red “Splatter” colorway. It’s a polarizing look to say the least, but it also doesn’t really matter whether you like them or not, because the chances of actually finding a pair are slim to none. -Riley Jones

Year: 2002

Before the olive drab “Ballistic” collaboration, Undefeated and Nike teamed up for the very first time on a crisp white and gum Dunk Hi. This colorway was created to celebrate the opening of Undefeated’s first store and, like its “Ballistic” counterpart, was produced in a limited run of only 48 pairs. Originally unavailable to the public, the collab was revisited in 2013 with a “Bring Back Pack” that also included a Hyperdunk. Considerably more toned-down than many of the UNDFTD collabs that would follow, this Dunk Hi is literally where it all started and remains one of the best products of the ongoing partnership. -Riley Jones

Year: 2006

The Fukijama Nike Air Force 1 is a mythical sneaker for several reasons. First, it made its debut in an episode of Entourage where Turtle, played by Jerry Ferrara. Then it got a release. As said before, he struck out on the shoes at retail and his own pair made. These are the ones that Turtle couldn’t get his hands on. -Matt Welty

Year: 2005

Not every Dunk that holds legendary status is from Nike SB. When it comes to non-skateboard versions of the shoe, at least ones that exemplify the streetwear culture of the early 2000s, then few are better than Undefeated’s NL version of the shoe. If you’re not hip, the NL stands for no lining, which actually made this shoe divisive amongst some collectors. We think it’s great. The colorway is wild and was even recreated by Travis Scott even had himself a custom pair of AF1s made in a similar colorway.  - Matt Welty

Year: 2002

Originally produced in a run of just 48 pairs as a gift to employees during the opening of the brand’s second store in 2002, the “Ballistic” Dunk High is among Undefeated’s most legendary collabs. Like many of Undefeated’s collaborations, this olive green sneaker takes inspiration from military apparel, specifically armed forces camping backpacks. Like its name suggests, the store’s second Dunk High uses tough ballistic nylon underlays and features its signature five-strike logo near the heel. In 2013, Nike gave the sneaker a wider release alongside a matching Hyperdunk, and although it wasn’t quite as premium as the hyper-limited OG, it was well received by longtime Undefeated fans. -Riley Jones

Year: 2005

This is the one. You knew this was coming. The Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 collaboration is considered the ultimate grail by many sneaker enthusiasts. Originally released in 2005, the military-inspired Air Jordan 4 was limited to 72 total pairs. Only 50 were raffled off in-store, while seven were part of an online raffle and the rest were reserved for friends and family. It’s scarce availability isn’t the only reason it’s so coveted though. It isn’t too often we see Air Jordan 4 collabs. Along with the Los Angeles-based streetwear boutique, who was the first third party collaborator bestowed the honor, other instances in the model’s 30-year history are few and far between. 

The color combination, inspired by military flight jackets, is also almost perfect. Thankfully, Jordan Brand didn’t follow through with its plans to retro these in 2018. Almost nobody will ever own these, or be able to even think about paying roughly $20,000 for a pair of shoes, but that’s how it should be. Let these sit on the throne forever. - Mike DeStefano