Life must be great for Russell Westbrook and Blake Griffin these days. Their teams are considered title contenders for the 2013-14 NBA championship, both can jump higher and dunk harder than anyone on the face of the earth not named LeBron James and both have the ability to have an unlimited assortment of Jordans to wear at their disposal at anytime. More than that, they get that new-new before everyone else does, and that's pretty dope.
Starting in September, Russ and Blake will get the chance to rock the next release in the signature Air Jordan franchise as the XX9 was officially unveiled to the public today. "Tailored For Flight" is the motto du jour for Jordan Brand, and here are some of the photos and quotes for your review as you ponder whether to drop around $200 on the kicks. (I just might could do it)
(Update: Per Darren Rovell, the Air Jordan XX9 will cost $225. That's the equivalent of three Floyd Mayweather pay-per-views, if you were trying to do the math in your head. You probably weren't trying to do the math in your head though. Anyway, start saving that money if you're trying to cop.)
“Our mission is laser-focused: We want to provide the absolute best performance products to our athletes, from elite high school athletes to professional players competing for championships. By shifting to a fall launch, we ensure players around the world will have the very best in performance and style available as they prepare for the season.” -- Jordan Brand President, Larry Miller
“In the past, we’ve drawn inspiration from myriad places—everything from fighter jets to motorcycles—and have ended up with some pretty fun designs along the way. This year, our inspiration and challenge to ourselves was to create the best performance basketball shoe ever—and I think the XX9 and the performance-woven upper pay that off.” -- Tinker Hatfield, Vice President of Creative Concepts
“We keep hearing from our athletes: Whether you’re a big guy or a point guard, you’re going to get that individual fit that really feels tailored for your game. We always try to ensure that when our athletes play in our shoes, they not only perform at their best, but they eliminate distractions. We think the Air Jordan XX9 offers a fantastic, custom fit that’s lightweight and breathable, but also locks you in and gives you the right amount of containment.” -- Dave Schechter, Vice President and Category Footwear Leader of Jordan Brand
For more pictures and details of the Air Jordan XX9, hop on over to Nike Inc. for the goods. The Air Jordan XX9 launches this September in two colorways— Black/White-Gym Red and Black/Team Orange-Dark Grey. Stay tuned to Nike Inc., and @Jumpman23 for more details.
Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”