The NBA Playoffs causes everyone to raise their game. From the players, the coaches, the referees, and even the fans, they all seem to take it to another level. Everybody knows what time it is: it's game time. Where is Cliff Levingston when you need him?
Not be left behind, Nike has decided to raise the bar when it comes to the footwear their athletes will be wearing on the court. Three shoes have been selected by The Swoosh in the 2012 Elite Series, a push by the players to have footwear designed at the lightest, most optimized weight while still delivering stability and protection through the most premium, technically-advanced materials. Those shoes will be LeBron's Nike LeBron 9 PS, Kobe's Nike Kobe VII and the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk.
"With the playoffs upon us we're bringing our best footwear to the best teams and players. As time evolves, our design team explores new and creative executions with premium materials and we're excited to celebrate the road to gold with our best footwear.” -- Leo Chang, Nike Basketball Footwear Design Director
The three shoes will all feature uppers that incorporate the highest performance materials, each re-engineered from inside out to ensure that the products are as light and strong as possible. The lightweight construction accommodates the ultra-high tensile strength Flywire made with Kevlar® aramid. This premium material has lower levels of stretch resulting in a stronger and lighter shoe, and a perfect fit.
All three shoes are now available at retail and at The Nike Store online, but be prepared for the premium upgrade. I want a pair of those Hyperdunks in black and gold, if possible. Check the photos at the bottom.
Array
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.”
