The popularity of Nike Dunks continues to soar with the Swoosh consistently dropping fresh iterations of the iconic shoe. While, as the name suggests, Dunks were initially launched as basketball shoes, they were eventually embraced by the skateboarding community. This led to Nike Skateboarding adopting the silhouette and adding subtle changes like a thicker tongue. Ubiquitous throughout the early aughts, they would eventually fall out of trend somewhat in the 2010s before surging again in 2019. Some of the most sought-after pairs in recent years include the black and white “Panda” and the Ben & Jerry’s “Chunky Dunky” collab.
Here, take a peek at some of the most iconic Nike Dunks over the years.
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Nike Dunk Low CO.JP “Reverse Curry,” 2024
Image Credit: Nike The Nike Dunk Low CO.JP “Reverse Curry” dropped on January 12, 2024.
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Nike SB Dunk “Powerpuff Girls,” 2023
Image Credit: Nike The Powerpuff Girls x Nike SB Dunk Low Pack released in 2023.
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Nike Dunk “Jackie Robinson,” 2022
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike Dunk Low “Jackie Robinson” came out in 2022.
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Nike Dunk Low “Panda,” 2021
Image Credit: Nike The Nike Dunk Low “Panda” dropped in 2021.
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Nike SB Dunk Low “Chunky Dunky,” 2020
Image Credit: Nike The Ben & Jerry’s x Nike SB Dunk Low “Chunky Dunky” released in 2020.
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Nike Dunk Low “Virgil Abloh x Futura Laboratories,” 2019
Image Credit: Sotheby's The Nike Dunk Low ‘Virgil Abloh x Futura Laboratories’ debuted on the runway in 2019.
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Nike SB Dunk Low TRD QS “East West Pack,” 2018
Image Credit: GOAT Nike SB Dunk Low TRD QS ‘East West Pack’ dropped in 2018.
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Comme des Garçons x Dunk High Retro “Clear,” 2017
Image Credit: GOAT The Comme des Garçons x Dunk High Retro ‘Clear’ was released during New York Fashion Week in February 2017.
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Nike Dunk Retro QS “Be True,” 2016
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike Dunk Retro QS ‘Be True’ came out in 2016.
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Concepts x Dunk Low Pro SB “Holy Grail,” 2015
Image Credit: GOAT The Concepts x Dunk Low Pro SB ‘Holy Grail’ was released in 2015.
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Diamond Supply Co. x Nike Dunk High Premium SB “Tiffany,” 2014
Image Credit: GOAT The Diamond Supply Co. x Nike Dunk High Premium SB ‘Tiffany’ dropped in 2014.
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Nike Dunk High Premium SB “Skunk,” 2010
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike Dunk High Premium SB ‘Skunk’ dropped in 2010.
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Nike SB Dunk Low Premium “Ms. Pac-Man,” 2009
Image Credit: Sotheby's The Nike SB Dunk Low Premium ‘Ms. Pac-Man’ came out in 2009.
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Nike Dunk Low SB “What the Dunk,” 2007
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike Dunk Low SB ‘What the Dunk’ was released in 2007.
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Nike Dunk Low Premium SB “Day of the Dead,” 2006
Image Credit: GOAT The Dunk Low Premium SB ‘Day of the Dead’ dropped in November 2006.
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Jeff Staple x Nike Dunk SB Low “Pigeon,” 2005
Image Credit: Nike The Jeff Staple x Nike Dunk SB Low “Pigeon” dropped in 2005.
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Nike SB Dunk Low “Cali,” 2004
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Cali’ was released in 2004.
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Nike SB Dunk Low “Paris,” 2003
![This trove of Nike SB skateboarding sneakers / trainers is tipped to fetch a total of up to $850,000 USD when auctioned by Sotheby's. The auction house will present Nike SB | 20 Years, a retrospective auction showcasing the history of the highly popular Nike Skateboarding brand ahead of its 20 year anniversary. The sale features 100 pairs Nike SB sneakers, including some of the most coveted and valuable sneakers in the sportswear giant's history. The Nike SB Dunk first hit shelves in 2002 when the brand's Dunk basketball shoe - originally from the 1980s - was tweaked for the skateboarding community. Former Nike executive Sandy Bodecker is credited with building one of Nike’s most beloved subdivisions in the early 2000s with the Nike SB line. “This auction is one of the most comprehensive sneakers offerings we have ever put together at Sotheby’s, highlighting the rarest and most desired Nike’s to ever surface at market. "Commemorating Nike SB’s 20th Anniversary, this sale is meant to celebrate the brand’s identity and influence in street culture," said Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s Head of Streetwear & Modern Collectables. Among the highlights of the Hong Kong sale is a Nike SB Dunk High Pro ‘FLOM’ & ‘FLOM’ Skateboarding Deck, Signed by Futura (pre-sale estimate US $64,000 – 90,000) - one of only 24 in the world. Sotheby's said: "This is perhaps the most coveted Dunk of all. Designed by Brooklyn local graffiti artist Futura, ‘FLOM,’ an acronym meaning ‘For Love or Money,’ encompasses a pattern that was created from different denominations of printed money." Other highlights include a Dunk inspired by video game Ms Pac-Man, and another pair themed after Dutch beer company, Heineken. Online bidding is open until April 25 at sothebys.com Editorial usage. Courtesy Pak Khei-Sotheby's / MEGA. 14 Apr 2022 Pictured: Nike SB Dunk Low Pro ‘Paris’ Bernard Buffet Promo Sample Est.: HK$600,000 – 750,000/ US$77,000 – 96,000 One of the most popular and recognizable Nike Dunks in existence, this extremely rare pair is a Production Test/Sample of the famous ‘Paris’ SB Dunk. Approximately 200 pairs of the regular release were made for Nike’s traveling White Dunk Exhibition in 2003, an exhibit that featured several extremely limited SB Dunks created for the tour’s host cities, this pair in ‘Rope/Special Cardinal’ colors (utilizing tan-suede) represents Paris and features canvas overlays containing the artwork of French painter Bernard Buffet. Photo credit: Courtesy Pak Khei-Sotheby's/MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA848172_015.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]](https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MEGA848172_015.jpg?w=300)
Image Credit: MEGA The famous ‘Paris’ SB Dunk Low was first released in 2003.
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Supreme x Nike Dunk SB Low “Black Cement,” 2002
Image Credit: Nike Supreme x Nike Dunk SB Low “Black Cement” was released in 2002.
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Nike Dunk Low Pro B “Smurf,” 1999
Image Credit: GOAT The Nike Dunk Low Pro B ‘Smurf’ dropped in 1999.
