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One of the most storied sneakers in Nike’s vast archive is set for a comeback soon — and the brand paid extra attention to detail for this retro.
The Nike Air Foamposite One “Dark Neon Royal” returns this fall for the first time since its 20th anniversary in 2017. Made famous by Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway during his playing days with the Orlando Magic, the Nike Air Foamposite One debuted in 1997 and was a groundbreaking sneaker that not only shook up basketball footwear design, but had a lasting impact on street style.
Although not originally intended to be a Penny signature shoe (designer Eric Avar had instead planned for Scottie Pippen to wear the sneaker), Hardaway is said to have seen an early version of the Air Foamposite One during a Nike meeting and decided to make it his own. Before he had a chance to do so during the ’97 NBA postseason, he was beaten to the punch by Mike Bibby, who laced up the shoes while leading the Arizona Wildcats to the NCCA men’s championship.
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The original “Dark Neon Royal” style of the Nike Air Foamposite one has been rereleased four times thus far: first in 2007, again in 2008 as a House of Hoops exclusive, a third time in 2011 and most recently, in 2017.
What makes this retro unique is Nike’s attempt to mimic an early prototype of the Air Foamposite One, which featured small design differences. Previously unavailable to the public, the pair was featured in a memorable “1-800” number advertisement and includes subtle tweaks such as a two-tone carbon fiber shank and a blue-outlined toe Swoosh logo.
This Nike Air Foamposite One “Dark Neon Royal” is due to release Fall 2024, meaning it could start hitting retailers as soon as late July or early August. Official product images (below) are now accessible on Nike’s e-commerce site, which is often indicative of a near-future release. A retail price of $240 is expected.
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