Yesterday, the Jordan Brand shook up the sneaker world with the announcement of the latest in their signature Air Jordan series - the XX8.
How? By releasing a show that's a whopping 8 inches tall - a brand new innovation for the brand that likens the shoe more to a combat boot than a basketball shoe.
The theme of the shoe centers around "stealth" and when zipped up, the all-black exterior is the highest cut of all basketball shoes. However, when unzipped, we see a more traditional basketball shoe and a bright neon tongue.
The shoe will be available in Houston for the All-Star Game on February 15th and nationally on February 16th. Russell Westbrook was the first NBA player to rock the XX8s in a game tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, as you'll notice those photos in the slideshow above (additional photos from Jordan & SI).
At just 13.5 ounces, the XX8 is being promoted as the lightest and most responsive Air Jordan model to date. When Tinker Hatfield, who has led the design of each Jordan Brand signature shoe since 1988, Jordan Brand product developer Josh Heard and their team began designing the Jordan XX8 sneaker about two years ago, they emailed Michael Jordan and asked him what his definition of “stealth” was. Jordan replied with a text message, and perhaps the best Jordan quote of all time:
“Stealth is like a black cat,” Jordan wrote, according to Hatfield. “You never hear it coming, but it’s deadly as hell. It’s an automatic aircraft. You can’t f*** with an automatic aircraft. It’s like my game. When you see it, it’s too f****** late.”
OK, so what do you think? My first impression was wholly negative, but upon closer inspection, I have grown to be lukewarm. And first and foremost, I admire Jordan and Hatfield for executing a whole fresh and new idea while I'm also very much behind the "stealth" theme.
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Jordan Brand has their eyes on the prize by releasing the upcoming ‘Golden Moments Pack’. With Team Usa winning gold its only right to get these when they drop.
