words & images // Nick DePaula:
As Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder look to continue their run through this year’s NBA Playoffs, they’ll be kicking off the Western Conference Finals tonight against the top-seeded Golden State Warriors.
Westbrook has been wearing an array of custom size 15 Air Jordan XXX colorways all postseason, and you can look for him to possibly break out yet another new colorway, seen in detail below.
Taking on the “Cosmos” theme that designers Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith crafted around the brand’s 30th edition of the Air Jordan franchise, you’ll find a galactic graphic along the upper, inspired by Michael’s penchant for “Air” and drafting from one of Tinker’s early sketches during the shoe’s design process.
“I asked for that particular photo of Michael in the Slam Dunk contest and then I drew,” Hatfield explains.
Much like Michael soared through the air at the league’s NBA All-Star Weekend in 1988, Westbrook also took his game to new heights this past February, winning All-Star Game MVP in the initial “Cosmos” edition of the Air Jordan XXX.
With Russ and the Thunder looking to disrupt history and upset the Warriors during their 73-9 record-setting season, look for Westbrook to possibly break out this newest player exclusive version of the Air Jordan XXX, featuring a bright blue “Cosmos” upper, custom “RW” logo along the tongue and bold orange Jumpman logos on the toe cap.
