The 2023-2024 NBA season is almost here and the future of Nike Basketball will begin a new chapter with Devin Booker’s first signature shoe — the Nike Book 1.
“It’s obviously something that I was knocking on their door about for years prior, but right now, it’s the right time, Booker told Nice Kicks. “So I just kept moving forward. I love what I did with the Kobe line through my career thus far and I’ll always pay homage back to it, but it’s exciting to have my own shoe.”
The Book 1 blurs the lines of performance and lifestyle as the Phoenix Sun and Ben Nethongkome, Nike’s Basketball Senior Footwear Designer, have coined the term “future-classic” as the shoe nods icons with the Nike DNA archive for inspiration and includes modern tech.
Ahead of the Nike Book 1’s release in December, we spoke with Nike signature athlete Kevin Durant, Jordan Brand athlete Bradley Beal, and Ish Wainright (who plays in Nike’s from his personal collection), during media day about their initial reactions of the upcoming Nike Book 1.
Keep it locked on Nice Kicks on Instagram and the sneaker release dates page to stay on top of the latest news.
Kevin Durant on the Nike Book 1
I’m happy for Book. It’s a huge accomplishment. Nike, you could say, is the rival to Apple as the biggest company in the world. To be a signature athlete for one of the biggest companies in the world means a lot. It’s always been a lifelong dream for every player to have their own shoe.
It’s a start of a brand that’s going to continue to blossom from here. He’s so creative, so innovative that this is only the start for him. I’m excited for the next iteration of Books as well.
Bradley Beal on the Nike Book 1
I need my pairs. He knows I need my pairs in every flavor [he has]. I’m a huge fan of it — that’s a kid’s dream.Every kid, every NBA player wishes they could have their own shoe. For Nike to take the step for him to have his own say-so and his own feel and flesh, that’s every kid’s dream.
Every kid loves Book. He has an unbelievable story behind it and the creation of it. It was was match made. I’m a fan and i need my [size] 14s in my locker.
Ish Wainright on the Nike Book 1
I can’t wait to get mine. He knows. I’m excited for him. We talked about it when I first got here. We wear the same size. I wear some of the shoes that he’s given me over the past couple of years.
I told him I’m extremely happy for him. Not a lot of guys have the opportunity to have a signature shoe and he’s one of them. He deserves it. He worked hard. I’m looking forward to playing in a few pairs of them this year and some KDs.
Stay tuned to Nice Kicks for more NBA content throughout the season.
