The Best of Nike 2023
The had a huge 2023, across all sports and brands. From and retros to new performance sneakers that continue to push innovation and boundaries, Nike continues to be the standard for sneakers today. We’ve wrapped up the year with our favourite sneakers and headlines from Nike, check out the list below.
Reunited and it Feels So Good
Things were in limbo for a while between Nike and the estate, putting the Nike Kobe Protro line in jeopardy. Vanessa Bryant announced that they’ve come to an agreement last year and Nike CEO John Donahoe announced plans to relaunch the Kobe brand this year, starting off with the on Nike Kobe Day (August 24).
More Kobe Protros were announced, with the dropping last week and the dropping before the end of the year. This looks like to be the tip of the iceberg as a handful of Kobe Protros are slated to drop in 2024 and we hope that there’s more on the way.
Return of the Mac Attack
The has a cult-like following, with OG pairs fetching into the thousands due to the John McEnroe signature sneaker never getting a retro. The Swoosh finally gave what the OGs wanted and the Mac Attack returned in 2023.
Tapping Travis Scott to help market the sneaker to a new demographic, the Mac Attack was a breath of fresh air. The OG Grey/Black colourway was relatively available for those who wanted pairs and the construction and materials were top-notch. We’re hoping for more love for tennis from Nike in the future as it's been on the back burner for the Swoosh for a while now. Fingers crossed.
Corteiz Rules the World
Known for their disruptive drops, linked up with Nike on three collaborative colourways of the , which Clint and his team had different activations for each local drop in London, NYC, and Paris.
Dropping coordinates to a footy pitch in London, contestants lined up around the block to do a crossbar challenge from the penalty arc in order to get a pair of the Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 in ‘Gutta Green’. Corteiz had sneakerheads hauling down 34th St. in NYC and the streets of Paris for the ‘Pink Beam’ and ‘Aegean Storm’ colourways respectively, instantly selling out and causing a frenzy in all three cities.
Arguably the best collaboration of 2023, Corteiz continues to break all the rules and it looks like things are just getting started. A Supreme collaboration rumoured to drop next year and another Nike colab on the Air Trainer Huarache, 2024 will be a huge year for the brand and we’re excited to see what’s next.
She Got Game
Sabrina Ionescu has been getting buckets on the national stage since her days as an Oregon Duck and the New York Liberty guard got a signature sneaker with the Swoosh in the earlier this year.
Ionescu, who has looked to Kobe as a mentor and a family friend of the Bryants, brings the Kobe DNA to her signature sneaker. The Sabrina 1 uses a low cut profile with a breathable mesh build, using React in the midsole and a forefoot Zoom unit for cushioning and impact protection. The sneaker has been a hit since its launch, with NBA and WNBA players alike rocking the Sabrina 1 on court.
We hope that there’s more women signature sneakers on the way in the future, with reigning WNBA Champion and Finals MVP A’ja Wilson on the shortlist to get a sig.
Nike SB Links and Builds
Collaborations are oversaturated on the sneaker market today and it’s getting lazy, to be honest. But the king of colabs, Nike SB continue to show brands how it's done and went off in 2023.
Jarritos, Crenshaw Skate Club, Albino & Preto, Supreme, April Skateboards, Powerpuff Girls, the list goes on. Nike SB continues to show an eclectic range of collaborators they worked with in 2023 and we hope that momentum doesn’t slow down in 2024.
Book It!
Getting a signature sneaker is scarce in 2023 and rarer to get one with the Swoosh. As Kyrie Irving and Nike have departed ways and discontinued Paul George’s signature line, Nike needed to find an athlete to join Ja Morant to be the face of the brand for a new generation, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker got the call.
Nike have unveiled the which changes things up aesthetically for a modern performance basketball sneaker. Opting for a more classic and versatile look for people to wear on and off the court, the Book 1 looks like it took inspiration from the Air Force 1 while throwing in a modern cushioning setup. Although the Nike Book 1 won’t drop until next year, Nike dropped 500 pairs during Art Basel and it seems like the sneaker are starting to grow on people with time. Only time will tell but Booker getting a signature sneaker with Nike was long overdue and well deserved.
Breaking Records
The task to make the best marathon running shoe is no small task as brands continue to innovate and break records and continues to build upon past iterations. Kelvin Kiptum broke the marathon world record during the Chicago marathon in 2 hours and 35 seconds and Sifan Hassan won the Chicago marathon on the women’s side, both rocking the Alphafly 3.
We don’t have to wait long for the Nike Alphafly 3 as they’re set to drop in January 2024. So for those looking to check off a marathon or half marathon off the bucket list, the Alphafly 3 might be the shoe for you in 2024.