Nike Bring Back the OG 97 Foamposite One ‘Royal’

News of this release was first published on December 13, 2023:

Update February 21, 2024: Last year, rumours of a Foamposite One ‘Royal’ re-release surfaced. While there is no official drop date yet, @zsneakerheadz has stated that the silhouette may drop this August. Stay locked to Sneaker Freaker for more updates.

In 1997, the Nike Air Foamposite One changed hoop kicks forever, and now Nike are bringing it back for a 2024 release in the most coveted colourway. Eric Avar’s unconventional polyurethane build became synonymous with NBA Superstar Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway. The Orlando Magic superstar got his hands on an early sample and even influenced the final construction. He then rocked them on-court often, and they dominated basketball from the hardwood to the blacktop. The Air Foamposite One maintained its popularity from the late 90s through to the 2010s, but it eventually led to oversaturation and a subsequent dropoff of releases. The Swoosh have been more strategic with Foamposite colourways recently, and it doesn’t get more strategic than dropping the OG 97 colourway.

In their recent SNKRS Showcase, Nike confirmed they’re bringing back the original 'Royal' Nike Air Foamposite One in 2024. This is the same colour scheme as the shoe’s 1997 debut, famously featured in the iconic phone number advertising campaign (photo above). During the announcement, Nike also provided glimpses at the soon-to-release Eggplant Foamposites and unveiled some first looks at the freshly announced retro pair.

The initial shots show that the shoe is constructed with a 'Dark Neon Royal' Foam shell, blending seamlessly with bold black and blue detailing on the mid-foot carbon fibre shank. Fans of the OG will notice that the forefoot’s small Swooshes are straight out of the 1997 ads when the kicks were first released. The key detail here is that this is the first time the mid-foot carbon fibre shank and the midfoot’s Swoosh branding have been coloured black and blue since they first debuted. Finishing off the design is an ice-cold translucent sole that provides a dab of nostalgia for the shoe’s original run.

There’s no release date yet, but the long-awaited retro will be dropping in 2024 with the expected price tag of $240. Keep it locked to Sneaker Freaker for more release updates and official images.

Check out how the Foamposite One crushed New York City hoops.