Before the Nike Air Foamposite One OG Royal officially returns on January 26th, Nike SNKRS takes us inside the vault of the original Nike Air Foamposite One.

Basketball footwear was forever changed nearly two decades ago with the arrival of the Nike Air Foamposite One.

While debuting in college competition, the Nike Air Foamposite One was geared up for the explosive game of Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. The extremely durable design came from the mind of longtime Nike designer Eric Avar. The idea first struck Avar in 1994 and took him nearly three years to fully develop for on-court performance.

First rocked by Hardaway during the 1997 Playoffs, the Air Foamposite One’s vibrant blue finish did not match league uniformity rules, forcing him to take matters into his own hands. Making sure he could continue to have the latest Nike innovation on his feet, Hardaway took a black marker to the shoe’s deep ridges to help ensure they met league rules.

In the two decades since its arrival, the Air Foamposite one would go on to pave the way for an entire franchise of footwear that not only included innovative performance models, but also a vast selection of retro releases still appreciated today.

Nike Air Foamposite One OG Royal Release Date

Early Access to purchase the Nike Air Foamposite One XX “Royal” is now available via the Nike SNKRS App before they widely release on January 26th. The retail price tag is set at $230 USD.

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Source: Nike SNKRS