The Air Jordan 12 “Bucks” is officially called “Idols Become Rivals” by Nike, and the story behind it is pretty easy to follow. Ray Allen grew up looking up to Michael Jordan, then years later found himself playing against him in the NBA. That connection carries over to the shoe, which clearly borrows from the Air Jordan 12 PE Allen wore during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Allen’s original pair first surfaced in 2004 and has stayed high on the list for longtime Jordan collectors. Back then, player exclusives were much harder to see unless you caught them on court or in a rare photo. This new pair is not being sold as a Ray Allen retro, but anyone familiar with his Bucks PE will see where the look comes from.

White leather covers most of the upper, while deep Green wraps around the lower half of the shoe through the textured mudguard. Purple adds some color on the metallic eyelets, tongue branding, heel details, and the midfoot plate. Together, the colors give the shoe the same Bucks feel as Allen’s original pair.

The biggest difference is in the heel. Allen’s PE had his own custom lettering, while this version sticks with standard Jordan branding. Outside of that, the overall look stays close to the pair that helped inspire it.

Air Jordan 12 Bucks Release Date

The Air Jordan 12 “Bucks” will release on September 12, 2026 at select Jordan Brand retailers and SNKRS. Family sizing will be available, with the men’s pair priced at $215.

Stay up to date with all upcoming Air Jordan releases from our Air Jordan Release Dates page.

Photos: size?