Nike is bringing back a nostalgic late-’90s basketball sneaker as the Nike Air Bakin is rebooted in its original “Varsity Royal” colorway. Last seen back in 2008, the blue and black color scheme closely resembles the design first released almost thirty years ago.

Black mesh is featured on an upper that’s split by panels of blue and white “Varsity Royal” coloring. Long cutouts divide the royal blue sections to reveal black mesh underneath. Black overlays are placed over the toe, mudguard, and heel while grey laces and thin white piping separate the darker colors. White swooshes are placed laterally near the ankle and on the midsole while embroidered blue Nike Air logo complete the heel. The shoe features a black rubber outsole with blue accents down the center.

The Nike Air Bakin was initially released back in 1997 and was worn by multiple NBA players throughout the late-’90s. Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Kevin Garnett were just a few names that wore the unique silhouette during their careers.

Originally, the shoe came with a flame-embroidered heel spell out “AIR.” However, the logo was later removed due to controversy over claims that it spelled “Allah” in Arabic. Later, different versions of the shoe swapped out the original branding for Nike’s standard Air logo, which you’ll find on this new release.

Nike Air Bakin Varsity Royal 2026 Release Date

The Nike Air Bakin “Varsity Royal” arrives November 12, 2026, with a $170 retail price. Availability will be through Nike and select retailers. See retailer pics below.

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Photos: Jae Tips

Photos: rache1_nguyen