The Nike Air Foamposite Pro 25th Anniversary might be the celebration that never was. While Jordan Brand and Nike regularly honor sneaker milestones, this one slipped under the radar.
First released in 1997 and most commonly associated with Penny Hardaway, the Foamposite Pro was an iconic basketball silhouette for its time, crafted from a liquid molded shell. While several models made their comeback for the 20th Anniversary in 2017, no public releases were made for this pair in 2022.
An unreleased “25th Anniversary” sample made from a matte Silver Foam shell with Black and Navy accents recently leaked online. The crisp details, like the “25 Years of Foamposite” insole graphic and “1997–2022” tags on the tongue pull, make it a simple, tasteful homage that should have been released for retail.
Why it never dropped remains unclear. Some believe Nike held back due to the model’s slowing momentum following lukewarm retros. Still, this sample reminds sneakerheads why the Foamposite remains one of Nike’s boldest innovations — a shoe ahead of its time.
If the 25th anniversary went quiet, maybe the 30th in 2027 will finally give the silhouette the comeback it deserves.
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