For 2020, Nike Basketball is evolving the brand’s industry-leading work to improve energy return through footwear innovation. Ross Klein, Senior Creative Director for Nike Basketball footwear, led a team on a mission to evolve Nike Air — our most efficient cushioning platform for energy return — and create the Nike Air Zoom BB NXT.

“The game and the athletes have evolved in this new era of basketball,” says Klein. “We now have athletes that are ‘positionless’ and generate the values of all positions on court. Within the NBA alone these positionless athletes face a grueling journey, starting with the offseason training, then preseason, and into the 82-game season, playoffs, Finals. Fatigue is the enemy and endurance is the goal.”

Staying fresh at the game’s critical, closing moments is key. With that in mind, the Nike Air Zoom BB NXT introduces a unified system of full-length Nike REACT foam, plate and Nike Air Zoom pods to provide basketball players at all levels with impact protection and energy return.

“The shoe is similar to a car,” says Klein. “There are many parts and pieces, each doing a very specific job, but working in unison.”

Nike Air Zoom BB NXT Release Date

Look for the Nike Air Zoom BB NXT “Dangerous” to release on July 25th and the “Rawthentic” colorway in September at select retailers and Nike.com. The retail price tag is set at $180 USD.

UPDATE 6/22: Nike announces that the Air Zoom BB NXT in the Black/Green “Dangerous” colorway will release on July 2nd in Greater China and July 25th in North America. The White “Rawthentic” colorway releases in North America in September.