Such a generic name for a sneaker that, if released today, would be a gigantic hit. Over a decade ago, Nike released the Nike Air Signature Player as a team-based model. It was in fact a popular team shoe and was worn by a small handful of NBA players like Paul Pierce, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Juwan Howard, and Kenny Anderson, but the Air Signature Player was sort of an attempt to bring Foam to a broader audience with the lower-in-comparison $130 price-point. Visually, the shoe was a stunner, with great attention to detail shown on the outsole as well as the distinct upper mold. The build consisted of visible Max Air unit at the heel and an encapsulated unit at the forefoot, a full Foamposite upper, and a full-length Dynamic Fit inner sleeve.
Unfortunately, the Air Signature Player is just one of many shoes that might’ve been too ahead of its time. The $130 price-tag was still relatively high for a Nike Basketball shoe, which many consumers considered too steep for an ‘experimental’ material. It was still a top performer, particularly among bigger guards and small forwards (the cushioning was a bit softer than Zoom Air). Several white team-based colorways of the Air Signature Player released, with the most exciting ones being the ‘Royal’ pair and ‘Gold’ pair. If you find a deadstock pair in your sights, cop ’em quick! More of tonight’s Classics Revisited is just ahead.
Nike Air Signature Player
830274-401
2001
$130
