Nike launches "Art of Champion" collection

With the new 2018 NBA Playoffs just around the corner, Nike has taken the covers off its "Art of a Champion collection," featuring a total of 16 silhouettes from Jordan Brand, Converse and the Swoosh. Each silhouette is linked to a legendary NBA's moment: a stunning move, a buzzer beater or an astonishing Finals' performate. The sneakers will be faithfully reproduced, starting on April 14 with the release of Kobe Protro 1 - worn by Black Mamba during race 4 of the 2006 Finals against the Suns - to end in June with the latest release dedicated to the new NBA samples still to unravel.

Nike Zoom KD IV “Battle Tested”

Nike Air Force 1 Low Retro “Fo’ Fi’ Fo’”

Converse Star Player Ox “Intangibles"

Jordan I “Pass the Torch”

Converse Pro Leather Mid "The Scoop"

The Nike Air Maestro II “Trifecta”

The Nike Kobe 1 Protro “Final Seconds”

The Jordan XX8 “Locked and Loaded”

Though the path to glory is different for every player, it’s 16 vital playoff wins that stand between each of them and the ultimate goal. Reaching that magical 16 requires rising to the occasion in moments that hoops fans never forget. For some, it’s a single moment that lasts just one tick of the game clock. For others, it’s a full 48 minutes plus. While not every moment led directly to a title, each is intrinsic to the respective athlete’s journey toward glory. And for all 14 of them, the metaphor of 16 rings true. They range from the Air Force 1 High Retro worn by Rasheed Wallace when he destroyed the Lakers in the Final of the Western Conference in 2004, up to Converse Chuck 70 of the Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. There are obviously also references to The GOAT Michael Jordan: among all the Jordan XIV - inspired by his Ferrari - who was wearing during his last NBA game, when he decided race 6 against Utah ten seconds from the end winning his sixth title NBA.

The Last Shot XIV

Converse Fastbreak Hi “No Easy Buckets”

Nike Air Force 1 High Retro “Rude Awakening"

Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 1 “25 Straight”

Converse Chuck 70 Ox “30 and 40”

The Air Force 270 "Gold Standard"

Jordan XI Low “Rook to Queen”

For each shoe/moment, Nike has dedicated an artwork that represents the silhouette, the player and the historical period in which they were worn. On nss sports, we will deepen each release in the next two months and for true fans we suggest you come to the presentation event of "The Art of Champion" on Saturday 14th April in Milan in Piazza Gae Aulenti at the Airness store. Five of the sixteen shoe models will be presented and talk about the NBA and sneaker will be the youtuber Luis Sal, the Sky Sport commentator Alessandro Mamoli and the Rolling Stones journalist Matteo Zampollo; followed by Santamanu dj-set and Coma Cose concert. The store will also feature the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, the trophy awarded by the National Basketball Association to the winning team.