Greek wunderkind Giannis Antetokounmpo is fresh off his first ever NBA MVP award after an astounding season. After his heartfelt, tearful speech in Los Angeles at the NBA Awards the Antetokounmpo family headed home to celebrate another huge accomplishment and new addition to Giannis’ ever-growing trophy room–the debut of his Nike signature shoe.
After months of speculation, Giannis and Nike finally revealed the Air Zoom Freak 1. Inspired by Giannis’ love of the Kobe line, the Freak 1 aims to enhance and fine tune the things that made Giannis fall in love with the Mamba’s line. The focus on containing Giannis movements is achieved with a series of forefoot bands and a unique traction pattern on the sole. The multidirectional traction pattern of the outsole is one of the most dynamic features of the Air Zoom Freak 1.
The sole and the forefoot bands were developed to support Giannis quick and powerful bursts as well as his long strides on the court. The new traction system will allow Giannis to destroy defenders with a scorching eurostep on one side of the court and lockdown the toughest scorers on the other. Along with the new traction system, the Air Zoom Freak 1 boasts double-stacked Zoom Air unit under the heel for both cushioning and response.
The Freak 1 is a love letter to Giannis’ unique personality, family, and heritage. The primary logo found on the tongue of the Freak 1 is an interlocked G and A with the enlarged A representing Giannis putting the family before himself. The clipped corner of the G represents Giannis uncanny athletic ability. The heel of the Freak 1 bears a logo that combines Giannis #34 with the Greek flag.
The roses found on the outsole represent the Greek custom of placing roses around the house after the death of a loved one. The quote “I Am My Father’s Legacy,” something he wrote on every pair of Kobe’s he wore since his father’s passing, has been permanently etched into the sole of the shoe. The aforementioned forefoot bands that ensure lockdown also represent family, each of the four bands represents an Antetokounmpo brother.
The Freak 1 debuted in a myriad of flavors. First the “All Bros” colorway will release 6/29 featuring a bright orange upper and a gradient midsole with speckled with paint. A more muted colorway with a black upper and white midsole will release in July. A special all-white colorway dedicated to his father will be available in September. The “Roses” colorway features hints of red on the outsole and a gleaming golden swoosh on the midsole. These are just the colorways we know of, Giannis showed off more in his rebuke of the haters including a purple colorway with splash of pink, turquoise colorway with beige hints, and a reversal of the All Bros colorway with a blue upper instead of orange.
Alongside the shoes, Giannis revealed the accompanying Greek Freak branded Gear including shorts and socks with Ancient Greece- themed branding. Giannis is poised to be the one the biggest stars in the NBA. Small market who?
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