Nike Jordan’s for Skateboarding?
We all know Nike is already present in the Skateboard industry with its SB and 6.0 lines. But, is there yet to be another addition to their skate influenced shoe invasion? By the looks of things, it seems there truly will be. Jordan skateboarding shoes are the newest addition to their onslaught of various sub-brands. The first shoe they will be releasing will be called the “flipside”. Rumors of them working with professional skateboarder Stevie Williams are said to be proven correct. Will he be the first team rider?
Jordans have always been pricey shoes to begin with, so it makes me wonder what these kicks will sell for on the market. Personally, I don’t really feel there’s a need for so many skateboard sub-brands on Nike’s behalf. If they are going to make Nike skateboarding shoes, then they should just keep it under one name. One more point that I feel would be worth bringing up, is the fact that the Jordan logo is still the same - the all-familiar icon of Michael Jordan going for a massive basketball dunk. It almost feels wrong to see someone skateboarding in this shoe. I will remember Michael Jordan for what he was, a legendary Basketball player. Definitely not a former skateboarder or anything even close related to that.
Tags: Nike 6.0
Posted by Ruben 'Studdard' Najera on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 in Skateboarding.
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June 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 am
Well, it won’t actually be skate shoe it will be “their version” of a skate shoe. Pretty different. They can’t dilute the Jordan brand to much by fully embracing a category he has never impacted. The other angle is the Nike SB has had several Jordan inspired shoes.
Jordan is an icon that transcends basketball and plays to a very large audience. You won’t see the Jumpman 23 (Jordan) brand in thrasher or TW anytime soon but for the millions of Jordan fans who were buying the skate inspired shoes…now they have an in-brand go to shoe.
As for Jordan and the brand nobody is ever going to mistake him with a skater or palce him in that category.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Jordan…is he even still relevant as a basketball star? He got fired from his last job and hasn’t played in years. And why skateboarding Jordans? That’s like Tiger Woods making trucks.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:36 am
Actually, it does make sense knowing what level of market penetration he has across a wide range of demographics. Plus, he’s still one of the biggest names in the footwear game globally. Transitioning from a B-ball shoe to skate shoe isn’t that difficult. What are dunk sb’s based off of? That’s right the old dunk hoops shoe.
As for relevance, Jordan remains an Icon to those controlling the reigns at Nike. No NBA superstar has stepped into his shoes with the same trifecta of on-court performance, mass appeal and marketability. Kobe was headed there and then he had his legal issues. I highly doubt we’ll see another player like Jordan for some time.
After thinking more about this I doubt any Jordan branded skate inspired shoe will sell. We all know what happens when big brands and icons only half hearted put their foot into action sports…they get half hearted response.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Jordans were a staple of the skateboarders from way back in 85′ when the Jordan 1 released. they couldn’t give those away when they first dropped cause of the high pricetag, so they hit clearance racks and sold em dirt cheap. the boarders would rock them, a lot of em cutting the high top down to mids or lows and duct taping the tops since the only skating shoes at the time were vans.
June 5th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Lets not forget about Vision, Airwalk and a host of other brands that skaters rocked as well: Adidas the adidas campus, puma suedes & clydes even the Chuck Taylor. Event Etnies entered in 1987 with the Natas high top which bears a striking resemblance to … a basketball shoe.
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