Jayson Tatum has swiftly established himself as one of the youngest stars among Jordan Brand's elite roster of signature athletes. Since his early days with the Boston Celtics, Tatum has built a strong relationship with Jordan Brand, initially receiving PE colorways of various Air Jordan models. This partnership culminated in 2023 when Tatum secured his own signature sneaker line, debuting the Jordan Tatum 1. Following its success, Tatum launched the second iteration, the Jordan Tatum 2, further cementing his status as a key figure in the sneaker world.
Now, as Tatum heads to the NBA Finals for the second time in his career, he continues to rock the Tatum 2 on the court. The success of his signature line is a testament to both his performance and his growing influence in the NBA. Each of Jayson Tatum’s sneakers are designed to reflect Tatum's dynamic playstyle and personal journey, making them not only high-performing basketball shoes but also meaningful pieces of his story.
Many of the colorways in Tatum's signature sneaker series draw inspiration from his personal life, adding a unique and heartfelt touch to each release. Early colorways of the Tatum 1, such as Zoo, St. Louis, and Pink Lemonade, are particularly notable. The Zoo colorway, inspired by one of Tatum and his son Deuce's favorite activities, features playful and vibrant designs. The St. Louis pair pays homage to Tatum's hometown, incorporating elements that reflect his roots. Meanwhile, the Pink Lemonade version nods to one of Tatum's favorite drinks, showcasing a refreshing and distinctive aesthetic. Another standout is the Old School rendition, which celebrates Tatum's love for vintage muscle cars, combining retro elements with modern performance features.
His first sneaker, the Jordan Tatum 1, is designed with cutting-edge technology to support Tatum's versatile and explosive playstyle. A lightweight mesh upper, which helps Jayson Tatum’s shoes be the lightest in Jordan Brand’s arsenal, offers excellent breathability and flexibility. This ensures that players can move freely and stay cool during intense games. The mesh is reinforced with synthetic overlays to provide additional support without adding extra weight.
One of the standout features of the Tatum 1 is its responsive cushioning system. The shoe utilizes a forefoot Zoom Air bag, which provides exceptional energy return and impact protection. This cushioning setup is ideal for players like Tatum, who rely on quick, explosive movements and need reliable shock absorption. The outsole of the Tatum 1 is crafted from durable rubber and features a ground-contact foam that acts as a traction pattern, making the sneaker even lighter. This design ensures excellent grip on various court surfaces, allowing players to make quick cuts and changes in direction with confidence.
The Jordan Tatum 2 builds upon the foundation set by the Tatum 1, introducing several enhancements to further support Tatum's dynamic play style. The Tatum 2 features a blend of TPU, leather, and knit materials, offering a combination of durability and comfort. This construction provides a robust yet flexible framework, ensuring long-lasting performance and a comfortable fit.
For its sole unit, we see a full-length Air Strobel unit, which provides a smooth heel-to-toe transition and responsive cushioning. This setup enhances flexibility and impact protection, making it ideal for explosive movements on the court. A notable design feature of the Tatum 2 is the inclusion of foam and textile pods on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe. These pods are strategically placed to relieve pressure in areas that may experience discomfort, enhancing overall comfort during play. The outsole of the Tatum 2 features herringbone traction pods in the forefoot and heel, inspired by the pod design on the upper. This configuration provides a reliable grip on various surfaces, allowing for quick and confident movements.
With a breakdown of Jayson Tatum’s signature sneaker line, let's go ahead and rank his best colorways released (and unreleased) thus far. By emphasizing the personal stories and advanced technology behind Jayson Tatum’s shoes, fans and sneakerheads alike can appreciate both the style and performance these sneakers bring to the court.
Jordan Tatum 2 Momma’s Boy
Honoring his mother's influence, the Jordan Tatum 2 Momma’s Boy showcases a white base with her favorite flower, the calla lily, and vibrant volt and hyper pink detailing. This colorway not only stands out visually but also incorporates a foam midsole and Air Strobel unit for enhanced comfort and impact protection.
Jordan Tatum 2 Sidewalk Chalk
The Jordan Tatum 2 Sidewalk Chalk showcases a blend of pastel hues, featuring light soft pink, mint foam, smoke, lilac, and medium soft pink. This vibrant design is fortified with synthetic leather overlays and oversized foam and textile pods for stability. The shoe also includes Tatum’s “JT” insignia on the tongue and the iconic Jumpman logo on the heel, with a full-length Air Strobel unit providing lightweight cushioning and support for dynamic on-court performance.
Jordan Tatum 2 Denim
The Jordan Tatum 2 Denim features a striking tie-dye denim upper that offers a bold and stylish look, complemented by accents of teal and pink. This colorway is designed for performance, with textile and rubber pods providing impact protection and a full-length Air Strobel unit ensuring optimal cushioning. The shoe is perfect for dynamic play, seamlessly combining style and functionality.
Jordan Tatum 2 Vortex
The Jordan Tatum 2 Vortex features a vibrant mint foam upper complemented by striking accents of lava glow, black, hyper jade, and key lime. This colorway reflects Jayson Tatum's calm demeanor on the court, with the seafoam shade evoking serenity and the colorful pods adding a dynamic edge. The shoe's construction blends mesh, leather, and nubuck for durability and comfort, while the full-length Air Strobel unit ensures responsive cushioning and impact protection.
Jordan Tatum 2 Dongdan
The Jordan Tatum 2 Dongdan celebrates the vibrant basketball culture of Beijing’s renowned Dongdan streetball tournament. This special edition features a striking tie-dye pattern with colors like indigo burst, palest purple, hyper pink, and green glow, reflecting the captivating sunsets of Dongdan. The sneaker is designed for performance and style, featuring lightweight construction, advanced cushioning with a responsive Zoom Air unit, and a durable rubber outsole for excellent grip and stability.
Jordan Tatum 1 Wave Runner
The Jordan Tatum 1 Wave Runner draws inspiration from Jayson Tatum's love for water-based trips with his family and captures a vibrant Miami South Beach vibe. This sneaker features a lagoon pulse upper with accents of pink blast, psychic purple, white, lime glow, and black. Designed for performance, it includes a reinforced foam midsole, a lightweight TPU frame, and an uncaged Zoom Air unit for responsive cushioning.
Jordan Tatum 1 Tunnel Walk
The Jordan Tatum 1 Tunnel Walk draws inspiration from Jayson Tatum's stylish off-court appearances, especially his iconic tunnel walks. This edition features a cream-colored woven upper accented by a brown tie-dye pattern on the eyestay, tongue, and heel overlay. The shoe is completed with Tatum’s personal logo on the tongue and an embroidered Jumpman on the lateral heel. The midsole incorporates lightweight Phylon and a large-volume Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for responsiveness and comfort on the court.
Jordan Tatum 2 Legacy
The Jordan Tatum 2 Legacy honors Jayson Tatum’s journey and the rich heritage of Jordan Brand, blending the iconic “White Cement” design with vibrant pops of color. This colorway features a white mesh upper with black foam and textile pods, speckled grey detailing, and electric green accents. The shoe is designed for performance with strategic foam and textile pods providing comfort and support, a phylon frame, a TPU insert at the heel, and a rubber outsole for traction and responsiveness on the court.
Jordan Tatum 1 Zoo
The Jordan Tatum 1 Zoo is inspired by Jayson Tatum's favorite place to take his son, Deuce. This colorway features a black mesh upper accented with a vibrant animal print in crimson along the heel, giving it a wild and playful look. The design is completed with metallic gold details and a University Red accent. Designed for lightweight performance, the shoe includes a TPU frame for support and a large-volume Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for responsive cushioning.
Jordan Tatum 1 St. Louis
The Jordan Tatum 1 St. Louis pays tribute to Jayson Tatum's roots in St. Louis, Missouri, featuring a design inspired by the city’s iconic landmarks. This colorway showcases a white mesh upper with accents of university red, university blue, and university gold, symbolizing Tatum's connection to his hometown. The shoe includes “Archer Ave” details on the inner tongue label, referencing the street where Tatum grew up. For performance, the sneaker features a full-length Zoom Air unit for responsive cushioning and a TPU frame for support.
Jordan Tatum 1 Barbershop
The Jordan Tatum 1 Barbershop is inspired by Jayson Tatum's confidence boost from getting a fresh haircut, reflecting the athlete's fondness for barbershop culture. This colorway features an off-white mesh upper complemented by a black TPU frame. Notably, it includes mismatched blue and red accents on the right and left shoes, respectively, and colorful webbing pull tabs at the heel resembling a classic barber pole. The shoe also showcases Tatum's personal logo on the tongue and a Jumpman icon on the lateral heel. Designed for performance, it includes an uncaged Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for responsive cushioning and a reinforced TPU frame for support.
Jordan Tatum 1 Denim
The Jordan Tatum 1 Denim features a stylish indigo mesh upper with seamless overlays that emulate the look of stone-washed denim. This unique design is accented by crimson embroidery on Tatum’s personal logo on the tongue and the Jumpman logo on the lateral heel. The shoe is equipped with a prominent TPU support frame and a foam midsole, which includes a large-volume Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for enhanced cushioning. The outsole minimizes rubber usage to maintain lightweight performance.
Jordan Tatum 1 Pink Lemonade
The Jordan Tatum 1 Pink Lemonade brings a refreshing and vibrant look to Jayson Tatum's inaugural signature shoe, inspired by his favorite beverage. This colorway features a lightweight, airy pink mesh upper reinforced with a TPU frame, providing both durability and style. Accents of barely volt, lava glow, and aurora green add a dynamic touch. At the same time, Tatum’s personal logo and the Jumpman icon are prominently displayed in vibrant hues on the tongue and lateral heel. The shoe is equipped with an uncaged Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for responsive cushioning and a foam midsole for additional comfort.
Jordan Tatum 1 Old School
The Jordan Tatum 1 Old School is inspired by Jayson Tatum's 1966 Ford Mustang, featuring a sleek design that pays homage to the classic muscle car aesthetic. This colorway showcases a breathable black mesh upper with crimson red accents that shine through the forefoot and highlight the heel's pull tab. The shoe includes a large TPU frame for stability and a Phylon midsole in a light grey finish, enhanced with Zoom Air cushioning for responsive performance. The outsole uses minimal rubber to keep the shoe lightweight while ensuring durable traction.
Jordan Tatum 1 Cool Grey
The Jordan Tatum 1 Cool Grey draws inspiration from Jayson Tatum's favorite sneaker, the Air Jordan 11 Cool Grey. This colorway features a sleek design with a breathable grey mesh upper, complemented by tonal synthetic overlays around the eyestay and heel. The shoe showcases Tatum’s personal logo on the tongue and a prominent Jumpman logo on the lateral heel. For performance, it includes a large TPU frame supporting the Phylon midsole, with an uncaged Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for responsive cushioning. The outsole is reinforced with rubber under the forefoot and toe for durable traction.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
