Rumors began circulating in late 2022 that Devin Booker was next in line to get a signature sneaker. Following Ja Morant and Jayson Tatum's (Jordan Brand) footsteps, we can confirm that the Phoenix Suns star is set to become the latest Nike athlete to get his own shoe. Unconfirmed reports speculated the shoe was set to drop next spring, however, we will see the debut of Devin Booker's Nike Book 1 for Holiday 2023; crazy, right!?
Devin Booker's debut sneaker, the Nike Book 1, effortlessly fuses classic aesthetics with top-tier performance. This alignment mirrors the Phoenix Suns shooting guard’s personal style—understated and timeless, yet highly functional. Booker remarked, “Early on, we landed on the phrase ‘future classic.’” This ethos became the cornerstone of the design process. Drawing inspiration from iconic Nike models like the Air Force 1, the Blazer, and the AJ1, as well as personal touchpoints like his restored '72 Chevy Blazer K5, the shoe epitomizes a harmonious blend of vintage and contemporary. Booker's "Uncle Larry," as he fondly calls the Chevy, possesses a vintage exterior with a modern, high-performance core—much like the sneaker.
“At the beginning of the design process, we landed on the idea of the shoe combining lifestyle and performance worlds. The goal was to create something that would be timeless," said Devin.
Guided by insights from both Booker and young basketball players globally, the Book 1 delivers a custom blend of lateral stability, cushioning, and on-foot responsiveness. This is achieved through a meticulously crafted combination of a Cushlon 2.0 foam midsole, a rigid TPU sidewall for enhanced support, and a top-loaded Nike Zoom Air bag situated in the heel. Externally, the sneaker showcases a workwear-inspired rugged canvas and twill upper for longevity, accompanied by a plush suede collar and genuine leather forefoot for added durability and comfort. Inspired by a book spine, a distinctive heel pull tab encapsulates the sneaker’s narrative essence, with numbers alluding to chapters in Booker's evolving journey.
While Devin Booker is further along in his NBA career than most of Nike's other signature NBA athletes, rumor has it that the reason it took Devin Booker so long to get a signature shoe is that he wanted the most cutting-edge technology and materials Nike possessed.
The Nike Book 1 Clay Orange will be released exclusively via UNKNWN in Miami to coincide with Art Basel. It is limited to 500 pairs. A SNKRS Pass will go live on December 8, 2023, at 4 PM ET with winners picking up the pair on Sunday, December 10.
Three more colorways will follow in Spring 2024, Light Orewood Brown, Ashen Slate, and a third unknown color scheme at this time. It will drop at Nike, via the SNKRS app, and at select retailers worldwide, both in-store and online. Coming in men's sizing, retail is set at $140. Keep it locked to our Twitter and Mobile App to stay up to date on future releases.
Image via foot_doctor_zach
Images via Sneaker News
Nike Book 1 Clay Orange
Images via Nike
Image via Davon Wade
Nike Book 1 Light Orewood Brown
Nike Book 1 Ashen Slate
In this article
Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
