Wale Unveils Nike Basketball's New Foamposite-Like Sneaker the GT Future

Published February 15, 2025

This NBA All-Star Weekend feels much more special than it has in the last five years. Footwear brands, especially Nike, have been going all out in promoting their upcoming releases, creating unique activations throughout the city of San Francisco. Of course, this is also the time to share first looks at new sneakers, which Nike quietly did last night during the Nike Future Game.

In the matchup against Utah Prep and Dynamic Prep, 18-year-old phenom AJ Dybantsa, currently ranked number one in the 2025 recruiting class and committed to BYU, took the floor in a black pair of Nike sneakers that had never been seen. In addition to Dybantsa wearing the futuristic silhouette, DMV native, Foamposite-head, and artist Wale was spotted wearing the sneaker in an orange colorway.

AJ Dybantsa wearing the Nike GT Future Black

The silhouette in question, the Nike GT Future, features a one-piece no-sew upper that immediately compares to the Nike LeBron 21’s “oyster shell” design inspiration, featuring subtle striations throughout the upper. However, the most obvious comparison is to the Nike Foamposite series, which also features similar molded striations in the design language of the various models that fall under this category. Moving up from this one-piece upper, we see a tongue and lace set, the former containing a large Swoosh logo, while the heel area features a similar design to the Yeezy 700 MNVN. Final details include Swoosh logos on the lateral collar and medial toe, a midsole covered by the same material as the upper, and a rubber outsole reminiscent of the Nike Hyperflight.

There has been plenty of chatter online and in the sneaker community regarding Nike's lack of innovation and new hit silhouettes. It seems they've taken this criticism as a challenge to push the envelope, with brands like adidas making headway in terms of its basketball offerings. Hopefully, with this new silhouette and the help of the legendary Frank Cooke, who shared images taken by Joseph Evans at the event, Nike Basketball and the Nike brand can make more noise.

The Nike GT Future is set to debut in Holiday 2025 via Nike, the SNKRS app, and at select retailers online and in-store. Coming in men's sizing, retail is set at $190. Check below for some early on-foot shots of the pair, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.