FRESH KICKS:

Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA All-Star Games of all time, the 2001 ASG in Washington, DC saw Allen Iverson take home MVP honors after leading a stirring comeback performance from his undersized East squad — all while wearing an unreleased pair of white and black Reebok Question Mids. Iverson’s halftime speech, efforts to erase a 21-point deficit with only nine minutes remaining and game shoes have become the stuff of legend, so Reebok is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Answer’s memorable performance by re-releasing his Question Mid from the game and dubbing it the “Why Not Us?”

Pulling its moniker from Iverson’s Herculean 15-point fourth quarter and the postgame press conference where he noted “We were all sitting on the sideline saying: ‘Why not us?’,” the shoe is built from premium white leather with a black leather toe cap and heel piece providing contrast. Branding arrives via a black midfoot Vector logo, a white Question graphic on the heel and black/white eyestays that spell out “Reebok.” 

A special tweak is provided by the inner side of the tongue, with the right shoe boasting a “Why Not Us?” text graphic and the right a large question mark. More black trim around the tongue, black DMX cushioning units in the midsole and a black #3 badge on the heel add further to the yin and yang contrast. Smoky black translucent outsoles with a Vector logo round off the look.

Expect the Reebok Question Mid “Why Not Us?” to hit the Reebok webstore and retailers like Foot Locker on March 6 with an MSRP of $140 USD. For a trip down memory lane, see highlights of the 2001 ASG with Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and more below.Nice Kicks and adidas (XETRA:ADS.DE -1.43%) have joined forces for a two tone tie-dye Ultra4D. Combining an UltraBOOST upper with a 4D midsole, the Ultra4D is a new take on a familiar silhouette — making it a fitting canvas for Nice Kicks, who’s also released tye-dyed UltraBOOSTS and NMD R1s in years past.

First premiered by footwear designer Frank Cooke and Nice Kicks head Matt Halfhill, the collaborative sneaker features a black and white spiral tie-dye print on its forefoot and midfoot. Heels, heel counters and Three Stripe midfoot cages are left a monochromatic black, and a small red Nice Kicks logo is present on the tongue for a pop of flair. Down below, latticed 4D midsoles are done up in jet black and work with black outsoles to round off the look. 

According to an Instagram post from Cooke, the design is dubbed “Have a Nice Day” and nods to “enjoying the elements during these confining times.” This ethos is furthered by the shoe’s friends and family-only seeding kits, which package it in a picnic basket complete with a blanket and full set of dining accessories.

The Nice Kicks x adidas Ultra4D will release sans dining accessories on Nice Kicks Shop come March 5, and is priced at $250 USD.Nike (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) has given its Air Max 90 another Japan-inspired twist. Near the start of the month, Nike unveiled a version of the silhouette modeled after a Japanese rice ball. Now, the label has offered a vibrant “Swoosh Mart” colorway that mirrors the look of paper wrappers commonly served with fried chicken in Japan.

The entire shoe is decorated with bold yellow stripes, complemented by shiny metallic highlights. A tiny “NIKE” logo is stamped at the top of the shoe’s tongue, followed by a set of white laces and silver-toned eyelet panels. A metallic Swoosh is placed over the sidewalls, popping out from the uppers’ yellow stripes, accompanied by a branded heel tab and a small “Air Max” label around the shoe’s rear quarters. 

There’s a subtle “open” sign around the edge of the shoe’s toebox and upper collars that, once torn, reveal a hidden layer of orange suede mimicking the texture of crispy fried chicken. All of these details rest over a clean two-toned midsole to round off the shoe’s playful design.

Nike’s Air Max 90 “Swoosh Mart” is expected to land on March 19 on Nike’s websitefor $140 USD.New Balance Japan has put a new spin to its 574. The silhouette has been updated with monochromatic hi-tech uppers for added comfort, bringing newfound utility to the classic model.

Starting at the top of the shoe is a large “NB” tongue tag, complemented by a ripstop heel tab and mesh collars. The shoe comes with suede panels around the heel and toecap as well as full-grain leather along the quarters, eyelets and toebox for a variety of textures. New Balance’s “N” logo is placed at the sidewalls, beneath translucent overlays, while “New Balance” branding is stamped at the rear quarters. All of these features are supported by an articulated ENCAP midsole offering durability and comfort.

New Balance Japan’s hi-tech 574s in black and white colorways are currently available on the label’s website for ¥10,890 JPY (approximately $103 USD).After teasing an upcoming “City Special” series with an Air VaporMax Plus and Air Max Plus, Nike  (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) drops the new Air VaporMax in an “Exeter Edition” colorway with a bright color palette.

The silhouette is covered in eye-catching hues that include volt, orange, and lime, also featuring some neutral tones. Overlays of ribbed Flyknit material provide texture to the upper as it transitions from orange and gray along with patches of orange and volt across the mudguard and the heel. To balance off the vibrant tones, navy makes an understated presence on the tongue, with cream gracing the shoelaces.

We can see several branded elements in this iteration such as the “Exeter Edition” tag on the side panel — which pays homage to Exeter, New Hampshire, where the brand first started its running division — the lime Vapormax heel tab, and the orange and gray Swooshes on the midfoot. A VaporMax sole unit tinted in translucent-blue compliments Nike’s recycled Grind rubber.

Priced at $200 USD, the new Nike “Exeter Edition” Air VaporMax is expected to drop in the upcoming months.Nike (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) ‘s latest Free Run Trail has been given a bold update — reflective lines resembling geographic mapping of hiking trails.

Most of the shoe’s uppers come in a smooth matte grey, complemented by cream-colored mesh. A “NIKE FREE TRAIL 5.0” tag is placed at the top of the tongue, followed by a teal lacing system that matches the same tone as the shoe’s heel tab. The shoe features a thinly embroidered Swoosh over a body of perforated synthetic leather detailed with fragmented reflective lines. All of these details rest over a flexible mint-colored, eco-friendly Free midsole that offers a vibrant touch to the shoe’s grey uppers. 

No release dates have been disclosed, but this model of Nike’s Free Run Trail is expected to land soon on Nike’s website — prices have yet to be confirmed.