Based on 155th Street and Fredrick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, New York, Rucker Park is the undisputed mecca of street basketball — and Nike Sportswear is saluting its legendary status with special iterations of the Air Force 1 and Air Barrage. Featuring basketball-centric detailing, each pair provides a compelling homage to the summertime stomping ground where luminaries like Kevin Durant and the late, great Kobe Bryant rub shoulders with streetball legends like Rafer "Skip To My Lou" Alston and Corey "Homicide" Williams.
First up is the Air Force 1. An undeniably apt choice due to its history in New York City — and especially Harlem, where it's still known as the "Uptown" — this low-cut iteration of a classic is built fully of white leather. Smooth on the upper's panels and tumbled on the Swoosh, this crisp base material is rimmed by bright orange contrast stitching, collar lining and tags on the old-school mesh tongue. Enamel basketballs replace the standard lace deubres, Rucker Park's zip code is embroidered on the lateral heel and a basketball court is printed on the insole. White midsoles and orange outsoles finalize the look.
Once worn by Marshall Faulk, the Barrage Low is more known on the gridiron than the blacktop, but here it salutes outdoor hoops nonetheless. It's built from white leathers and meshes, with orange appearing on Swooshes, collar trim and toeboxes alike. Pops of black appear on the heel tab, rubberized tongue badge and midsole's Air branding to provide a finishing touch.
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The Nike Air Force 1 and Air Barrage Low "Rucker Park" will release at retailers like atmos on May 13. The Air Force 1 is priced at ¥11,000 JPY (approximately $102 USD), while the Barrage Low arrives at ¥13,000 JPY (approximately $120 USD).
For more news on upcoming sneaker releases, check out the latest installment of HYPEBEAST's Best Footwear Drops list.
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