A somewhat obscure yet fan-favorite 1990s Nike basketball sneaker is making its long-awaited return.
Nike is set to reissue the Air Bakin in its original Black/Varsity Royal colorway during holiday 2026. The news comes courtesy of @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, who report that the specific style will receive its first reissue since 2008.
Although it was not a full-on signature sneaker, the Air Bakin is most closely associated with former NBA great Tim Hardaway, who wore the 1997 pair while playing with the Miami Heat. Most famously known for its black-and-red colorway with contrasting yellow shoelaces, the soon-to-be-reissued Black/Varsity Royal was another one of the model’s original styles.
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Early news of an Air Bakin retro was seemingly confirmed by Nike designer Frank Cooke, who commented “We are back like we left something” on an Instagram post about the sneaker’s return.
The original launch of the Air Bakin was not without controversy. In April ’97, the Council on American-Islamic Relations demanded that Nike, Inc. apologize for an “Air” logo used on the sneaker, which closely resembled the word “Allah” in Arabic script. It was released alongside other flame-themed sneakers such as the Air Melt, Air Grill and Air B-Que that summer. Adjustments were swiftly made, altering the appearance to a standard Nike Air emblem.
”We absolutely regret any misunderstanding, and we regret that this appeared in retail stores,” a Nike spokesperson said at the time.
The Air Bakin was last seen at retail in spring 2023 in a two-shoe collaboration with streetwear brand Supreme. At the time, there was speculation of a wider, general release, although it never materialized, making 2014 the last time the model was available at retail in non-collaboration form. In addition to the sneaker, the line has inspired other Nike models such as 2017’s Air Bakin Posite boot. More recently, in 2025, a “DMV Drive” version of Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 18 made reference to the Air Bakin’s appeal in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia district, where the NBA star grew up.
The Nike Air Bakin OG Black/Varsity Royal is set to be released this holiday season from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Nike Sportswear retailers.