The Nike Air Force 1 Low isn’t the brand’s only retro basketball shoe that will be receiving an “NY vs NY” makeover ahead of the annual tournament. Representing another era in Nike’s hoops history is the Air Max Uptempo 95, which is set to launch in an all-new look for the upcoming Swoosh-sponsored showcase.
Ahead of an official release date announcement, e-commerce product images have surfaced of the Nike Air Max Uptempo 95 “NY vs NY.” On this style, the mid-1990s basketball sneaker gets a black-and-white upper that’s essentially a reversed flip of the sneaker’s most famous original colorway.
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On the “NY vs NY” pair, a white leather mudguard is combined with a black leather upper while blue and green accents give the model some new flair. It’s a toned-down look overall, especially in comparison to the more overtly branded Air Force 1, but it’s a welcome addition to the collection nonetheless.
The Air Max Uptempo 95 returned this year in its original “Mystic Teal” colorway, which was memorably worn by the late Kobe Bryant while he was in high school. The sneaker is also set to return soon in its original “Bulls” colorway which was a go-to for Scottie Pippen during the 1995-96 NBA season.
Nike began hosting the NY vs NY basketball tournament, which pits the city’s top teams against each other in streetball competition, in 2017. Numerous commemorative sneakers have been tied to the annual event including the Nike Dunk Low, Nike Ja 1, Nike Blazer, and Nike Terminator.
In addition to the Air Force 1 and Air Max Uptempo 95, this year’s “NY vs NY” collection is expected to feature Ja Morant’s Nike Ja 3.
The “NY vs NY” Nike Air Max Uptempo 95 has a full colorway of “Black/White/Orion Blue/Crimson Pulse/Green Glow” and a SKU of IH5074-010. It’s expected to be released this summer for a retail price of $160.