Nike is bringing back the Air Bakin, a basketball shoe first introduced in 1997, in a new colorway.
Set for release in South Korea on November 12, the ‘Air Bakin High SP Varsity Royal and Black’ layers curved royal-blue panels over a black upper. It has the chunky shape and high-cut construction characteristic of 1990s basketball shoes.
The Air Bakin was one of the models that embodied Nike basketball’s experimental designs at the time. Unlike conventional basketball shoes, it featured wave-shaped panels running across the sides. An upper rising high around the ankle joined a substantial midsole to create its distinctive look.
The 1997 basketball shoe designed by Eric Avar
The Air Bakin was designed by Eric Avar, a prominent Nike footwear designer. His work, including the Air Penny and Air Foamposite One and later Kobe Bryant’s signature basketball shoes, made him known for designs that gave functional technology a distinctive appearance.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Nike was actively experimenting with new materials and construction beyond conventional basketball-shoe designs. While the Air Foamposite One introduced a futuristic shape through its one-piece upper, the Air Bakin took a very different direction with repeating curved panels and thick rubber elements.
Designed with both indoor courts and outdoor basketball in mind, the Air Bakin placed mesh between sections of its upper and used a rubber outsole built for durability. It combined the performance features demanded of basketball shoes at the time with an experimental look.
Tim Hardaway’s special connection to the Air Bakin
One player central to the Air Bakin’s story is Tim Hardaway, who played for the NBA’s Miami Heat.
Known for his quick dribbling and changes of direction, he wore the Air Bakin in games in 1997 and became the player most closely associated with the model.
The Air Bakin was not Hardaway’s official signature basketball shoe, but the red-and-black version he wore at the time remains closely associated with both the player and the shoe.
The red-and-black color scheme, which echoed the Miami Heat’s team colors, and yellow laces were distinctive features of the original Air Bakin.
The Air Bakin was thus associated with a player in a different way from the official signature lines of Michael Jordan or Penny Hardaway. Rather than repeat the red-and-black color scheme emblematic of that era, this Varsity Royal version applies a new blue colorway to the 1997 silhouette.
Royal blue panels contrast with black mesh
The most striking feature of this model’s design is the royal blue paneling that runs from the toe to the ankle.
Layers of repeating curves reveal black mesh between the panels, creating a sense of depth that color placement alone could not achieve.
Up close, the blue side panels show a corrugated texture and a series of small cuts, set apart by black material wrapping around the toe and lower section.
Light gray shoelaces add contrast to the blue-and-black combination, while small Swooshes at the ankle and on the midsole blend naturally into the overall design.
In particular, the panels’ increasingly pronounced curve toward the back of the ankle is a key design feature that sets the Air Bakin apart from other basketball shoes.
A heel that reflects the original model’s history
The Air Bakin is known not only for its distinctive design but also for the controversy over its logo when it was released in 1997.
After concerns were raised that the flame-shaped “AIR” logo on the original shoe’s heel resembled the Arabic rendering of “Allah,” Nike recalled the shoe and later reintroduced it with a conventional Nike Air logo.
The new Varsity Royal model likewise uses a conventional Nike Air logo instead of the original flame-shaped graphic at the center of the heel. A blue logo sits against a black background, while the curved panels encircling the ankle extend to the heel, preserving the hallmarks of the 1990s design.
Max Air cushioning and a thick midsole
The thick, raised midsole is as distinctive as the upper.
A visible Max Air unit sits in the heel, while separate Air cushioning in the forefoot is designed to absorb impact.
Up close, the Air unit is visible along the curves of the heel’s midsole. This reflects the design approach of Nike basketball shoes in the 1990s, which displayed their cushioning technology on the outside.
The outsole combines black and blue rubber with a repeating groove pattern. A high-cut collar with generous ankle padding, a heel pull tab and an overall rounded shape also carry forward elements of the 1997 basketball shoe’s construction.
A silhouette that connects with today’s streetwear
Born on the basketball court, the Air Bakin has a design that works in today’s streetwear, too. With much of its bulk concentrated along the sides and midsole, it could make for a striking look paired with relaxed bottoms such as wide-hem jeans or nylon track pants.
To highlight the royal blue panels, pair the sneakers with black or charcoal clothing. Worn with washed denim or a vintage basketball jersey, they also make a direct connection to 1990s sportswear design.
Nike Air Bakin High SP South Korea Release Details
The Nike Air Bakin High SP “Varsity Royal and Black” is scheduled to release in the U.S. on November 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) via Nike SNKRS, with a retail price of $170.
About 30 years on, the basketball shoe remembered for Eric Avar’s design and Tim Hardaway’s on-court appearances is being reintroduced through a streetwear lens.
