Nike’s Unforgettable “Freestyle” Ad Remembered With The Air Flightposite One

If anything can stand up to Nike’s innovation in basketball footwear, it’s their generation-defining ad campaigns. One that surely stands out above the rest is the famed “Freestyle” from 2001 which saw the NBA’s young guns in Vince Carter, Lamar Odom, Jason Williams, Darius Miles, and many more dribbling to a foundational beat while showcasing their talents in handles and dunks. The minute-long clip was just an appetizer to a longer clip that featured WNBA stars and world-famous streetballers alike, spawning spinoffs in other sports category and even a satirical homage in the Wayans brothers’ Scary Movie.

For the upcoming China Hoop Dreams pack, Nike has selected the Air Flightposite One – one of the new models featured in “Freestyle” – with the OG silver upper to be part of the celebratory gesture to the FIBA tournament. Spicing things up is a colorful translucent gradient on the outsole, a glossy finish on the zippered shroud, and “Freestyle.mpeg” inscribed on the heel. Dropping exclusively on Nike SNKRS China and retailers in the country, this Air Flightposite One is a proper tribute to the video clip that heavily influenced a new generation of ballers. See the official images (as well as the original ad) below.