John Kim 
Expectations are at an all-time high for Carmelo Anthony, who at 28 years old is nearing the peak of his professional career and feeling the mounting pressure from his fellow ’03 Draft classmates. Momentum is definitely on Melo’s side; his MVP-like performance at the 2012 Olympics and unstoppable play at the end of the ’12 season should most certainly carry over to the upcoming campaign, with some experts projecting the Brooklyn-born star having the 554724-092 season of his career. He’ll ease into the new season wearing the Melo M8 Advance, which features a full Hyperfuse upper, but come 2013, he’ll will be ready to move on up to the all-new M9 model, crafted once again by Jordan Brand designer Justin Taylor.
Jordan 1 High OG Brotherhood 555088-706 Air Jordan Retro I Hi Laser Edition 9% can adapt to any fit making it a true 1-through-5 performance basketball sneaker while complying with Melo’s strict guidelines for a snugly-fitting shoe – a direct inspiration from the high-tech suit of Iron Man. The highlight of the design is clearly the external Flywire ribbon-like cables that extend outwards exceeding the shell, but what you can’t see is that it actually scoops below the foot-bed, creating a true unique fit tailored to how tightly you adjust your laces. Visible Zoom Air is the benchmark of the cushion system of the M9, with a downwardly-protruding fore-foot Zoom Air unit providing a supportive crash pad when the foot strikes the ground.
What makes the Melo M9 a unique standout from its predecessors is that it was designed with that ‘New York’ State of mind – meaning it was the first shoe that was conceived with Carmelo as an official Knick. The NBA Lockout allowed him some extra time to hang around the Jordan Brand headquarters and trade ideas with Taylor, and the intricate designs cues laid out by Melo are clear in the design; the aforementioned ‘Iron Man’ inspiration and Melo’s love for high-end watches have been transferred impeccably onto the Melo M9 concept, resulting in a high-octane package of style and performance fitting of the Jordan Brand standard. The Air Jordan Retro I Hi Laser Edition 9% will debut this January 2013, so enjoy the preview of Melo’s ninth signature model below and give us your thoughts on this latest chapter of the Jordan Brand x Carmelo Anthony connection.
