In partnership with Nike, Phoenix Suns star and new sneakerhead favorite Devin Booker just released the highly anticipated Nike Book 2. This new sneaker is the amazing sequel to the very first Book 1. In doing so, this new model ushers in a new era of performance basketball footwear. It comes stocked with cutting-edge, connected design features that get athletes closer to competing on the court than ever before. Together, the two organizations are committed to improving performance on the court while offering a fashionable off-court crossover experience.
The Nike Book 2 has a low-cut, streamlined design. It features a full-length, midsole foam along with a forefoot Air Zoom unit, responsive cushioning and incredible support. Along with these electrifying aesthetics, the shoe is equipped with a Cushlon 3.0 midsole and foam sockliner bringing function with all the comfort. The design team began a two-year process to balance innovation with design and beauty. Their diligent work paid off in the form of a product that compliments Bookers style as well as Nike’s dedication to performance.
Devin Booker expressed his satisfaction with the new model, stating, “This is actually lower than my first one.” He underscored the challenge of developing a more minimalist shoe while still delivering on a performance promise. “We wanted to trim the fat. Make the shoe sleeker,” he added. This direction aims to tackle the long-standing challenge in performance basketball footwear: achieving a viable off-the-court crossover style without compromising athletic function.
Nethongkome, the designer who collaborated with Booker on the Nike Book 2, gave us a glimpse into the creative process that brought this unique release to life. “On the 2, how do we up the ante on performance and still give a canvas?” he pondered. The solution proved to be in mixing a variety of influences. These inspirations ranged from skateboarding culture to vintage cars and classic Nike sportswear to paying homage to the iconic 1997 Nike Air Zoom Spiridon running shoe.
The Nike Book 2 takes a completely different approach with a mid-top stance, breaking the mold of the usual low top silhouette. It’s a daring move that brings cutting edge style with zero compromise on performance. “A lot of people have tried to transcend the court and it just looks like you’re wearing a basketball shoe,” Booker remarked, underscoring the importance of visual appeal in footwear design.
Once again, part of Nike’s rollout strategy will feature hype releases and special editions in order to create buzz around the product. College colorways tied to Missouri, Oregon, and BYU are on the way. This limited edition release is creating a buzz around the upcoming re-model. This new approach is to uniquely capitalize on the fantastic storytelling power of the original Book 1. That book was celebrated for its unusual die-cut and the use of thematic colorways throughout.
Nethongkome shared how collaborating with top athletes such as Kobe Bryant ultimately shaped his design philosophy. With Kobe, he’d challenge every single decision we made with ‘Why? With Book, it’s the same thing. It’s got to be a story that he’s got a reason to tell,” he said. This philosophy was intentionally written into the creative process. That attention to detail is why every element of the Nike Book 2 speaks to performance requirements as well as individual narratives.
On his end, Booker has a pretty good track record with the original Book 1. He’s worn it in 168 post-season outings, according to the KixStats database. The crossover success of that specific model has opened the door to increased expectations about its successor. This is how the Nike Book 2 hopes to improve on past victories. It will continue to further enhance those achievements with next-level design and functionality.
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