Author: Brandon King

The “I Promise” Nike LeBron XXII

Brandon King

This colorway of the LeBron XXII is inspired by Akron’s “I Promise School. They sport a pink upper that transitions frm a lighter to a more intense shade as the gue travels down the upper and nears the midsole. Pink suede shows up to form the lateral Swoosh as well as the section that wraps the heel and extends onto the lateral side. A pink Lebron signature on the rear heel, with jeweled branding present atop the light pink tongue.  A iridescent blue Swoosh can be seen on the midsole,…

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”Year of the Mamba” Kobe V Protro coming January 9

Brandon King

The other Kobe V Protro in the Year of the Mamba collection sports a red fused upper with gold at the toe. Like the eggplant, the lateral side Swoosh is entangled with a gold Mamba. Perched atop the tongue is a gold Kobe logo with a red Kobe signature on the heel counter.  Underneath resides a red midsole and a black and red rubber outsole.  The sneakers will be housed in special packaging, including a red dust bag and red box. They will release, along with the “Eggplant” iteration on…

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”Eggplant” Year of the Mamba Kobe V Protro coming January 9

Brandon King

The first sneaker in the Nike Year of the Mamba Collection is set to release tomorrow.  They sport an eggplant fused upper with black at the rear heel. The Swoosh on the lateral side of the Flywire-equipped side panels is wrapped by a golden mamba, while a gold Kobe logo is perched atop the tongue.  Underneath resides a black midsole and a translucent rubber outsole.  As will be the case with the entirety of the Year of the Mamba footwear collection, these will be available via the SNKRS application. We…

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Nike unveils “Year of the Mamba” Collection 

Brandon King

title image via Mamba Kix Unlike Black History Month, Nike never passes on the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Mamba and it’s fitting that Nike would release commemorative footwear honoring the late, great Kobe Bryant.  The collection onsists of four sneakers, the “Eggplant” and “Year of the Mamba” Kobe V Protro, the “Masterpiece” Kobe IX Protro, and the “All-Star 2.0” Kobe VI Protro, as well as coordinating apparel  Bronson Yim, product line manager for Kobe footwear had this to say about the collection:  “This collection is an…

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Tennessee State’s Draylen Ellis earns invite to NFL HBCU Combine

Brandon King

Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis has been invited to the 2025 NFL HBCU Combine.  After splitting time last season in a rotation with Daveon Bryant, in which both quarterbacks were deprived of a chance to get in a rhythm, Ellis seized the quarterback position before the season started and it became evident very quickly that the work Ellis said he put in during the offseason was paying dividends. Showing poise, a command of the offense, and a consistent level of play not previously displayed in his time at Tennessee State,…

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Miami suspends Jimmy Butler, will now entertain trade offers

Brandon King

Courtesy of Jack Baer, Yahoo Sports The Jimmy Butler situation isn’t getting much better in Miami. The Miami Heat announced Friday they have suspended the six-time All-Star for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team” over the course of the season, a day after he held a surreal news conference in which he loudly signaled he wants to be traded. While taking action against Butler’s conduct, they also added they will listen to trade offers for him. The Heat’s full statement: We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for…

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PE Corner: Anthony Davis rocks these LeBron XXIIs

Brandon King

In their first matchup of the season against the Detroit Pistons, a 115-103 defeat, the Lakers’ best player took the court in this Player-Exclusive iteration of the LeBron XXII.  It sports a golden upper separated by textured black that forms the Swoosh on the lateral side and also extends around to the medial side.  Black also takes care of the LeBron signature that wraps the rear heel, while purple shows up for the small Swoosh on the medial toe and the branding on the tongue.  A purple jeweled Swoosh occupies the lateral…

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The Air Max CB 94 returning Summer 2025

Brandon King

If you read and reread the title and thought to yourself “Didn’t these drop not too long ago?”, you’d be right, as this colorway made its most recent retail run in 2023. Nonetheless, this brief interim is proving not to be a deterrent for Nike deciding to green-light another release for this classic sneaker.  The presentation should be that of a white, perforated leather upper overlaid with black nubuck. An embroidered “NIKE” is present on the lateral side, while “ NIKE AIR” branding is present on the rear heel.  Purple is present on the tongue,…

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PE Corner: The “UNC” Air Jordan XXXIX PE

Brandon King

This iteration of the Air Jordan XXXIX was made specifically for the North Carolina basketball program. They sport a white mesh foundational layer overlaid with leather of the same hue at the forefoot and wrapping the heel. University Blue shows up on the Jumpman perched atop the tongue, while a UNC logo at the rear heel provides a team-exclusive touch.  University blue makes another appearance on the medial and lateral sides, while the aesthetic is completed by a translucent rubber outsole,  All indications at this juncture point to these Air…

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PE Corner: “Missouri PE” Nike Book 1

Brandon King

This iteration of the Nike Book 1 is made specifically for the members of the University of Missouri basketball program. One features a white base and the other a gold one.The white based look sports black-bordered gold Swooshes on the sides, along with a smaller embroidered Swoosh located on the lateral forefoot. A Missouri logo is prominently displayed on the lateral heel, Book branding can be seen on the tongue , while “CHAPTER ONE” appears on th  “spine”/ rear pull tab. A white midsole and yellow and black rubber ousole. …

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