In the summer, the heartbeat of the city bounces between the cages on West 4th and the painted lines underneath bridges in Brooklyn. It catches a vibe in Uptown with the 1 train in the backdrop. And sways next to the cherry blossoms in Queens overlooking the East River.
For over 30 years, SLAM has tracked the pulse of the game with an authenticity that can only be built in NYC. From spotlighting the game’s greats through print and digital covers to hosting the best of the next generation at the SLAM Summer Classic held at the iconic Rucker Park, the Mecca has always been in the background. It’s been a steady influence on the publication from ’94 til infinity. But this August, we’re shining an even bigger spotlight on our backyard with the help of the Swoosh.
Inspired by the frequency felt across the parks of all five boroughs and the daily battles from dawn to dusk, SLAM has teamed up with Nike Basketball to create an extensive sneaker and apparel collection that captures the unmistakable energy of a summer spent outside, culminating at Vol. 8 of the SLAM Summer Classic.
Selected for their individual ties to the SLAM Fam, the Nike Sabrina 4, Nike Ja 4, Nike GT Cut 4 and Nike Hyperflight all feature SLAM’s signature shade of orange. A custom graffiti print ripped straight from our past pages and covers weaves throughout all four pairs, tying each model back to the Basketball Bible in their own unique way.
Together, three modern-day performance silhouettes and one retro enjoying its quarter-century milestone were constructed to respect the game and the electricity it sparks in the months when the sun beckons us all to the blacktop. From the cover to concrete, this is SLAM’s legacy, laced.
Jared ebanks 