The Phoenix Suns are facing the Detroit Pistons at Michigan State’s Breslin Center tonight, and for Devin Booker, the trip serves as a homecoming in more ways than one. Book is a Kentucky Wildcat through and through, but the Grand Rapids native also has ties to MSU that precede his collegiate career, mainly a strong relationship with longtime men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo. Ahead of tip-off time, he just shared images of a special Nike Book 1 “Michigan State” PE commemorating the visit.
The shoe comes doused in MSU’s hallmark forest green hue, crafted with a nubuck toe box, canvas quarter panel, and white mini Swoosh to match the larger logos. Fittingly, the Spartan mascot makes a small cameo on the lateral heel.
In an alternate universe, Booker could have very easily found himself suiting up for his home state school. He’s gone on record saying he was about to commit to Michigan State before Kentucky swooped in at the end of his recruitment period, no doubt to the chagrin of Spartans fans. Booker also used to drive to the Breslin Center for open gym workouts back in the day, and his relationship with Coach Izzo has endured throughout his professional career.
Michigan State is a Nike-sponsored school, so Booker touched down with Book 1 PEs for the entire basketball squad. Unfortunately for the rest of us, the shoes are not expected to release publicly at the time of this writing.
