SLAM Nike Air Foamposite One + 30th Anniversary Collection

When it comes to the documenting of basketball, SLAM Magazine is on the level of holy scripture. With hundreds of iconic covers across three decades in the biz, SLAM is responsible for pushing hoops culture through its dedicated coverage of on-court happenings and off-court trends.

In fact, they’re celebrating this 30th Anniversary with an incredible collection of footwear collaborations that involve the participation of competing basketball shoe brands. Never before have we witnessed opps working together, but for an occasion this significant, there’s room for understanding.

On the night of May 14th, SLAM invited Sneaker News to the unveiling of this collection of footwear. Working closely with sneaker industry vet Nick DePaula to help drive the collaborative designs, each pair is inspired by a specific all-time-great cover of an iconic athlete.

The Air Zoom Generation recalls LeBron James’ first SLAM cover (issue 78) as an NBA player. The Swoosh at the heel is a nod to an earlier sample of the Air Zoom Generation, while the mosaic on the inlay is a nod to the Air Zoom Generation “Laser” — first-ever basketball shoe with the fine detail to hit the NBA hardwood.

SLAM issue number 30 inspired this next design in collaboration with Nike. This Air Foamposite One is inspired by one of the earliest sketches of the shoe by sneaker design legend Eric Avar, with a multi-colored upper and a Swoosh logo laid onto the carbon-fiber mid-foot.

The SLAM x Reebok Question Low nods to issue number 32, which some may call the greatest SLAM cover of all-time. Allen Iverson, then the most popular player in the NBA, is remembered for wearing a throwback jersey of his own with a giant iced-out chain and his hair combed out into an afro. This Question Low nods to “The 3 Of Diamonds” which served as an inspiration behind that piece.

The SLAM x AND1 Tai Chi is most obviously connected to Vince Carter’s performance at the 2000 Dunk Contest. Just a few weeks after that breathtaking display, SLAM dropped a cover with Vince Carter wearing the iconic AND1 Tai Chi on the cover. The black/red/white nods to the distinct colors of that cover, while the white/black fade nods to the tenets of yin and yang.

Steph Curry graced the cover of SLAM not long after signing his deal with Under Armour in late 2013. Before getting his own signature shoe line, Steph is remembered for wearing the Spawn Anatomix; this pair honors all the SLAM covers he’s been since, with the graphics lightly laid onto the mesh uppers.

Not pictured are two more projects to be revealed later this Summer — the SLAM x Nike Sabrina 2, and the SLAM x PUMA.