J2: Evolution in Nike Footwear

via Sneaker News

I'm a Nike Head. In fact, almost all the pieces in my collection sport the popular Swoosh or Jumpman logo. There is a reason for that. Yes, alot of my favorite players and famous celebrities alike, past and present, rocked these on and off the court and Nike Basketball's influence in the footwear market has become a huge success over the years, so much so, that it often overshadows what I find to be what Nike really is at a much deeper level. Alot of people fail to notice Nike's innovation from their "kitchen designers" and continuous growth in footwear technology towards building a better shoe.

Back in the day, it was all about cushioning and stability. The simple concept of sticking air at the bottom of your foot for cushioning hadn't crossed anyones mind, let alone been brought to fruition until Tinker Hatfield created the Air Max 1. Zoom Air was introduced shortly after, and when we thought Nike had a tight grip on impact cushioning, the Shox hit the shelves, which in my opinion, were heavy and not very breathable).

But now it's all about weight reduction, breathability infused with the proper cushioning and support. Much like the automotive industry, Nike strives to remove excess weight and 'baggage' while maintaining performace and durability. Lunar foam and Flywire were created to solve this problem. The Nike Hyperdunk instantly became my favorite pair until the Kobe IV.

Now Nike is about to introduce a full line of ground breaking footwear tech that I find worth writing about briefly. This looks very promising and I'm eager to try this out. Nike's Hyperfuse technology incorporates a durable trio of synthetic materials that makes the base of the shoe breathable, comfortable and lightweight. I'm assuming Lunar or Zoom cushioning with a phylon midsole will be accompanying this piece. But who knows. Just look for them this summer at your local stores.

If they look familiar, one of the first users to try out the Hyperfuse was Rajon Rondo, during the playoffs. Check out the video at the bottom to see how the shoe was put together, it's pretty cool.

Rondo in his PE Nike Hyperfuse

One.