Devin Booker reportedly sealing sneaker deal with Nike: Details of contract and shoe explored
Devin Booker could be getting his own signature shoe after signing a six-year contract extension with Nike this past offseason. According to reports from SneakerFiles, the two sides have inked a deal that would see the Phoenix Suns star get his own signature shoe.
The shoe, which has been dubbed the 'Nike D Book 1' is reportedly set to debut in the spring of 2024, meaning fans will likely see Booker wearing the shoes next year. Given that, fans can expect to see Booker rock some exclusive 'Player Edition' models of the shoes next season.
So far, there's been no confirmation from Devin Booker yet, however fans were quick to reference a tweet from last month where the elite scorer teased a sneaker deal. While speaking with Kellan Olson, Booker admitted that a signature shoe with Nike would mean the world to him.
"It would mean a lot. In that partnership, that brand is something I've had the highest respect for for the longest time. We're cooking things up, so the future's gonna be exciting."
The latest news marks a significant development in the Nike-Booker partnership. After inking a six-year extension last offseason, it was revealed that the two sides would collaborate on a 'lifestyle brand.' At the time, there was no word on a potential signature shoe.
What could Devin Booker's signature shoe look like?
Of course, since the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Devin Booker has somewhat carried the torch in regards to continuing his legacy. Time and time again, Booker has been seen on court wearing different models and colorways of Kobe Bryant's signature shoes.
As a result, many are predicting that he and Nike will look to create a signature low-top shoe for him that feels familiar. Bryant's signature shoes were quite groundbreaking in the sense that they transformed how basketball players thought about low-top shoes.
The belief was that high-top shoes provided more support, and as a result, fewer injuries. Then came Kobe Bryant and Nike's signature shoe, which completely threw the notion out the window.
One of Nike's designers, Eric Avar, spoke in 2017 about the meeting where Bryant asked point-blank for a lightweight, low-top shoe:
“We got around to his next shoe, just talking future ideas and concepts, and he point-blank said, ‘I want the lowest, lightest-weight basketball shoe ever. I want to prove to people that you can wear a low-top basketball shoe.’”
As Kobe, who grew up watching soccer players in Italy, realized, the low-top cleats worn by players resulted in few injuries. As a result, he wanted to create a pair of shoes that emulated the low-top cleats he so frequently saw.
With the playoffs right around the corner, only time will tell whether Devin Booker's new signature shoe will have a 'champions edition' when they release. As the regular season winds down and the Suns' focus shifts toward the playoffs, do you think he and the team can capture an NBA title?
Drop your thoughts in the comments section below!