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Update: Sept. 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET
Nike Basketball is getting spooky this holiday season.
Today, the brand revealed its holiday ’23 sneaker lineup, featuring an array of on- and off-court looks. Among them was the Nike Ja 1 “Zombie,” a new iteration of the signature shoe of NBA star Ja Morant.
The Nike Ja 1 “Zombie” features a bright green hue on both the uppers and the outsole, with a more muted green on the upper’s Swoosh branding, collars, heels and tongues. On the heel tabs, Nike added images in black that resemble zombie hands to execute the theme.
Nods to Morant include his jersey number, 12, and the Swoosh logo appear in red on the left and right heel tabs, respectively. Also, the hooper’s signature is featured on the heel counters in black.
In terms of the shoes construction, Nike designed the Nike Ja 1 with breathable uppers predominantly made from a mesh material, a containment system and a forefoot strap to keep the wearer’s ankle and heel stable. Underfoot, the shoe features plush midsoles a forefoot Zoom Air unit, which were added to provide responsiveness and vertical acceleration.
Although Nike did not confirm the release date for the Ja 1 “Zombie,” multiple reports have stated the shoe will arrive Oct. 20 and will retail for $120.
What We Originally Reported on July 18, 2023
Halloween is still months away, but it appears we already have a glimpse of what releases Nike Basketball has planned for the spooky holiday.
Sneaker leak social media account @k9_itsiant shared images of the Nike Ja Morant 1 “Halloween,” an unreleased iteration of Memphis Grizzlies star point guard’s first signature basketball shoe with the Swoosh.
The Nike Ja 1 “Halloween” dons a predominantly green color scheme throughout the mesh-based upper as well as on the leather overlay panels and heel counter. A darker shade of green covers the ghoulish Swoosh branding on the sides, while dark brown accents appear on the Halloween-themed heel tab, sock liner and shoelaces. Additional details include a bold red Swoosh logo embroidered on the heel counter, while a brown midsole and a green outsole complete the look.
In June, the NBA announced it has suspended Morant in the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season for 25 games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league after two different instances of when he flashed a gun on social media.
Despite images of the shoe being shared by @k9_itsiant on Twitter, release details for the Nike Ja 1 “Halloween” have yet to be announced by the Swoosh or Morant.
Shop Similar Nike Sneakers on Nike.com
About the Author
Victor Deng is a contributing writer for Footwear News, where he covers the latest footwear releases ranging from athletic footwear worn in various sports categories to lifestyle sneakers.
