The CP3.III has jumped on to the scene in a matter of days it seems, escalating from leaked samples to a video capture to the release-ready black/orion blue. The momentum is keeping going with this next colorway, which will release the same day as the previous pair–Jan 2, 2010.

Like the others, these feature a speckle-finished white and black midsole, which sitt on a red outsole. White leather is used for the upper, with laser-etching in the mid-panel. Patent leather is used on the lower mudguard portion. Chris Paul’s CP3 logo appears in red on the tongue, completing the colorway, while a black Jumpman logo appears on the heel.

Having seen the Air Jordan 2010 just last night, how do these compare?

We got our first look at Chris Paul’s third signature sneaker not too long ago, and it grabbed a lot of attention. From comparison to the Air Jordan XXII and talk of CP sticking to Jordan PEs, the reception was a grab bag of positive and negative reaction.

Now we have not only detailed photos for you, but a release date–January 2, 2010. In the photos linked to above, we see a carolina/black colorway, and while this pair uses a Hornets jersey-matching “orion blue” color for its main accent, it uses a very similar black and white upper. The mid-panel section uses laser etching of New Orleans-inspired designs. A small detail to make note of also is the different stitching pattern along the white section of the upper from the sample we saw. The midsole also features a speckled white and black design.

How do the CP3.IIIs stack up against Melo’s M6? Might we see Dwyane Wade wear a PE pair of these to show some respect for his JB-teammate? Head to the comments section and let us know.

While signature sneakers such as the Air Max LeBron VII, the Nike Zoom Kobe IV and the Jordan Melo M6 have been soaking up all of the attention, there are other signature shoes on the horizon. With that said, we now provide you with a first glimpse at Chris Paul’s third signature sneaker dubbed the Jordan CP3.III.

At a first glance, the Jordan CP3.III can be compared more to the Jordan CP3 than the Jordan CP3.II; however, it owns an undeniable resemblance to the Air Jordan XXII. It possesses a bulkier silhouette than any Chris Paul sneaker we have seen thus far. As for the texture makeup, this sneaker owns a base made of leather and nubuck. Yet, it has been said that another CP3.III will come in patent leather and leather. What are your thoughts on the first look at the Jordan CP3.III?

Chris Paul is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in the NBA. This past season, his CP3.II sneaker was one of the top performers amongst our basketball shoe Performance Reviews.

The Jordan CP3.III Samples appear to have a very similar midsole and outsole to the Zoom Kobe IV. As for the uppers, the first thought for many will most likely be either the original CP3, or perhaps the Jordan 22. Getting a look at the shoes this early, as many of you know, can be misleading. Only time will tell how the production models turn out come tip-off time in October.

Click here to see both colorways and let us know what you think of these.