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Let’s take it back to 2007 when pace and space basketball wasn’t a thing besides Mike D’antoni and the Phoenix Suns, who had Steve Nash executing it to near perfection. Naturally, the two time MVP at the height of his powers was the perfect ambassador for the Nike Zoom BB.
The performance basketball market in ‘07 was dominated by Nike Shox and Air Max, while the Huarache line was an afterthought and pretty much solely known as a TB model. The Zoom BB stripped away bulkiness by double lasting the midsole to the upper, which makes any foam or EVA midsole unnecessary. Combine that with a full-length Zoom Air unit to form the perfect balance of responsiveness and cushioning. With the final touch of amazing traction and lockdown, you have a backcourt player’s dream.
Quick and shifty NBA players such as Tony Parker, Jason Kidd, and Deron Williams donned the Zoom BB in their respective PEs. Some of these PEs hit retail shelves with Foot Locker and Nike’s launch of House of Hoops in 2007. The Zoom BB is also the last shoe Penny Hardaway played an NBA game in.
It’s successor, the Nike Zoom BB II, had a wider release and an amazing spot with Steve Nash, influenced by The Six Million Dollar Man. The Zoom BB II had TB options as well, which many high school and college teams across the country wore.
Later in 2008, Nike revealed the Nike Hyperdunk, which was the next step in the evolution of performance basketball. As a result, the Zoom BB line was discontinued after the third iteration. The Hyperdunk replaced raw materials with synthetics, which make the shoe lighter and have a shorter break-in time.
It’s been 13 years since the original Zoom BB, but the timing seems perfect to bring the line back. With the Hyperdunk being discontinued in 2019, the Zoom BB NXT seems to be taking the torch and continuing the legacy of performance for Nike Basketball.
The new Zoom BB NXT implements full length React foam (and an additional React insole) with forefoot Zoom Air bringing maximum cushioning and responsiveness, just like the original. The Nike Zoom BB NXT officially rolled out at the end of July as more colorways are on their way.
