Charles Barkley’s Original ’90s ‘Godzilla’ Nike Sneakers Are Coming Back
The return of one of NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley’s most popular Nike signature shoes is carrying on as expected after reports of a “Triple White” Nike Air CB 34 retro surfaced in November.
In addition to the all-white colorway, the sneaker’s original Phoenix Suns-inspired style is also expected to be rereleased. First shared by Sneaker News, the Nike Air CB 34’s black-based “Godzilla” colorway is set for a 2025 come back — 30 years since it first appeared.
Originally released in 1995, the “Godzilla” look was one of just two original colorways worn by Barkley on the court, although it was the only one that was released to the public.
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The mostly black sneaker uses a mid-top cut that is noticeably lower than some of Barkley’s other shoes and features a contrasting white “tooth” pattern across the midsole along with purple accents that reference the Suns. At the bottom of the shoe, graffiti-style lettering spells out “Sir” on the left side and “Charles” on the right, a clever callback to one of Barkley’s many nicknames.
An early 1990s ad by longtime Nike partner Wieden+Kennedy which pitted Barkley against the fictional monster served as inspiration for the shoe’s fierce design and eventual “Godzilla” nickname.
The model was Barkley’s third signature sneaker, following the comparably aggressive Air Force Max CB and Air Max 2 CB 94 models. The Air CB 34 was designed by the legendary Wilson Smith III, who is widely recognized as the first Black designer in athletic footwear. Along with Barkley’s Air CB 34, Smith was responsible for iconic sneakers including the Air More Uptempo, Air Jordan 16 and Air Jordan 17, among others.
Like the “Triple White” colorway, the “Godzilla” Nike Air CB 34 is expected to be released during the second half of ’25 with a SKU of 316940-001 and a holiday-timed launch expected. Images of the latest reissue have yet to surface, but the pair is expected to resemble previous retros. The sneaker’s 2016 iteration is pictured here.
