Ja Morant and Nike Celebrate Chinese New Year With a Dragon-Themed Ja 1 Sneaker

Ja Morant will play in his first game of the season tonight following his 25-game suspension, and the themed colorways keep on coming for his first signature sneaker, the Nike Ja 1. Following the “Zombie” colorway released for Halloween and a “Christmas” edition that just dropped today, the Ja 1 “Chinese New Year” takes on detailing for the Year of the Dragon.

Starting with a white base, Morant’s sneaker pops with gold and blue accents. The standout feature is a metallic gold dragon lace dubrae in the shape of an infinity symbol, matched by a dragon scale pattern printed onto the midfood panel, and a shiny leather mustache. A yellow Swoosh maintains the theme, while light blue can be made out beneath the back half’s mesh. The same color is then used for the outsole, heel counter, and one half of the pair’s mismatched tongue and heel marks (the other appearing in red). Rounding out the Chinese New Year flourishes, a custom insole sees Chinese characters printed beneath the dragon infinity symbol and Ja Morant’s logo on the right and left shoe, respectively.

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Nike and Jordan Brand go all-out for every Chinese New Year, so we can expect to see an abundance of themed sneakers to surface over the next few weeks. Already, official images have been revealed for special editions of the Air Jordan 38 and Air Zoom Pegasus 40, among others. Given the popularity of dragons, 2024’s collection should be particularly well-received.

The Nike Ja 1 “Chinese New Year” will release Jan. 22, although it’s not yet confirmed if the sneaker will be exclusive to China or will receive a global launch. Pricing is set at $140.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.