Scottie Pippen‘s Olympic makeup for the Nike Air More Uptempo is returning to coincide with the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Nike Air More Uptempo “Olympic” appears true to the sneaker’s original form worn by Pippen at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Blue suede and white leather make up the upper with the iconic “Air” branding, while Pippen’s Olympic no. 8 is embroidered in gold on the heel. Red Swooshes also appear on the outsole to complete the trio of American colors.
After originally releasing the sneaker in 1996, Nike didn’t reissue the Air More Uptempo “Olympic” until 2010. Beginning in 2012, Nike began to retro the sneaker every four years to coincide with Summer Olympics cycle.
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Wilson Smith II designed the Air More Uptempo and found inspiration for the giant lettering in pop art and graffiti. Although it wasn’t his own model, the shoe is most commonly associated with Pippen because he wore it before his signature line began in the 1996-1997 season. The Nike Pippen 1 would, however, continue to use the beefy Uptempo Air cushioning.
Pippen helped lead the ’96 team to another gold medal as one of five returning players from the 1992 “Dream Team.” In the ’92 games, Pippen wore the Air Flight Lite 2, as he did in the previous NBA season in which he won his second Finals with the Chicago Bulls.
The Nike Air More Uptempo “Olympic” will release August 11, the day following the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal game, through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $170.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior 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.
