Scottie Pippen is one of the most accomplished and versatile basketball players of all time. Pippen could do it all on the court. He helped the Chicago Bulls win 6 Championships in his illustrious career. Pippen’s career is often overlooked, since he played alongside THE GOAT, Michael Jordan. His signature sneaker series with Nike is one that doesn’t get the fanfare and acclaim of other sneaker lines. The sneaker series is quite similar to Pippen’s playing career in that way.
Pippen Guide
Below is a guide to the first 5 releases in the Scottie Pippen x Nike partnership. These are the only 5 signature sneakers Pippen would play in. He would wear Nike shoes for a long time before getting his own signature line from the brand relatively late in his career. He received his first signature shoe in 1997. By 1997, Pippen was already a multi-time NBA champion and perennial all-star.
Nike Air Pippen 1
Pippen would wear the 1 throughout the 96/97 season. He famously wore the shoe during one of the most iconic basketball games of all-time, “The Flu Game.” The Nike Air Pippen 1 featured a full length Phylon midsole and a visible Air Max unit. The shoe featured a full grain leather upper. The most iconic colorway is red, black, and white. The Nike Air Pippen 1 was a high top and chunky basketball sneaker that perfectly captured the 90s basketball aesthetic.
Nike Air Pippen 2
The Nike Air Pippen 2 debuted in 1998. The 2 was a much sleeker model than the 1. It was a far less bulky silhouette than the previous model. It had full length herringbone traction. There were Zoom Air units in the forefront and the heel. There was an interior bootie. It was a well-constructed model that was tailored for the all around court game of Pippen. It was a clean and simple shoe, very understated. Pippen was always a team first player, and the aesthetics of the shoe matched his personality.
Nike Air Pippen 3
The Nike Air Pippen 3 is not one of the more popular models from the Nike and “PIP” partnership. The 3 has a premium leather upper, a neoprene interior bootie, a phylon midsole, and full length herringbone traction. The Pippen line was dedicated to supporting an athlete like Pippen and his demanding game. The 3 offered premium ankle support and Zoom Air Cushioning. The three might be overlooked largely because Pippen did not wear them for the Bulls.
Nike Air Pippen 4
The Nike Air Pippen 4 was a lighter shoe than the PIP 3. It was designed for Pippen’s fast and versatile moves on the court. Bulk was an issue with previous Pippen shoes, and the 4 was the lightest in the series thus far. The design is a controversial one, with Pippen sneaker fans either loving it or hating it. It is one of the more unique basketball shoes from Nike in this era. There is Zoom Air cushioning in the forefront, and Max Air in the heel.
Nike Air Pippen 5
When the 5 launched, Scottie Pippen was in the middle of his stint with the Portland Trailblazers. The 5 tried to do something really bold when it came to basketball sneaker technology. The 5 had an interchangeable bootie which allowed the wearer to choose different colorways. Theoretically you could switch out the shell of the shoe and practically have a brand new sneaker in seconds. It was a bold idea, but sadly the tech wasn’t perfected, and the shoe offered little breathability and was overly bulky.
You can find Nike products at Shoe Palace stores and on shoepalace.com.
- Adam C. Better
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