1. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Nike Zoom Freak 1s
In the year 2019, Giannis Antetokounmpo can do no wrong amongst Bucks fans and that includes finally dropping the highly anticipated Nike Zoom Freak 1s. The shoe has been in the works for almost two years now, since Antetokounmpo signed an extension with Nike back in 2017.
The shoe was initially thought to be dropping in 2018, which was later pushed back to the 2018-19 season, then the 2019 playoffs. At last, during the 2019 off-season, Nike unveiled the Zoom Freak 1’s in three colorways the “All Bros”, “Black/white” and “Roses” edition.
The shoes were met with universal critical acclaim by critics and fans alike as one of the most popular athletes in the Basketball world dropped what seems to be one of the most popular shoes of the modern era. The shoes have been designed with Antetokounmpo’s personal choices being taken into account, meaning they have been largely modelled off the Nike Kobe AD model he had been wearing prior to this shoe release.
Sneaker News outlined the tech that has gone into build the Zoom Freak 1s:
"“Footwork is extremely important for Giannis. One of his many weapons in his offensive arsenal is his “euro step”, but his strides are so much longer and more powerful than the average NBA player. Nike had to focus on containment and traction more so with Zoom Freak 1, and the solution was a system that includes four containment bands at the forefoot, hidden under the mesh upper, and a unique traction layout that aids in those extreme movements.”"
The shoe also features the names of the four Antetokounmpo brothers and a loving message for his late father “I am my Father’s legacy”.
Some signature shoes that drop can often be questioned as to how much input the athlete actually had in the design of the shoe. The Zoom Freak 1s do not fall into this category as its clear to see these shoes have been made to fit Antetokounmpo both on and off the court.