Nike Basketball currently has to divide its attention across several signature sneaker lines for athletes like LeBron James, A'ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu. Over the last few months, Ja Morant has led the charge in taking matters into his own hands, leaking new styles from his eponymous series before notorious sneaker sleuths do. Fellow Swoosh-mate Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken a page out of the NBA guard's playbook, taking to Instagram to unveil his Nike Zoom Freak 7 silhouette.
Shared to social media alongside a playful caption evoking DJ Mustard's special call-out on Kendrick Lamar's "tv off," an initial look at Antetokounmpo's seventh signature model displays a visual departure from its immediate predecessor. At quick glance, the design is reminiscent of the LeBron 10 from 2012; some netizens have already taken to the Instagram comments section to share opinions that the Milwaukee Buck is getting "leftovers" from the KD series, for example.
A notable aspect of the Greek Freak's latest from Nike Basketball is its mid-top height. So much of the Swoosh's current performance hoops lineup skews towards the low-top trim popularized by models like the Kobe 6. Antetokounmpo's shoe, then, is a refreshing departure from the rest of the brand's lineup. Furthermore, the shoe appears a lot more robust across the upper, with grooves along the profiles delivering visual bulk and added protection. The outsole also gets a makeover on the silhouette, spelling out the NBA star's name and jersey number. The full scope of the sneaker's life is yet to pan out, but Antetokounmpo and Nike Basketball will continue telling parts of his story with different releases of the shoe—including a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" narrative.
Enjoy in-hand shots of the Zoom Freak 7 below—courtesy of Antetokounmpo himself. Pairs are expected to hit the NBA hardwood in Player-Exclusive makeups first before landing at Nike.com for a budget-friendly $110.
For more from the Swoosh empire, check out the Air Jordan 1 'UNC Reimagined' retro landing in May.
