Image: Sneaker News
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander used Oklahoma City Thunder Media Day to quietly debut one of the more interesting Nike pairs we’ve seen from him so far: an unreleased Virgil Abloh Archive x Nike Air Force 1 Low dressed almost entirely in bright orange.
What makes the moment even more notable is what Shai chose not to wear. Instead of showing off another SHAI 001 or teasing the upcoming SHAI 002, the newly signed Nike athlete reached into a different corner of the brand’s archive and stepped out in a pair tied directly to the Virgil Abloh legacy.
The sneaker keeps the familiar DNA of the Air Force 1 projects originally associated with Off-White, including the deconstructed construction, oversized Swoosh treatment, exposed detailing, and industrial-inspired branding. The major difference is the color: this version arrives in a near-monochrome orange finish that feels perfectly aligned with the Thunder uniform Shai wore during the shoot.
At the moment, there are no confirmed release details surrounding the pair. It is still unclear whether Nike plans to bring this colorway to retail, keep it as a friends-and-family style, or simply use it as an exclusive seeded to one of the brand’s newest basketball stars.
Either way, Shai is already proving that his Nike chapter could be about much more than his own signature line. Moving over from Converse gives him access to one of the deepest footwear archives in the industry, and if this Media Day appearance is any indication, SGA may quickly become one of the most interesting athletes to watch for unreleased Nike product.
