words // Nick DePaula
images // Zac Dubasik & Nick DePaula
Penny Hardaway's player exclusive "Memphis Blues" version of the Zoom Rookie LWP wasn't the only custom item made just for him for Saturday night's Nike x Sole Collector event in Las Vegas. He also entered the building in an exactly tailored Nike Destroyer jacket filled with personal touches and details from throughout his life.
"I wanted to pay homage to Penny's hometown and how he got into the league, so I designed a bespoke Nike Destroyer jacket just for him for the launch event," says NSW Footwear & Apparel Design Lead Marc Dolce. "I wanted to use the original 1 logo from the Flight One as the key piece, and then you'll notice his initials with the Tennessee state outline right below that."
The combination black wool and full grain leather jacket features royal blue accents throughout, and the aforementioned "1" icon and state outline graphic along the front. A basketball patch celebrating his 1994 Rookie Game MVP Award is located on the bottom right, while a bonded black zipper finishes off the chest detailing. On both sleeves, you'll notice patches highlighting the tattoos across his biceps, "The Storm Is Over" and "Part II Heaven Cent." A bold "Memphis" full grain leather nameplate highlights the back of the jacket, and the Bulldog tattoo found on his leg is also found on the lower right.
Lastly, the inner neck features his favorite phrase, "Ballin' Is What I Was Born To Do," and his signature sign-off.
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