The Nike Hyperdunk line is on hiatus, but in its place is the AlphaDunk, a new model boasting first-of-its-kind cushioning.
Officially unveiled today, the Nike AlphaDunk picks up where the Hyperdunk left off, offering a big man-friendly hoops shoe that uses some of the brand's top technologies. The sneaker's upper uses a re-engineered Flyknit material that is visually similar to the Battleknit variation used on LeBron James' signature line and intended to provide protection for players down low, but the AlphaDunk's real standout is its cushion setup.
While Nike's Zoom Air is traditionally used in segments that cover specific zones of the foot, the AlphaDunk ramps up the usage of the tech by covering the entire forefoot with a Zoom unit. Nike says the result is the highest-stacked and largest Zoom Air unit ever used on a basketball sneaker.
The AlphaDunk will be worn by select layers in the FIBA Federation tournament, which Nike also unveiled the official uniforms for today. The Swoosh will outfit Angola, Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Lietuva, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, and the USA. Jordan Brand will provide jerseys for Argentina, France, and Hrvatska.
The AlphaDunk releases Friday, Aug. 9 for $170. Future colorways include styles said to be inspired by dunk specialists Aaron Gordon and Vince Carter, as well as the hoverboard from Back to the Future Part II.
