US' Nike partners with Jayson Tatum for Tatum 2

“One quality that Tatum deserves a ton of credit for is his durability,” said Derek Foster, senior product line manager at Jordan Brand. Foster describes Tatum’s consistency at the top of the league in both games and minutes played as one of his most important traits. This is why the Tatum 2 is made with a full-length Nike Air Strobel unit, which helps cushion impact from explosive movements. Set against a bold look that is meant to project Tatum’s deep inner confidence, the Tatum 2 reflects his effortless playing style on the court as well as his effortless sense of style off the court.

“Jayson is one of the best two-way players in the league with a high usage rate, so he needs a long-lasting ride to help keep him fresh for the long season,” said Bryant Klug, expert footwear designer at Jordan Brand. “That’s what the Air Strobel does so well. The smooth heel-to-toe transition is also a key feature of the Air Strobel, which fits with Jayson’s priority to wear a shoe that moves as one with his foot.”

The upper features a series of large foam and textile pods, which is strategically placed around areas of the foot that experience high pressure when playing basketball. The foam frame that surrounds the pods wrap high, helping stabilise the foot during multidirectional movement without limiting mobility or feel, Nike said in a press release.

“We were inspired by Jayson’s calmness in clutch situations and sought to bring to life that ‘no pressure’ feeling and deliver it to anyone who wears the Tatum 2," said Klug.

Underfoot, the outsole, which features a modified herringbone traction pattern, is reductive in weight but with more coverage areas where athletes need it most. The Tatum line remains the lightest in the Jordan Brand performance portfolio.

“For me, this second shoe represents evolution and how much I’ve grown as a player,” said Tatum. “I’m always building on my skills so I can be better than who I was yesterday. I hope consumers appreciate how much we put into this one.”

Like the Tatum 1, the kids’ version of the Tatum 2 includes a collapsible tailgate on the heel, as Tatum wanted a shoe that was easy for kids to get in and out of. In partnership with the Jordan Brand design team, Tatum helped influence a kids-specific design that uses an innovative injected TPU tailgate system to help with easy entry.

The Tatum 2 releases in the ‘Momma’s Boy’ colourway on March 5.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)