No basketball sneaker has ever shouted the letters "AIR" louder. Designed by Wilson Smith, the Nike Air More Uptempo debuted in 1996 with an oversized "AIR" wordmark wrapping around the sidewall alongside a visible Air unit—a bold statement in the basketball shoe market at the time, one that didn't just perform on court but demanded instant recognition.
Scottie Pippen was the shoe's best spokesperson. During the Chicago Bulls dynasty era that dominated the league, the More Uptempo on his feet appeared in countless iconic moments captured on camera, carrying the shoe from the court straight into the streets and cementing it as one of the most recognizable Nike basketball silhouettes of the '90s.
Following its 2023 retro release three years ago, the Nike Air More Uptempo '96 "Black/White" is set to make another comeback. The colorway keeps things simple with no unnecessary design flourishes: a black upper serves as the base, white outlines trace the signature "AIR" branding, and the Swoosh along with the visible Air unit remain unchanged—it's the original version that's instantly recognizable at a glance.
The official style code is FV2291-001, in the Black/White/Black colorway, expected to release on August 21, 2026 via Nike.com and select retailers, priced at $170 USD. Taiwan pricing and availability have yet to be announced.
