Jordan Brand Reveals Zion Williamson’s New Sneaker, but Will He Actually Play in It?
After an early leak surfaced in mid-December, Zion Williamson’s fourth Jordan signature sneaker was officially unveiled Friday.
The Jordan Zion 4 is a low-top basketball sneaker which the brand says is designed to cater to Williamson’s unique mix of strength and speed. It sticks with much of what worked in the NBA star’s previous signature shoe but with notable upgrades.
The drop-in Formula 23 and Zoom Air midsole of the Zion 3 has been upgraded to Nike’s Cushlon 3.0 foam on the Zion 4. This sits atop what’s described as a full-length parabolic Air Zoom strobel, resulting in an especially springy underfoot feel.
On the bottom, Jordan Brand made use of a wavy, digitally designed outsole pattern which combines durability and grip. And like the Zion 3, the Zion 4’s outsole features Williamson’s logo, which appears bigger and bolder on the new model.
Interestingly, the Zion 4’s press release notes that the shoe’s improved feel and feet is intended to not only enhance Williamson’s game, but to appeal to a wider variety of athletes.
The New Orleans Pelicans star’s career has been hampered with injury issues, so it’s plausible the brand made tweaks to the sneaker in hopes that other players will begin to wear it more frequently. Williamson’s last game was on Nov. 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Storytelling will be a focus on the Jordan Zion 4. The launch colorway is a metallic silver “Damascus Steel” which will be followed by “Mud to Marble” and “Forged in Fire” looks, each of which combine to reference Williamson’s beginnings in Marion, South Carolina. A fourth unseen white-and-black iteration is also expected to join the early lineup.
An exact release date was not announced, but the Jordan Zion 4 is confirmed to be released soon from jordan.com and select Jordan Brand retailers. Retail pricing is set at $140.