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New game: how many 1st edition kicks can you spot in an episode of Slam Dunk?

Slam Dunk Basketball culture + AJS

The hooping game was set during the '90s — that includes on the court or in the imaginary universe of the Slam Dunk manga series.

Being one of the best-selling mangas of all time, the series had sold over 120 million copies in Japan back when Micheal Jordan was the rising name of basketball. His legion of fans reached ppl all over, including Japanese manga artist Takehiko Inoue.

During basketball's golden era, the manga — that told the story of a basketball team & ended up unfolding into an anime series — played a big part behind the hype of current sneaker culture.

Besides the goal of winning championships, Slam Dunk's Shōhoku High School basketball team had a (not so secret) weapon: a handful of Nikes, Asics, Reebok Pumps, Onitsuka trainers & Air Jordans that left a big impact in sneaker culture. A timeless story with a punch of collectible leather sneakers that last every dunk.

During the time the episodes aired, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had already won their 3-Peat, MJ, and Team USA victory against Barcelona in the Olympics, and the AJ line was on its 8th model. No biggie.

The close connection with anime/manga and streetwear has been around for a while now. Releases from Pokémon x Fila Court Deluxe to Adidas ZX 500 RM Son Goku pave the way of vivid colorways for the nostalgia fiends out there.

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That Slam Dunk story which was inspired by real rising basketball & sneakers culture ended up inspiring the culture in return. Back in 2014, 18 years after Sakuragi’s series ended, Nike released the limited-edition collab Air Jordan 6 Retro Slam Dunk.

The comic book-inspired silhouette does justice for the story that can be told for years to come with deluxe-feel leather uppers and the colorway of Jordan Super Fly 3 collection (which included coordinating apparel).

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Here's to high school jocks & storytelling collabs 🏀⛹️‍♂️.

Tap here for legendary moments behind the latest snkrs drops.

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