Following its reveal earlier this week, we now have some more information on the Nike Zoom Court Dragon.
In an interview with SOLE China, Tinker Hatfield, who designed the shoe, explains that the Court Dragon was created as an outdoor basketball shoe specifically for China only. As suspected, the shoe uses the original Nike Air Raid, another outdoor basketball shoe designed by Tinker, as inspiration. It features the same X-strap across the forefoot as the Air Raid, and includes dragon scale overlays and dragon teeth on the midsole. These features are not only for aesthetic, as the overlay increases protection in high abrasion areas and the teeth add lateral stability.
“We care about the Chinese market and the Chinese players,” says Tinker Hatfield. “It would just be an additional reason, while along with good design, because it shows the we respect the Chinese game. It shows that we respect the Chinese culture.”
Check out photos of the Nike Zoom Court Dragon below, courtesy of SOLE China’s Victor Sun.
Nike Zoom Court Dragon
Style Code: DV8166-001
Release Date: 2022 (China)
