The second signature shoe by Nike for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Zoom Freak 2, has now been revealed. The sneaker is designed to support his unstoppable moves and make him a more effective basketball player.
“What Giannis does in space is directly connected to his body proportions,” says Ross Klein, Senior Creative Director for Nike Basketball. “What’s different about his movements is that he’s causing so much pressure when he hits those steps, like the Eurostep, that we need to help propel him and contain him further near the toe.”
The sneaker was designed after capturing the movements of the league’s MVP on the court, examining his ability to control the ball like a point guard and punish bigs on in the inside.
One of the most studied moves for the sneaker is Antentokounmpo’s Eurostep, examining how he can go from each end of the court and leading into a gather before attacking the rim. The sneaker supports how Giannis examines a defender and supporting his decision to outstepping them by clearing their open hips and getting past their upper bodies with his wide shoulders. If the Eurostep comes into play, the sneaker is designed to amplify his movement to the rim.
The sneaker helps create a fluid movement for Antentokounmpo, while also using Zoom air for advance and support. The same insights of the construction are utilized to control his quickness.
“In the Freak 1, we focused on how frequently Giannis gets vertical for rebounds, blocks and dunks,” says Klein. “For the Freak 2, we shifted our attention to more planes of movement, because Giannis can command every spot on the floor.”
You can read more about the Zoom Freak 2, here. The green / white Naija colorway of the Zoom Freak 2 releases in North America July 25 on nike.com and at select retailers. The black / white colorway releases August 7.
