As Zion Williamson and Jordan Brand gear up for the release of his first exclusive shoe next month, the No. 1 overall pick said the inspiration for it came from none other than the city New Orleans.
Williamson debuted the Air Jordan XXXIV “Bayou Boys” during his NBA debut on Jan. 22. He has since worn the shoe during various games with the Pelicans and recently laced them up during practice ahead of the NBA Rising Stars Game in Chicago.
The shoe will feature a reflective faux gator material, which is inspired by his play, according to Nike. Jordan Brand announced last week that the “Bayou Boys” will hit stores on March 13 as it will be his first sneaker release since joining the apparel company.
On Thursday, Williamson explained the origin of the shoe.
It was me, the other rookies [on the Pelicans], and some of the equipment managers, we were just traveling around the city, around the state showing our support to other schools and other organizations. We call ourselves the rooks and then I went with Jordan Brand and started talking about it and we came up with the name “Bayou Boys.” I really like it to have a shoe that really represents my first few weeks of experience here in Louisiana. They were dope if you ask me.
Williamson inked an endorsement deal with Jordan Brand prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. His deal became the richest annual rookie shoe contract in NBA history, netting Williamson $15 million per year.
Michael Jordan said recently that signing Williamson to an endorsement contract was an easy decision given his skillset on the floor and popularity off of it.
The Pelicans will begin their post-All-Star break on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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