An injury has kept Zion Williamson off the court this season, but it seems the New Orleans Pelicans player is keeping occupied by designing sneakers. Roughly a year after debuting his Zion 1 basketball shoe, Williamson has revealed a collaboration between Jordan Brand and the popular anime Naruto. He teased the upcoming project on social media last week, sharing an image of the show’s protagonist Naruto alongside Williamson and Jordan Brand’s signature “Zion” and “Jumpman” logos.
While rumors of a Jordan Zion 2 sneaker have circulated, the collaboration will be centered around the original Zion 1, which is aptly inspired by superhero armor. With a flexible padded tongue, the shoe reduces pressure from the laces and provides more freedom of movement. A “Z” pattern splits the upper into two distinct parts, complemented by a stacked Zoom Air Unit underfoot. Extended construction lends extra stability — a must after Williamson infamously injured himself by ripping through a pair Nike PG 2.5s during a college game.
