👀 Sneaker of the Week: Undefeated x Air Jordan 4

🔥 The Weekly Lace-Up: a look at A’ja Wilson’s WNBA Draft Night-inspired Nike A’One “#1 Draft Pick,” a new Whitaker Group x New Balance collab, and a first look at LeBron James’s Nike LeBron 23.

📸 Kick Flick: Travis Scott wears the new Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Dunk Low “Swamp Sponge”

Each week, we’ll select one standout pair, be it a classic, sleeper, new drop, or something with a story worth telling. Plus, Chase will give his verdict.

This week, we’ve tapped…

In this issue, we’ll be exploring the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4

It’s been 20 years since the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 first entered the sneaker world’s collective consciousness, originally rumored to be limited to just 72 pairs and never officially released to the public. Two decades later, in celebration of its anniversary, the legendary sneaker gets a proper retail release—MA-1 bomber jacket palette and all.

Released on August 2nd, the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 pays direct homage to the OG 2005 pair, with just a few modern updates. The 2025 version features the same military-inspired design in olive, black, and clementine, constructed from premium materials. Like the original, it includes removable tongue patches reminiscent of the velcro patches found on classic military bomber jackets—a nod to Undefeated co-founder James Bond’s style.

Differences between the editions include Undefeated’s iconic five-strikes logo on the insole, an orange Nike logo on the outsole, and special 20th-anniversary packaging. The most notable update? The 2025 pair sports a “Nike Air” logo on the heel, replacing the Jumpman from the OG 2005 release.

The original Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 was Jordan Brand’s first-ever collaboration and is widely considered a holy grail within the sneaker community. In the two decades since its debut, countless brands have tried to replicate the magic of that release—but few, if any, have come close. Now, for the first time, fans of the mythical shoe can have a chance at owning it.

I never thought I’d say this: one of the most legendary Air Jordans of all time, the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4, is getting a second life in 2025.

The OG Undefeated x Jordan 4 has consistently resold for $15,000 to $30,000—and sometimes even more. The 2025 drop is far more accessible, with resale prices currently hovering around $500 to $700 depending on size. Don’t panic if you’re holding out—I expect prices to dip a bit before climbing back up. This is a grail release.

The retro arrived via raffle-only on Undefeated’s website and SNKRS. While Nike hasn’t released official stock numbers, estimates suggest a global run of 10,000 to 12,000 pairs. So yes—it’s still limited.

Everyone’s been waiting for this. The Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 is hands-down one of the top-tier sneaker releases of 2025.

Ja Morant recently embarked on his first-ever international tour as a Nike signature athlete, connecting with aspiring basketball players across four countries as part of the “Make Them Watch” tour. To mark the occasion, Nike Basketball is dropping a bold new colorway of Ja’s latest signature shoe—the Nike Ja 3—dubbed the “Light Show.”

Set to release on August 5th, the “Light Show” features a Swoosh logo shaped like the letter “J” and a graffiti-style “A” on the side, spelling out “Ja.” While past Ja 3 colorways have drawn from specific U.S. cities, this pair takes on a more global energy, perfectly timed with Morant’s rising international presence. Buy them now →

Before she was dominating the WNBA like few before her, A’ja Wilson was making headlines off the court, too. On WNBA Draft Night in 2018, the future superstar turned heads in a stylish pink ensemble as she was selected first overall by the Las Vegas Aces. That iconic moment now inspires her latest Nike A’One colorway: the “#1 Draft Pick.”

The coveted sneaker features pearlized overlays in two shades of pink, fading from dark to light. White patent leather and metallic pink trim add shine, while personal touches—like A’ja’s name across the heel, her signature crown logo on the insole, and “dominance” printed on the outsole—complete the storytelling. The Nike A’ja One “#1 Draft Pick” releases August 8th. Buy them now →

LeBron James is gearing up for his 23rd NBA season, and alongside it, he's wear-testing his 23rd signature sneaker: the Nike LeBron 23. Spotted during a recent off-season workout, the high-performance basketball silhouette has already sparked intrigue, setting the stage for the next chapter in the iconic Nike LeBron line.

In keeping with tradition, LeBron debuted an all-black version of the Nike LeBron 23. But this time, clear photos offer a closer look at the new model’s design.

For starters, the LeBron 23 continues the low-top trend seen in recent entries in the line, beginning with the Nike LeBron 20. And while Nike has yet to confirm official tech specs, it’s safe to assume the LeBron 23 will be equipped with the latest in Nike Basketball’s performance toolkit.

What is known, however, is that the oversized midsole is sculpted in the shape of a crown and wraps around the entire shoe, an unmistakable nod to LeBron’s “King James” moniker.

Little else is known about the Nike LeBron 23 as of this writing, so keep it locked to the Culture Check newsletter for the latest updates. The Nike LeBron 23 is expected to release in the Fall/Holiday season of 2025.

Headed by James Whitaker, A Ma Maniére is one of the premier sneaker boutiques in the world. The retailer has been a consistent collaborative partner with Nike and Jordan Brand since 2020, but its reach extends beyond the Swoosh. Since 2024, the Whitaker Group—A Ma Maniére’s parent company—has teamed up with New Balance on a popular series titled “Willful Bias.” The debut release, the New Balance 1906U “Willful Bias,” was a standout hit in the sneaker community. Now, the Whitaker Group is following up with two new colorways, this time on the New Balance 990v4 and 998.

This new installment is dubbed the “Willful Bias for Education” collection, and the accompanying lookbook released by the Whitaker Group showcases the shoes in college campus and playground settings, playing on the collection’s theme.

The collaboration will roll out on a staggered release schedule, beginning with an online raffle across all Whitaker Group storefronts from July 29th to August 4th. An early drop will follow via JAIDE channels on August 7th, with a wider in-store and online launch across all retail locations set for August 8th.

As one of Nike’s biggest collaborators, Travis Scott often gets early access to the Swoosh’s most coveted unreleased drops. That was on full display at Nike’s Toma LA activation, where the hip-hop megastar debuted one of three colorways from the upcoming Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Dunk Low “Swamp Sponge” collaboration.

Wearing the “Sequoia” colorway, La Flame gave us an early glimpse at the buzzworthy release. The shoe features oversized Swooshes, a shaggy suede-like texture on the toe and overlays, and bold, brightly colored laces. This nature-forward construction marks a sharp shift from the blinged-out Swarovski crystals of CPFM’s last Dunk Low collab in 2020, aligning more closely with the brand’s earlier “Sponge By You” aesthetic used on its Nike Blazer designs.

This early look at the Dunk Low “Swamp Sponge” in the “Sequoia” colorway confirms what we’ve known for a few months now: Cactus Plant Flea Market is back in full force. Known for pushing the boundaries of sneaker design, CPFM’s latest Nike collaboration leans into earth tones, exaggerated textures, and DIY energy, which are undoubtedly trademarks of the brand’s offbeat aesthetic.