👀 Sneaker of the Week: Nike Ja 3 “Max Volume”

🔥 The Weekly Lace-Up: the Air Jordan 12 “French Blue’s” return, CLOT’s new adidas AE 1 Low collab, and a one-of-a-kind Bad Bunny x adidas exhibit

📸 Kick Flick: Snoop Dogg hits the stage in a Friends & Family Feid x Salomon XT-4

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 Nike Ja 3 “Max Volume”

After taking the sneaker world by storm with his first two signature models, Ja Morant is back with even more energy and innovation through his newly minted Nike Ja 3. Set for an August 2025 debut, the NBA superstar’s latest signature shoe is being billed by Nike as his most personalized design to date. The Nike Ja 3 blends elite performance tech with deep storytelling tied to Morant’s journey.

That vision comes to life in the bold “Max Volume” colorway, set to release on August 21st via Nike.com and select Nike Basketball retailers.

First seen on Ja’s feet during the Grizzlies vs. Thunder playoff series, the Nike Ja 3 “Max Volume” matches his electric playing style with an equally loud design. The pair features a lightweight construction, upgraded cushioning, and graphic details that speak to Morant’s larger-than-life mentality.

A Mint Foam Swoosh—shaped like the letter “J”—sits next to a Hyper Pink “A” on the lateral side, spelling out “Ja.” Triangle-shaped TPU textures cover the upper in vibrant purple, contrasting against a Hyper Pink base. Additional hits include Morant’s signature logo on the tongue tag and insole, while his jersey number “12” is spelled out in Mint Foam on the heel. On the outsole, the digits “1” and “2” appear separately—another nod to his number.

When it comes to performance basketball shoes in 2025, there’s an arms race heating up. Between Ja Morant’s Nike Ja 3, Anthony Edwards’ adidas AE 2, LeBron James’s Nike LeBron 23, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Nike Zoom Freak 7, LaMelo Ball’s PUMA MB.05, and James Harden’s adidas Harden Vol. 10, every brand is vying for top billing with futuristic design, elite tech, and an ever-growing fanbase of hoopers and collectors. The “Max Volume” fires the first shot in what promises to be a high-stakes battle for performance sneaker supremacy this season, setting the tone with color and court-ready functionality that perfectly matches Ja’s explosive game.

Ja Morant’s signature line with Nike Basketball—the Nike Ja collection—rages on with the new Nike Ja 3. Released in early August, the Ja 3 is, according to The Swoosh, Ja’s most personal shoe to date. Unique touches, including a Swoosh angled to form a “J” next to an “A” on the side, the number “12” spelled out on the heel, and Ja’s signature logo on the tongue, give the Ja 3 a deeply personal look.

The “Max Volume” dials up the energy with bright neon hues throughout that are as bold as the Grizzlies star’s on-court personality. In my opinion, this type of colorway is exactly what fans have come to expect from the exciting Nike Ja collection—bold, energetic, and impossible to ignore. The “Max Volume” delivers on that promise, pairing the Ja 3’s personal storytelling with a palette that screams confidence both on and off the court.

After its headline-grabbing debut on a New York City billboard, the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Better With Time” is officially set to release on August 16th.

Originally dubbed the “Nitro” colorway, the pair now carries a name that reflects its deeper message—how sneakers (and culture) age with intention and character. Designed by pro BMX rider Nigel Sylvester, the shoe blends lifestyle sensibility with performance grit, telling a story through every detail.

The upper is built with premium black tumbled leather, featuring hand-applied scuffs that nod to the wear and tear of BMX riding. Cream laces, a Sail-colored aged midsole, and a mini Swoosh stitched on the lateral forefoot add layers of character. Meanwhile, Sylvester’s signature “Bike Air” branding replaces the classic “Nike Air” on the tongue tag and insole.

The shoes come packaged in a custom box with BMX-inspired artwork printed beneath the lid, rounding out a release that’s as much a tribute to movement and resilience as it is to style. Buy them now →

Jordan Brand’s 40th anniversary celebration rolls on with the return of a beloved classic: the Air Jordan 12 “French Blue.” Originally released in 2004 and last retro’d in 2016, the clean white-and-navy colorway is set for a proper comeback on August 16th.

Originally intended for Michael Jordan to wear during his brief run with the Washington Wizards, the pair never made it to the court as MJ retired for good in 2003. Still, the “French Blue” became a staple in the early 2000s, worn by the likes of Kobe Bryant during his sneaker free agency tour, Gary Payton, Rip Hamilton, and a rookie Carmelo Anthony.

While a low-top golf version dropped in 2022, this marks the first true-to-OG retro in nearly a decade, bringing the fan-favorite silhouette back in its original high-cut form. Buy them now →

It’s been five years since adidas and Bad Bunny first teamed up, debuting the adidas Forum Buckle Low “The First Café” back in March 2021. Since then, their partnership has made a lasting impact on sneaker culture. To mark the five-year milestone, adidas and Bad Bunny have unveiled a special archival exhibit titled “The Archive: Puerto Rico Para El Mundo. La Historia de Una Collab,” timed to coincide with Bunny’s summer-long residency in his home country of Puerto Rico.

The one-of-a-kind experience chronicles the adidas x Bad Bunny story, featuring 150 pairs on display. Many are unreleased samples dating back to 2020, but eagle-eyed fans will also spot a few surprises: the upcoming Bad Bunny x adidas Stone Slide, a new adidas Adiracer GT collab with Mercedes AMG-PETRONAS, and an early teaser of Bad Bunny’s signature shoe—the adidas BadBo.

“The Archive: Puerto Rico Para El Mundo” will be open exclusively in Puerto Rico from August 8th through August 17th. There are currently no confirmed plans to bring the exhibit to other cities, but that could always change.

Anthony Edwards is not only one of basketball’s brightest stars, he’s also the driving force behind one of the most exciting signature shoe collections in footwear. The adidas Anthony Edwards line has quickly become a fan favorite, blending high-performance tech with bold design inspired by Ant’s fearless game and personality.

While the next chapter—the adidas AE 2—is set to debut in the coming months, it looks like Ant and adidas aren’t quite done with the AE 1 just yet. In a surprise announcement, CLOT founder Edison Chen took to Instagram to tease a special CLOT x adidas AE 1 Low collaboration that’s officially in the works.

Chen’s first post previewed the pair’s insoles, featuring dual CLOT and Edwards logos over bold blue flame graphics on a black base. On August 4th, he followed up with a full look at the sneaker, highlighting its standout design. The AE 1’s signature exterior cage features a striking blue-and-black ombré flame motif, while the rest of the shoe is draped in a muted black finish, inside and out. Alternating co-branded tongue logos and white-tipped laces round out the look.

No official release date has been announced yet, but with the 2025–26 NBA season fast approaching and the AE 2 launch on the horizon, expect the CLOT x adidas AE 1 Low to hit retailers sooner rather than later.

Snoop Dogg is known for many things at this stage in his career. In addition to being one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, the Long Beach native is also celebrated for his charisma on the silver screen, his iconic commercial appearances, and his business ventures spanning everything from cannabis to breakfast cereal. But at the end of the day, “Uncle Snoop” is best recognized for his contributions to music. And that was on full display when he made a surprise appearance during Feid’s “Hard Summer 2025” set in Los Angeles.

While it wasn’t the first time Snoop had popped up unannounced, it was the first time he did so in unreleased Salomon heat. On his feet: a rare Friends & Family edition of Feid’s Salomon XT-4 “FXXOMOR” collaboration, the same pair the Colombian reggaeton star wore early in his partnership with the brand.

This exclusive pair features a black mesh base, lime green overlays, and a striking red toe cap—differentiating it from the mostly all-green Feid x Salomon XT-4 that saw a public release in May 2024 (and which Feid wore on stage alongside Snoop).

Given its F&F status, this colorway likely won’t see a retail drop. But don’t be surprised if it inspires future releases from Feid and Salomon, or adds fuel to the XT-4’s growing momentum in the culture.