Introducing The Nike Hyperchase

Aside from all the hoopla and festivities that come with NBA All-Star Weekend, the break serves as a venue for both brands and ballers to showcase some sick new shoes. James Harden of the Houston Rockets was one of those guys. While the All-Star Game MVP honors went to Russell Westbrook, "The Beard" put up an astounding 29-8-8 stat line while rocking a Player Exclusive version of the Nike Hyperchase.

Hit the jump to learn more about this new Nike Basketball silhouette.

From Nike

Introducing the Nike Hyperchase Basketball Shoe for Playmakers like James Harden

Basketball footwear design requires obsessive attention to footwork.  Both the lateral and vertical nature of the game requires shoes engineered for the specific movements of hoops.

With All-Star guard James Harden as the muse, designer Tony Hardman delivers the Nike Hyperchase, built for dynamic performance and inspired by sleek, modern fighter jets.  The asymmetrical design, dynamic Flywire and hexagonal traction pattern all work together in this low profile, striking silhouette.

A SHOE FIT FOR JAMES HARDEN’S FOOTWORK

James Harden’s footwork is considered best-in-class, and separates his game from many of basketball’s elite.  As the league’s leading scorer at 27 points per game, his quick forefoot shuffling allows him to create space and put defenders on their heels. At times it looks like the All-Star is dancing with his opponents at the top of the key and his Eurosteps hypnotize defenders.

Nike Hyperchase original sketches by Tony Hardman.

With Harden’s footwork and dynamic movements in mind, Hardman designed the Nike Hyperchase to give the MVP candidate the best solution for the season’s second half. The Hyperchase is built to deliver instant responsiveness and quick movements without slippage. The Swoosh angle on the shoe is intentionally positioned to read accurately when an athlete, like Harden, is on their toes – a position that’s common for quick, dynamic athletes. 

“What excites me most about the Nike Hyperchase is it allows me to jab and cut with no distractions,” said Harden.  “It gives me the support and traction tailored to my footwork.”

The Nike Hyperchase combines three essential performance elements: natural motion, forefoot lockdown and dynamic traction: 

UPPER THAT MOVES INTUITIVELY

• The Hyperchase upper is made with two-layers of mesh and strategically placed overlays for flexibility and support. It incorporates fewer layers of material for lightweight comfort.
• Flywire technology on the lateral forefoot integrates with the laces for dynamic lockdown; strong cables loosen and tighten with the natural motion of the foot.
• Asymmetrical design allows the shoe to move intuitively with the foot with more surface area on the lateral side for better containment and stability when cutting from side to side.
• Partial bootie made of mesh enhances breathability and provides a comfortable fit.

The Nike Hyperchase has an asymmetrical design which allows the shoe to move intuitively with the foot.

Midsole Comfort and Stability

• A lightweight drop-in midsole insert provides lightweight cushioning that sits lower internally for superior stability.
• The low-profile Phylon midsole wraps up on the heel and lateral forefoot for lockdown fit and lateral stability.

The Nike Hyperchase mesh upper details and midsole wrap.

Outsole Versatility

• The versatile rubber outsole provides durability on a variety of surfaces.
• Hexagonal pattern provides excellent traction for multidirectional movement.

In terms of local availability, unfortunately for James Harden fans, it'll be a while before the Hyperchase makes its way here. The Hyperchase will be sold at many local basketball retailers at the price of P5495.