Nike Air Jordan 14 Low 'Laney' Release Date, Pics and Retail Price
The retro Nike Air Jordan low-top Laney shoes will be released in stores and online on Saturday, Oct. 3, paying homage to NBA legend Michael Jordan's high school alma mater.
Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, was where Jordan spent his formative years prior to starring in Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels in college. That explains the complete absence of red in the color scheme for these throwback sneakers.
Several excellent photos of them are available, courtesy of Kicks USA. Check out the basic information on the Laney Air Jordans below, along with a more detailed description of the shoe.
| Saturday, Oct. 3 | $170 USD | Varsity Royal/Varsity Maize-Black-White |
Jordan famously bounced back from being cut as a sophomore at Laney, sparking him to being who many consider the best basketball player to ever live. These forthcoming low-top sneakers serve as a reminder not to what Jordan went on to accomplish, but the path he took to get there.
That's just as important in shaping Jordan's legend as anything else. Before his six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, he was wearing blue in the Tar Heel State.
As can be viewed on the Laney basketball team's official website, the Buccaneers' colors of blue and yellow are most dominant. It is therefore no surprise that the Laney Air Jordan shoes are inspired by those primary colors, similar to the Nike Air Jordan 1 from 1985 but with a modern twist.
According to Darren Griffin of NiceKicks.com, this is the first time the Laney low tops have been available since 1999. That was the year Jordan retired from basketball after his second stint in Chicago and a second championship three-peat. It's near the middle of the road in the Jordan Brand's history, as the merchandise staple celebrates 30 years amid 2015.
With more regard to the shoe design specifically, the signature Jumpman logo appears on the side of the Air Jordan Laney kicks right above heel, on the front near the toes but below the laces and at the base of the bottom of the shoe. The iconic silhouette is well-represented to accentuate Jordan's legend.
"Jordan" is printed vertically up the back of the shoe and is present at the top of the tongue as well, accentuated in yellow. Roman numerals "XIV" are featured on the other side of the tongue toward the inside to make a festive mention of the nubmer "14."
What stands out most is the royal blue that defines the majority of the design. It hints at the foundation of Jordan's transcendent basketball game and even, in this writer's interpretation, at the eventual evolution Jordan underwent to revolutionize the game.
Whether that's the intent or not is purely subjective, but it adds to the conversation at the core of the unique art the Jordan Brand regularly produces.
