B/R Kicks Look-Ahead: Top 10 Anticipated Releases of July 2016

The official start of summer is only days away, leaving sneakerheads desperately preparing for a season of lucrative spending.

Now that all the Kanye West hype has died down—until Adidas decides to drop another Yeezy Boost model—we can shift our focus to 10 of the best kicks July 2016 has to offer.

Ongoing brand wars means great sneakers for all of us consumers. Adidas, Under Armour, Nike and Jordan Brand are all prominently featured here—as one would expect.

Take a look at which kicks belong in your closet by starting the slideshow.

Air Jordan V 'Black Metallic'

July is a month when Jordan Brand will be gearing up to release a string of retro kicks. The Air Jordan V "Black Metallic" coming back to retailers, per Sneaker Bar Detroit, is a crucial part of the process.

Branded with the traditional Nike Air text on the shoe's heel, this Jordan V represents a distinct yet simple colorway. An all-black upper is enhanced with mesh sidewalls, a fire-red Jumpman logo, 3M reflective tongues and an icy-blue sole.

It may not be a "summer" shoe in terms of lighter hues and materials. But that shouldn't bother true Air Jordan fans. Any colorway equipped with Nike Air branding is a home run.

Hopefully Jordan Brand continues to add original markings like that back into its retro line of kicks as we move down the road.

Release Date: July 23

Nike Air More Uptempo 'Gum'

If you've read any of the sneaker coverage here at Bleacher Report, you know the Nike Air More Uptempo "Gum" is a shoe that's already been discussed.

But with July now a few weeks away, there's no better time to throw out a friendly reminder that this sneaker is on its way.

The all-white Air More Uptempo is a clean approach to a nostalgic offering. Of all the retro Nike basketball shoes to come out, perhaps none resemble the 1990s more than this shoe.

Bold, inflated lettering was used for the mid-sole and overall structure of the sneaker. That type of look serves as a reminder of a time when basketball featured the likes of Scottie Pippen—the man who wore this model—and Michael Jordan.

Set to drop July 20, per Sneaker Bar Detroit, the Nike Air More Uptempo "Gum" is clearly a top sneaker for the month of July.

Release Date: July 20

Adidas D Lillard 2 'PDX Carpet'

Image courtesy of Adidas

Maybe Kanye West rocking a white, Primeknit pair of the Adidas D Lillard 2s will finally bring this sneaker the attention it deserves.

Before the West spotting, Damian Lillard's second offering with Adidas had already quietly established itself as a strong on-court performer. Speaking from firsthand experience, the kicks are comfortable, offer up a ton of support and feel compact while moving around.

An influx of unique color platforms continues in July with the "PDX Carpet" release (PDX is the acronym for the Portland International Airport).

It might be hyperbole to compare the PDX colorway to the Nike Air Yeezy II "Solar," but in some ways it's a fitting description. The sneaker resembles one of West's biggest on-foot achievements with splashes of turquoise, white and red.

No matter what you compare it to—if anything at all—the D Lillard 2 "PDX Carpet" is a beautiful, well-built shoe.

Release Date: July 1

Air Jordan I 'Swooshless'

The Air Jordan I "Swooshless" released in May and instantly became unforgettable. For all of the Jordan Brand kicks we've seen touched up with luxurious strands of leather and premium feels, the "Swooshless" I stands on its own merits.

It's one of those slept-on classics, well worthy of its $150 price tag.

July 16 is the day Jordan Brand will keep the "Swooshless" design bubbling thanks to an all-white version. Based on everything we've seen thus far with this sneaker, there's no reason to believe the white "Swooshless" I won't be another hit for the Jumpman conglomerate.

Release Date: July 16

Adidas Crazylight 2016

Image courtesy of Adidas

Adidas is continuing its Crazylight line with a 2016 edition. Unlike versions past, this updated silhouette reflects more of a runner than an actual basketball shoe.

In fact, based on aesthetics alone, the shoe looks like it could be an Asics model.

Transitioning to sleeker designs and straying away from traditional chunky basketball sneakers is something Adidas has been doing for a while now. Aside from Derrick Rose's signature line, most of Adidas' basketball efforts have been reduced in width.

The Crazylight 2016 features a herringbone-styled traction system and a Boost sole. Fans of previous Crazylight models should thoroughly enjoy this updated sneaker.

Release Date: July 2

Nike Hyperdunk 2016

Image courtesy of Nike

Not to be outdone, Nike also has a signature basketball offering coming in July. The Hyperdunk 2016 will premiere with an Olympic colorway attached to it.

What stands out about the Nike Hyperdunk is the shoe usually becomes sort of a melting pot for all of Nike's technological advancements. The 2016 rendition features a Flyknit upper—similar to Kobe Bryant's signature line—Flywire construction cables and a sock-fit—something that can be seen on the KD 8 Elite.

By utilizing the best technologies this company has to offer, the Hyperdunk 2016 thrives without the benefit of a signature athlete attached to it.

Those looking for a dope workout shoe or hardwood performer should look closely at the Hyperdunk 2016 when it drops in July.

Release Date: July 16

Nike Air More Uptempo 'Olympic'

The 2016 Summer Olympics take center stage in the world of sneakers as well as sports. Nike is giving consumers a full run of its favorite kicks, only this time, it's paired them with red, white and blue colorways.

We touched on the Nike Air More Uptempo "Gum" earlier, but the Swoosh Empire isn't stopping there. An "Olympic" version is expected to hit July 16, per Sneaker News.

This is the right version for those looking for a darker, more durable silhouette. Not only does it pay homage to the United States' Olympic aspirations, but the shoe should be easier to maintain without a full coat of white leather.

Fans of Scottie Pippen or the '90s in general should be all over this Olympic offering come July.

Release Date: July 16

Adidas NMD 'Grey'

Image courtesy of Adidas

The NMD movement is real and it's not going away any time soon. Adidas' commitment to producing countless colorways of this shoe has given sneakerheads options when it comes to NMD goodness.

According to Andres Carrillo of Kicks on Fire, Adidas is plotting a July release for a grey, white and red NMD cut—the picture above is actually June's grey release.

Based on the tremendous sales data from prior NMD releases, as Sole Collector's Brendan Dunne scribed about, there's no reason to believe this updated grey version won't sell out.

There's no set release date so far, but all indications point to a July release.

Release Date: July

Nike Kyrie 2 '4th of July'

Celebrating our nation's freedom with a pair of Kyrie 2s isn't a bad thing. Since its release, Irving's second signature offering has grown into a fitting sequel to the Kyrie 1.

The "4th of July" design is lining up to be a another hit for Camp Kyrie and Team Nike. It's a basic take on a strong aesthetic. Using a white overlay to coat the entirety of the shoe, Nike's design squad added a blue strap and red splashes along the sneaker's sole and tongue to complete the American flag colorway.

It works well, and for those looking to add a patriotic sneaker to your collection, the Kyrie 2 "4th of July" represents a compelling offering.

Release Date: July 2

Air Jordan XI Low 'Metallic Gold'

Air Jordan XI aficionados have to be pining for this "Metallic Gold" release, rumored to drop sometime this summer.

To begin with, the Air Jordan XI is a sneaker folks tend to gravitate toward. Unlike a lot of other retros out there, the XI has been sparred from oversaturation. It's why Jordan Brand usually releases one mid-top pair around Christmas time each year.

When it comes to a low-cut design, this shoe has remained a staple of Jordan's legacy.

This "Metallic Gold" offering represents the Rio Olympics, according to Sneaker News. Without a set date, one can only hope these come out sometime in July.

It's cool that for all of the different hues and concepts Jordan Brand is planning to re-release, it's decided to give us an Air Jordan XI low just in time for summer.

Release Date: TBD

All Nike/Jordan product information via News.Nike.com unless noted otherwise. All Adidas information via News.Adidas.com unless noted otherwise.