Sneaker Freaker International

The brand have also postponed their investor day and withdrawn their full-year guidance to allow Elliott Hill time to reposition the business.

The basketball world mourns the loss of NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who has passed away at the age of 56. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mutombo hit the NBA hardwood in 1991. Known for his god-like wingspan, Mutombo quickly became a defensive powerhouse, earning him the nickname, Mount Mutombo. Playing for teams like the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers, Mutombo’s rim defence became the stuff of legend. He ranks second only to Hakeem Olajuwon in career blocks, registering over 3,000 rejections during his career. His signature finger wag after denying a shot became an enduring symbol of his era. In 1992, Mutombo made his mark in the competitive world of footwear design with the release of the adidas Mutombo. Paying homage to his African heritage, the silhouette featured vibrant tribal patterns, colours, and his signature number 55. Designed by Peter Moore (a recent Nike defection) for his second NBA season, the high-top's most distinguishing feature was its bold shield logo, symbolising Mutombo’s Congolese roots. This design was a powerful statement at the time, as few players were incorporating their cultural identities into their sneakers. The adidas Mutombo was also unique in that signature footwear for big men was rare during the era, with guards typically receiving the lion’s share of sneaker endorsements. While it wasn’t a runaway commercial success, the adidas Mutombo maintained a strong cult following, and adidas revisited the design with a retro release in 2013. Vale, Mount Mutombo. A monumental figure both on and off the court.

Nike have named their next CEO and President as Elliott Hill, a 32-year Swoosh veteran who started out as a sales intern 📝

It has been announced that John Donahoe, CEO of Nike since January 2020, will be stepping down from his role on October 14 and Swoosh veteran Elliott Hill has been named his successor. This comes as no surprise to the sneaker industry, having been well aware of the recent struggles the Swoosh has been buckling under – many of them coming from strategic decisions led from the top. While Donahoe’s tenure is marred with criticism, he did witness some of Nike’s best years – the highlight being a whopping 19 per cent increase in revenue between 2020 and 2021. When this momentum petered out in 2024, criticism for Donahoe’s strategic moves hit an all-time high. One of the key concerns that has plagued Donahoe’s tenure is the fact that he was not a Nike veteran or even a sportswear/sneaker veteran when he took the reins from Mark Parker. In what seems to be an attempt to placate these concerns and return Nike to their former victories, the next CEO has been revealed as Elliott Hill – the Swoosh's former president of consumer and marketplace.

The legendary designer is now a free agent 🤔 Read more in the link below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eSSrAE_2

This weekend (in select regions) 🐝

MSCHF and Vans have settled in their lawsuit over the controversial 'Wavy Baby' sneaker. Both parties notified the New York federal court on August 20, bringing an end to the year-long trademark courtroom battle 🧑⚖️

Confirmed by the man himself 👀 Read more in the link below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gUTWJg2J

It’s always a sobering experience when the Olympic Games come to a close, especially after weeks of cheering for your country while your heart rate is soaring. Paris 2024 was no exception and provided plenty of entertainment, memes, cultural significance and a plethora of epic sneaker moments 🥇

Next year is set to be megalithic for Jordan Brand 🏀 There's rumoured Travis Scott and Off-White colabs, a barrage of OG colourways and new-classic fan-favourites 🤯 https://lnkd.in/g8VeMFKS