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Nike Re-Signs Jason Williams and Drops His Retro Sneakers

Jason Williams' player-exclusive colorway of the Nike Hyperflight has returned as part of his new sneaker deal.
Pat Benson|
Former Sacramento Kings point guard Jason Williams signed a new sneaker deal with Nike.
Former Sacramento Kings point guard Jason Williams signed a new sneaker deal with Nike. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

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Sacramento Kings

NBA legend Jason Williams has signed a new sneaker deal with Nike. The announcement coincides with the retro release of his player-exclusive Nike Hyperflight colorway.

According to Nick DePaula, Williams will be the face of the upcoming Nike Hyperflight Retro for the 25th anniversary of the patent leather cult classic sneaker and will host a SNKRS launch event this weekend in Los Angeles.

Immediately upon entering the NBA in 1998, Williams established himself as the most exciting point guard in the league. During his early years with the Sacramento Kings, Williams became one of the faces of the Nike Hyperflight.

Designed by legendary footwear designer Eric Avar, the Nike Zoom Hyperflight first launched in 2001. It embodied the futuristic aesthetic of the new millennium, and Williams was the perfect player to headline the shoe.

It featured a sleek, minimalist design. Even better, the synthetic leather upper and Zoom Air cushioning made it pop off the basketball court.

After 25 years, Williams' iconic purple-and-black colorway is finally re-releasing. The silhouette remains true to the original with important details like the No. 55 and "JWILL" on the heels.

The limited-edition drop takes place for $170 in adult sizes on Saturday, Feb. 14. Old-school NBA fans can try to buy the highly anticipated hoop shoes at Nike's "SNKRS Cafeteria" pop-up event at Crenshaw High School.

Sneakerheads who cannot make the trip to Los Angeles for NBA All-Star Weekend can expect a wider release and more colorways in the future.

Fans who do not want to miss out can find the shoes on trusted resale websites like StockX and GOAT. However, the Nike Air Zoom Hyperflight 'OG J-Will' PE already has a high asking price on those resale platforms.

Williams broke the news himself on the Hoopin' N Hollerin' podcast earlier this week. Williams explained that he left Nike for AND1 during his career, but remained loyal to Nike during his retirement.

Williams even joked, "Like I won't even give my kids my credit card to go buy Under Armour or something like that. They gotta go get their mom's credit card."

With the NBA All-Star Weekend upon us, fans can expect more exciting sneaker storylines. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all your footwear news from the NBA and beyond.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Kicks On Sports Illustrated. As a leading voice in footwear journalism, he breaks news, spotlights important stories, and interviews the biggest names in sports. Previously, Pat has reported on the NBA and authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)." You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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