From Sir Charles Barkley, who was the round mound of rebounding driving force behind what became Chuck’s officially unofficial signature line, to Michael Jordan, who switched into a pair of what was only called the Alpha Force back in ’88 before debuting the AJ III in spectacular form, this silhouette represents peak Nike hoops design from the late 80s.
From obvious similarities – like many elements of the outsole – to subtle details – like the eyelets – the Alpha Force 88 shares numerous parts of its toolbox with other significant releases from the time period, including the Air Jordan III and the Air Trainer 1. A cost-effective brand strategy at the time, this recipe delivers a desirable dose of Nike basketball nostalgia today.
As the name suggests, this color combination of the retro matches the Bulls jersey it was paired with ever so briefly with a white base and accents in black and university red, e.g. on the characteristic forefoot strap.
The Nike Air Alpha Force 88 ‘Chicago’ colorway releases at BSTN on Saturday, July 15th. Pick up your pair via the button below!
