New: The Nike Ja 1 is here
After months of waiting (and a pause on the rollout due to the early March incident), the Nike Ja 1 is here. While we only saw the shoe on Ja’s feet for a good 5 games during the Playoffs, that shouldn’t stop all of us from rocking the shoe on court for 2023. We were fortunate to get a pair from our good friends at Nike and let me share my first impressions of the Ja 1 here.
Nike Ja 1 EP ‘Day One’ EP
As stated in our initial post on the Ja 1, the shoe focuses on three key performance areas: dynamic lockdown, responsive ride, and support for landing. The overall build seems to address it, with the shoe being light enought but feels secure enough for high flyers or all around players. The mesh upper keeps the shoe breathable while the Zoom Air bag offers the right amount of bounce. The raised sidewall provides the support for both takeoff and landing. One thing that I felt and experienced upon wear is the padded foam collar, which to me pushes the value of the shoe, giving you that security that you’ll be locked down. The traction on the outsole is grippy and should work well across all types of surfaces (the shoe is after all is EP, built with XDR rubber for all day, everywhere play).
In terms of aesthetics, what’s not to love? The ‘Day One’ is part of the Midnight Series – where the real work starts in the dark, while everyone else is asleep. The shoe also pays tribute to everyone who’s been there with Ja from day one. The Grizzlies-esque blue highlights the shoe coupled with soft pink outsoles. The TPU Swoosh that loops around the shoe is a fresh take. Ja’s logo can be seen on the tongue while various details throughout the shoe all echo Ja and his family (Ja, 12, Start from Scratch, Kaari). The insole also features the handwritten note acknowledging everyone part of Team Morant.
The Nike Ja 1 is now available across Nike doors and partner retailers for Php 6,195, and the Older Kids’ size priced at Php 4,045. The ‘Day One’ and ‘Family Trivia’ are part of the launch, while the ‘Water Battle’ colorway is exclusively available in GS sizes.
