The Nike Air Foamposite One — designed by Eric Avar — released in 1997 as Penny Hardaway's Orlando Magic signature shoe. The Foamposite introduced revolutionary construction techniques that had never appeared in basketball footwear: a single-piece injection-molded foam upper, no sewn panels, and an encapsulated Zoom Air cushioning platform. The visual result was unlike any previous sneaker and remains visually distinct in 2024.
Penny Hardaway and the 1997-1998 season
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was Nike's star point guard at the time, with multiple signature shoes under his belt (Air Flight One, Air Penny Foamposite One, etc.). The Foamposite was the crown jewel of his signature line. Penny wore the Foamposite through the 1997-98 season, which was unfortunately cut short by a knee injury that significantly reduced his playing time and impacted the Foamposite's commercial reception at launch.
Iconic colorways
- "Royal" (1997) — the OG colorway, blue foam with teal highlights
- "Black" (1997-98) — the darker alternative OG
- "Eggplant" (2009 retro) — purple foam, among the most beloved Foamposite retros
- "Copper" (2010 retro) — metallic copper foam, one of the rarest retros
- "Galaxy" (2012) — space-inspired glow-in-the-dark swirl, caused riot at launch
- "Island Green" (2018) — wild-colored revival
- "Concord" — gradient purple
- "Weatherman" — yellow/red lifestyle retro
Foamposite One vs. Foamposite Pro
The original Foamposite One (1997) sits at a slightly higher-cut ankle with a simpler molded upper. The Foamposite Pro (1998) adds a carbon fiber shank plate and features a slightly different upper configuration with more visible stitching. Both silhouettes have been continuously retro'd.
The "Galaxy" Foamposite moment
The 2012 "Galaxy" Foamposite One release became a cultural event. At the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend launch at Philadelphia's Liberty Place mall, the crowd became so large that police had to intervene. The shoe retailed at $220 and immediately resold at $1,000+ — one of the most famous Nike SNKRS-era resale moments.
Modern status
Nike has continued releasing Foamposite retros through 2024, with the silhouette maintaining cult status among Foamposite collectors. Retail sits at $250 for standard Foamposite One retros and $280-$300 for premium material variants.