Nike SB (Skateboarding) is Nike's dedicated skateboarding division, launched officially in March 2002. While Nike had attempted to enter skateboarding previously (through the 1997 Nike Skateboarding effort), Nike SB's 2002 launch marked the brand's first sustained and successful commitment to the skate market — a commitment that has produced many of the most culturally significant sneakers in modern history.
The 2002 launch
Nike SB debuted with four silhouettes reimagined for skateboarding: the Nike SB Dunk, Nike SB Blazer, Nike SB Air Jordan 1, and Nike SB Air Force 1. The SB Dunk quickly became the franchise. Early SB colorways like "White/Blue" and "Pink Box" established the aesthetic — premium materials, thick tongues with Zoom Air insoles, and a skater-first construction approach.
Key Nike SB silhouettes
- Nike SB Dunk Low — the flagship, most-released SB silhouette
- Nike SB Dunk High — high-top variant with iconic collaborations
- Nike SB Janoski (Zoom Stefan Janoski) — Stefan Janoski's signature slip-on, launched 2009
- Nike SB Bruin — 1970s basketball silhouette adapted for skate
- Nike SB Blazer — 1973 basketball retro with skate-specific padding
- Nike SB Nyjah Free — Nyjah Huston signature (several generations)
- Nike SB Air Jordan 1 — skate-specific AJ1 variants
- Nike SB Zoom Blazer Mid — premium SB basketball retro
Pro team
Nike SB's pro skateboarding team includes some of the era's most respected skaters: Eric Koston, Ishod Wair, Lacey Baker, Karsten Kleppan, Nyjah Huston, Gino Iannucci (historically), Stefan Janoski (historically), and Cory Kennedy. The team's presence at competitions and in skate videos has legitimized Nike SB within skate culture.
Iconic collaborations
Nike SB's collaboration program is among the most storied in sneaker culture:
- Supreme × Nike SB Dunk (2002)
- Staple "Pigeon" SB Dunk (2005)
- Diamond Supply "Tiffany" SB Dunk (2005)
- Concepts Lobster series (2009+)
- Travis Scott × Nike SB Dunk Low (2020)
- Ben & Jerry's Chunky Dunky (2020)
- Grateful Dead SB Dunk trilogy (2020)
- Otomo Katsuhiro × Nike SB (2024)