For those of us getting a bit long in the tooth — guilty as charged — it seems practically an eternity ago that the Jordan Brand shocked the sneaker world by signing a precocious teenager named Carmelo Anthony to be a cornerstone and an ambassador.
Though Anthony was fresh off leading Syracuse to a National Title as a freshman, it nonetheless seemed a bit of a leap of faith, much as it was for Nike to simultaneously sign LeBron James out of high school. This, after all, was no fledgling brand, and with Michael Jordan wrapping up a career that many consider the greatest of all time, this seemed to equate to a passing of the torch. Was Carmelo up to the task? Would anyone be?
Seven All-Star Games, a scoring title and 11 sneakers later, it has become obvious Anthony — who grew up favoring the Air Jordan 9, which he wore both in high school and college — was a perfect selection to grow along with Jordan’s sneaker powerhouse.
Continuing a partnership that has entered into its second decade, Jordan Brand officially unveiled the M11 on Monday night down the street from Madison Square Garden at Terminal 23, the ornate ballroom-style court that bears Anthony’s logo.
Make no mistake, the shoe lives up to the superstar who will wear it. With apologies to the Jordan Melo 1.5, the M11 is the cleanest Melo sneaker to date. It’s certain to be a star on the court as well, given it features the revolutionary Flight Plate cushioning system carried over from the M10.
The M11 is a fitting evolution for a player who has matured into an elder statesman of an ever-growing team that includes some of the finest talent in basketball. As Anthony attempts to cement his legacy by bringing the Knicks back to prominence, it’s obvious he’ll have the finest footwear his talents can demand.
“I’ve seen the brand go from here to here, just as far as the direction it’s trying to go, different players coming in and out, being in meetings day in and day out trying to figure out what’s the next thing,” Anthony told The Daily Street two years ago. “‘How can we engage the consumers out there? How can we put out the best product?’
“That’s a blessing for me, to just be a part of brand Jordan. To have my own brand under the Michael Jordan brand, you can’t explain that.”
As it’s turned out, Anthony’s past decade has done a pretty good job of explaining that for him.
Click for pics and release information…
The Jordan Melo M11 features the Flightplate technology from the M10. It harnesses the energy return from each step for lifeoff with a moderator plate placed directly over the forefoot Nike Zoom unit to create an even larger cushioning spot. On the shoe’s upper, a molded collar helps keep the ankle snug and enhances support.
The upper is composed of synthetic leather for support and lightweight durability with perforated details to allow the foot to breathe. A webbing system wraps around the foot to lock it down. The updated foam heel counter integrates into the midsole, with more strength in the collar and a distinctive, repetitive pattern with the letter M.
By way of Nike, “Melo said he wanted the Jordan Melo M11 to have a more sophisticated look that is well suited to a clean color palette, but also uses hues and patterns to tell dynamic stories.”
The original four colorways are below with quick explanations for each story behind the sneaker, which pulls from various components of Anthony’s life:
The Jordan Melo M11 is already available for pre-order on Jordan.com on Monday. The shoe will be available globally at select retailers and Jordan.com starting January 3.
JORDAN MELO M10 “RED HOOK SUNSET”
A nod to Anthony’s birthplace in the Red Hook Brooklyn projects, this colorway shows off earliest memories of the famous New York industrial area of Brooklyn, with gorgeous sunsets silhouetting New York City along the East River.
“It was essential that we incorporate how important New York City is to me,” Anthony said. “It’s where my basketball journey started, and there’s no other city where I’d rather play the game.”
JORDAN MELO M10 “CONCRETE ISLAND”
New York City is the concrete jungle with the grit and the shine of the biggest city in America. Gray across the forefoot stands for the streets and the detailing on the tongue is for the colored graffiti that still pops up in a watered down version of New York. The subtle speckles on the midsole is for the bright lights of a New York that never slumbers.
Click for the last two colorways…
JORDAN MELO M10 “BLACK/GOLD
A simple premium color with highlights throughout is a nod to the luxury items that are now a staple of the Melo brand.
JORDAN MELO M10 “JORDAN FAMILY”
A tribute to the Jordan Brand family, these traditional colorways worn by Michael Jordan — black, red and white — is a tribute to those famous MJ-Knicks clashes in the 1990s.
(NIKE)
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