The SB Dunk may just be one of Nike’s most important sneaker silhouettes. With a few tweaks to the tongue, insole, outsole, and laces, Nike’s SB sub-brand turned the legendary Dunk — designed by the father of the Jordan I & Jordan II, Peter Moore — from a vintage basketball mainstay to a modern skatewear icon. It’s hard to imagine, but twenty years ago Nike wasn’t quite the billion-dollar company it is today and hardcore street skaters paid little mind to the brand, despite it being one of the most recognizable sportswear entities on the scene.
But with the SB Dunk, Nike was able to solidify itself as hands-down the coolest brand in streetwear. And pretty amazingly quickly.
With brands like Vans, Converse, Osiris, and D3 taking up all the oxygen from skaters looking for functional and stylish footwear, Nike was able to grab everyone’s attention by linking up with the right people and brands. First up was Supreme, who Nike teamed up with at the height of the brand’s popularity to release some of the SB Dunk’s greatest colorways of all time. From there, Nike rolled out custom colorways for respected skaters like Richard Mulder, Danny Supa, and Reese Forbes, the graffiti artist Futura, and streetwear icon Jeff Staple. They even teamed up with Diamond Supply Company.
Since the SB sub-brands launch in 2002, the sneaker continues to iterate upon itself to meet the shifting needs of skaters. Now, 20 years later, it has solidified itself as the ultimate skate shoe and one of the best silhouettes for collaborations. In celebration of the sneaker that helped put Nike on top, we’re shouting out the 30 best colorways in the label’s history. And if you want to see some plum-colored dunks made just for the legendary Styles P, check out his episode of Fresh Pair with Just Blaze and Katty Customs, below.
Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Cement, 2002
What a way to kick off the list. The Supreme Nike SB Dunk Low is still one of the greatest pairs of the sneaker’s eighteen-year history. This particular iteration is notable for its use of the textured “elephant skin” nubuck leather first introduced on the Jordan 3 back in 1988. When this sneaker dropped in 2002, it was the first time the “cement” colorway was used on another sneaker and Nike couldn’t have chosen a better streetwear label to break it out for.
Supreme Nike SB Dunk Low dropped in both a black and cement colorway with a crimson collar or the much brighter white and cement colorway, with the true blue collar. We lean more towards the black, but both pairs are wildly popular — selling for close to $10,000 on aftermarket sites.
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Nike SB Dunk Low Richard Mulder, 2002
The debut sneaker in Nike’s “Color’s By” series — a collection of Nike SB Dunks released in colorways hand-selected by Nike’s roster of team riders — the “Mulder” was selected by pro skater Richard Mulder who tried to recreate the colorway of his first pair of Nikes. The Mulder is one of the sneaker’s best colorways, thanks to its crisp leather upper with a simple bright blue swoosh. It’s minimalist, sure, but white leather sneakers have never looked this good.
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Nike SB Dunk Danny Supa, 2002
Another great colorway from the SB Dunk’s debut year, pro skater Danny Supasirirat’s New York Knicks referencing take on the SB Dunk was also part of Nike’s “Colors By” series, consisting of colorways hand-selected by Nike’s sponsored team riders. When Supa’s take dropped in 2002 it was a quick favorite amongst sneakerheads and holds up to this day as one of the silhouette’s best presentations.
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Nike SB Dunk Reese Forbes Denim, 2002
Say what you will about this pair of Nike SB Dunks, but credit where credit is due. When Nike decided to take inspiration from a pair of signature jeans that pro skater Reese Forbes had just dropped, art director Natas Kaupas struck on something that spoke to a lot of streetwear tastemakers.
The upper consists of midnight blue distressed denim with bright red accents. Despite the fact that you could make a strong argument for these being ugly, they fetch prices well above $5,000 in the aftermarket.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Nike SB Buck, 2003
The Nike SB “Buck” colorway came straight from the mind of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who stayed repping Oregon hard with this design that borrows the colors of the University of Oregon. Other highlights from the design include “PK” branding on the heel and suede paneling over the leather upper.
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Nike SB Dunk Futura, 2003
New York graffiti artist Futura has designed so many SB Dunks that we could probably do a pretty dope ranking of just his designs. The SB Dunk ‘Futura’ was a skate-shop exclusive release that dropped in 2003 and saw the sneaker outfitted with a tumbled leather upper in a steely Nightshade colorway with grey suede mudguards, and black mesh panels.
For a sneaker that celebrates a graffiti legend, it’s a shockingly understated design. That’s not a bad thing, it may just be the best SB Dunk to be associated with Futura.
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Supreme x Nike SB Dunk High, 2003
We don’t blame Supreme for doing a complete 180 with their follow-up to the Cement SB Dunk — that’s a hard sneaker to follow. But the 2003 high-top SB Dunk isn’t without its charms. Featuring a varsity red and white colorway with a distinct star-patterned graphic beneath the swoosh, this design feels like a dope victory lap to kick off the second year of Nike SB Dunks.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Nike SB Dunk Low Tokyo, 2004
Part of Nike’s City Series, the Tokyo SB Dunks swap out the leather upper for a canvas/muslin blend that gives the sneaker a sort of down-to-earth workwear vibe. The Tokyo was absent of branding on the heel and tongue, making this a favorite amongst DIY sneaker painters who treated the pair as a blank canvas.
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Nike SB Dunk Jedi, 2004
Unofficially dubbed the “Jedi,” this SB Dunk is rumored to be inspired by Yoda, inarguably the ultimate Jedi master. The sneaker features a worn brown leather upper, inspired by Yoda’s fit, with green paneling paying tribute to the master himself with bright green stitching, heel tabs, and laces, a reference to Yoda’s lightsaber color.
Adidas seems to have the Star Wars brand on lock, so Nike would never actually call this sneaker the “Jedi,” but it does give a glimpse into a world where Nike teamed up with Star Wars instead of Adidas.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Nike SB Dunk London, 2004
Another low-key subdued design out of Nike’s City Series, the London’s also played with the base upper of the SB Dunk, trading the leather for a full-suede makeup. The tonal panels of grey captured the foggy vibe of the city, and to round out the design an embroidered outline of the River Thames in midnight blue adorns the side heel panel.
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Futura x UNKLE x Dunk High Pro SB, 2004
Known simply as the “UNKLE,” this SB Dunk was a cross-collaboration between New York City icon Futura and the British trip-hop producer Unkle and sees the high-top SB Dunk covered in graphics that recall UNKLE’s album Reign done in the style of Futura’s graffiti work.
The sneaker features a mix of black and white leather with pink overlays and a chalky white swoosh.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Nike SB Dunk Low Paris, 2004
The best colorway out of Nike’s City Series, the Paris Dunk is just a beautiful pair of kicks. Made in collaboration with French painter Bernard Buffet, each pair of the Paris featured a totally unique upper, making the production run of just 200 pairs feel all the rarer.
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Nike SB Dunk Hemp Pack, 2004
Dropping in a red mahogany, bonsai, and cascade blue iteration the Hemp Pack featured uppers composed entirely of hemp. Not only do they still look dope 16 years later but it’s also proof that Nike is perfectly capable of making sustainable shoes.
Why they don’t continue to do so is beyond us.
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Nike SB Dunk High FLOM, 2004
Made in collaboration with graffiti artist Futura, the FLOMs, or “For Love Or Money” Dunks featured a tile-based upper composed of different denominations of currency. In a strange way, they feel like a precursor to Travis Scott’s take on the silhouette from this year, providing that Futura has always been ahead of the game no matter what field he decides to dip his toes into.
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Nike SB Dunk High Pro Sea Crystal, 2004
Sandy Bodecker was to the Nike SB what Tinker Hatfield is to the Air Jordan and one of his best iterations ever came about when Bodecker stumbled upon a color in Nike’s seasonal color palette selections in 2004 that reminded him of the washed-out sea glass that he once collected as a kid on the beaches of Connecticut.
Other notable variations to the SB design on this iteration include the use of Pig Suede which helped to bring out the sneaker’s unique colors.
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Nike SB Dunk Pigeon, 2005
Probably the most legendary sneaker on this list, the Pigeons came about at a time when sneaker culture was entering a new golden age. Made in collaboration with Jeff Staple, the Pigeon’s release was so hyped that a riot broke out over the sneakers in New York City, the city the sneakers were repping with their embroidered pigeon on the heel.
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Nike SB Dunk De La Soul, 2005
How do you make one of Nike’s coolest streetwear silhouettes even fresher? By paying tribute to one of New York’s greatest hip-hop groups. If you’re a hardcore De La fan, you will instantly recognize this color scheme which takes inspiration from the group’s legendary debut, 3 Feet High and Rising complete with hand-drawn daisy graphics and a high-top cut.
The upper is composed of brown suede and is covered in contrasting accents of green and orange with an elephant print at the toe wrap. The sneaker was re-released in the low-top form in 2015, that release is dope as well but we’ve got to give props to the OG.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Stussy x Nike SB Dunk Cherry, 2005
A fan favorite to be sure, this collaboration with Stüssy sports a colorway of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla inspired by Neapolitan Ice Cream. Why Nike felt the need to add a cherry to the tongue (and name) when Neapolitan Ice cream doesn’t have cherry is a mystery we don’t care to solve because — inaccurate name or not — this pair is just too fresh.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Nike SB Dunk Raygun, 2005
The Rayguns hold the distinction of being one of the first of the Dunks to feature the SB logo on the tongue. This mismatched colorway was inspired by a fictional ABA team called the Roswell Rayguns and features an alien — which would naturally be that team’s mascot — embroidered on the heel. It’s a silly concept, sure, but the colorway of orange flash, deep black, and bright white is one of the Dunk’s best.
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Diamond Supply Co. x Nike SB Diamond Dunk, 2005
The Diamond Dunks look like they would be better utilized in a display case in a sneaker museum than getting beat up on a skater’s feet. Would that stop us from wearing a pair if we owned one of our own? Nah. Featuring crocodile-embossed leather, a shimmering chrome swoosh, and Tiffany Blue leather detailing, this collaborative kick designed by Diamond Supply Co. founder Nick Tershay is an undeniable entry on this list.
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Nike SB Dunk SBTG, 2006
Designed by famed Singapore-based artist Mark “Sabotage” Ong, the Dunk SBTG featured hand-painted graphics and patterns by ONG and a screened lace flap. The lace flap hasn’t been seen on a notable pair of SBs since, making the SBTGs instantly recognizable amongst seasoned sneakerheads and SB Stans.
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Nike SB What The Dunk?, 2007
Ironically, when Nike decided to design a Dunk cobbled together from 31 of the best SB Dunk colorways, the stated goal was to create a “Dunk to end all dunks,” and you’ll notice a huge gap between the years 2007 and 2019. Don’t get us wrong, Nike didn’t stop making Dunks in the intervening years, the designs just fell off pretty hard and the SB Dunk wouldn’t start to get its groove back until around 2017.
You’ll quickly notice how the upper of the What The Dunk takes on a sort of Greatest Hits quality. Unfortunately, the design turns into a mess. Still, it signifies the end of an era for the SB Dunk. Oh yeah, and owning a pair means you hold a small fortune — these are pricey on the aftermarket sites.
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Nike SB Dunk Freddy Krueger, 2007
The Freddy Krueger is probably the rarest SB Dunk ever, it’s so rare that it was never actually released. The sneaker was inspired by and paid tribute to horror icon Freddy Krueger, of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and features blood splatters over the leather mudguard, a metallic silver swoosh meant to reference Krueger’s deadly gloves, and an upper that recalls his iconic sweater.
The sneaker was barred for legal purposes before it was released to the public and only exists in sample form. Still, somewhere there is a vault full of Krueger’s that’ll never be worn or see the light of day. That’s truly sad.
Comme des Garçons x Nike SB Dunk Hi, 2017
Released during New York Fashion Week in February 2017, this PVC upper high-top Dunk was made in collaboration between Nike and Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons. The sneaker sports a mixed upper of PVC and leather with dual branding and a breathable insole, because as cool as being able to see how fire your sock game is through your sneakers, nothing ruins a PVC upper like some sweaty toes.
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Parra x Nike SB Dunk Abstract Art, 2019
Though not as cool as the Parra Nike Blazer that the dutch artist of the same name produced for Nike in 2019, the Parra Dunk was everywhere at last summer’s ComplexCon. Featuring a distinct soft chenille swoosh over whiter leather with red, pink, and blue accents, the Parra Dunk oozes serious 80s vibes, offering a different take on the SB Dunk and reinvigorating the brand.
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StrangeLove x Nike SB Dunk Valentine’s Day, 2020
Nike dropped this collaboration with StrangeLove skateboards just in time for Valentine’s Day in a special pink box with a heart-shaped window, a coveted gift amongst skater couples. Featuring an upper of red, pink, and white velvet, atop a clear pink outsole, the StrangeLoves are not just one of the best Nike SB Dunks of all time, they’re one of the best drops of this year.
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Nike x Paul Rodriguez P-Rod SB Dunk, 2020
Before the SB Dunks got the “SB” in their name, they were just a simple 80s basketball silhouette intended for the court. Then they became the premier skate shoe for about 20 years in the new millennium, and now maybe they’ll enjoy a third life as a boxing shoe. Paul Rodriguez, aka P-Rod, designed this Mexican-flag-inspired leather take on the high-top for his signature SB Dunk, and it was a great way to start the year in which the SB Dunk became cool again.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low Cactus Jack, 2020
Probably the most hyped SB Dunk since the original Supreme Cement, Travis Scott’s earthy take on Dunk perfectly reflects the rappers’ aesthetic. Featuring rope-style laces, a woodsy camo pattern, and Cactus Jack branding, Travis Scott’s iteration on the Dunk swaps out the tongue for an extra thick version and adds some paisley bandana patterning on canvas overlays.
When this shoe dropped in February, so many sneakerheads flooded the Nike site that it had to temporarily shut down.
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Ben & Jerry’s x Nike SB Chunky Dunky, 2020
The Chunky Dunky was the sneaker that proved that even a pandemic and an economy barreling toward depression wasn’t enough to stop sneakerheads from absolutely losing their mind over a pair of shoes.
What’s cool about the Chunky Dunky are all the small details — the cow print leather overlays, how the upper utilizes the Ben & Jerry’s logo, the psychedelic tie-dye collar that pays homage to Ben & Jerry’s crunchy hippie roots… It’s a sneaker for sneakerheads and a great reminder that the best sneaker designs come from a place of humor and fun.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.
UNION LA x Nike Dunk Low Argon, 2022
Okay, it’s not technically an SB Dunk, but who cares, this is hands-down the dopest Dunk of the year and we had to include at least one gem from 2022. Made in collaboration with LA retailer UNION, the Argon was part of Union’s ‘Passport Pack,’ which paid homage to hard-to-find colorways of the early ‘00s.
The design featured a tearaway ripstop upper with sloppy orange stitching that reveals a blue leather underlay with dual Nike and UNION branding over a translucent rubber outsole. The whole sneaker has this beautiful glow about it thanks to a mix of hyper royal, white and psychic blue.
Pick up a pair at GOAT.