Nike's newest constellation on the iconic Air Force 1 silhouette takes sneakerheads on an interstellar journey back to one of the most coveted basketball All-Star releases in history.
Cosmic Cousins: Separated By 17 Years
2023 Star-Studded AF1
- Deep space blue leather base
- Punctured star cutouts revealing silver foil underneath
- Glow-in-the-dark star accents
- Commemorative eclipse insoles
2006 All-Star AF1
- Houston All-Star Championship colorway
- Embossed star pattern across entire upper
- Dual-team red/blue branding
- Now highly collectible ($2k+ resale)
The Celestial Connection
Both silhouettes masterfully capture a midnight sky aesthetic through different execution techniques. Whereas the 2006 version used raised embossingthe 2023 interpretation employs precision die-cutting
"The perforated star concept immediately took me back to the '06 Dunk and AF1 era when craftsmanship meant manual detailing," observes veteran sneaker journalist Marcus Kelley.
2006: A Pivotal Year for NBA x Nike Collabs
The mid-2000s marked Nike Basketball's golden age of elaborate All-Star releases. The sought-after 2006 collection included:
- All-Star Game AF1 with textured star map upper
- Matchup-specific Player Exclusive (PE) colorways
- Rookie/Sophomore specialized Dunks
- The famed "East vs West" Dunk pack
Why The Resurgence Matters
This intentional callback to 2006's detailing shows Nike redeeming cut-make-trim quality that some enthusiasts claim has diminished in recent GR releases. The celestial elements aren't just printed - they're structurally integrated into the shoe's architecture.
