Nike announces May 15 release date for Victor Wembanyama's "Alien" shoes

To say Victor Wembanyama came into the NBA with a ton of hype and fanfare would be an understatement. Wemby had eyes on him well before his declaration for the 2023 NBA Draft, as his stature and immense talent saw pundits label him as a generational prospect. So it came as no surprise when the San Antonio Spurs drew the luck of the lottery and selected Wembanyama first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. And what a terrific first season it was for the 7-foot-4 French big-man, ignoring the shortcomings of his largely rebuilding Spurs squad.

Wemby made a significant impact for his inaugural season in the NBA, being a top force on the defensive end despite being a first-year player, and recently securing the 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award for his efforts. The attention surrounding Wemby is not limited to just basketball, as Victor has been involved in other projects like being a brand ambassador for luxury brand Louis Vuitton and being a key athlete signed to the Nike brand.

Fans were treated to a teaser clip released by Nike back in April with a caption reading "The total eclipse has just begun." People were quick to decipher the sneak-peek unveiling as being the signature logo for Victor Wembanyama, especially with the video's "SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH TEXAS" headline being a key giveaway. The logo in question is a giant circular alien, a moniker which Wemby has been labeled before, with basketball icon LeBron James bestowing the name onto him in 2022.

Wembanyama's first sneaker project in conjunction with Nike is a collaborative pair of G.T. Hustle 2s, in a colorway aptly given the name "Alien". The G.T. Hustle 2s are Wemby's signature on-court basketball kicks, so it's appropriate for Nike to introduce a model with the French phenom's name attached to it. The description on Nike's product page describes the shoes as "Loaded with cushioning in the core and Zoom Air spring in the forefoot." If you're wondering what the G.T. stands for, it refers to the phrase "greater than" which is very fitting for the highly touted French prospect.

Wemby debuted this particular set of kicks during the Rising Stars game as part of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities. At the time, it was merely a PE (Player-exclusive) model, but anybody who was captivated by the sneaker's aura could also get their hands on a pair. The Alien-themed sneakers give off a cosmic vibe, which is extremely fitting for the out-of-this-world motif. A starry green hue is accompanied by a majority black base, with Wemby's Alien logo prominently featured on the back. And an almost glow-in-the-dark-looking outsole rounding out the look.

The highly anticipated Nike G.T. Hustle 2 "Alien" designed by Victor Wembanyama is scheduled to launch on May 15 via the Nike SNKRS app, Nike retailers, and select third-party outlets. Fans can purchase this unique sneaker for a starting SRP of $170.