Zion Williamson’s Signature Shoe: Release Date, Designs For Jordan Brand Zion 1

The first signature shoe of the NBA’s newest superstar is finally here. The Zion 1, Zion Williamson’s Jordan Brand sneaker, will be released this week.

Nike announced that the first version of the Zion 1 goes on sale Friday, though there is a limited release Tuesday in New Orleans. The “Gen Zion” colorway is the first of four versions that will be made available.

On May 5, the “ZNA” colorway will be released. The “Noah” and “Marion” colorways are scheduled to be released May 19 and May 26, respectively.

FIRST LOOK: The Jordan Zion 1, the first signature shoe for Zion Williamson.

He’ll debut them on court *tonight* in Brooklyn — design features a ‘Z’ gesture on the upper. pic.twitter.com/6XZitaZhoE
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 20, 2021

. @Jumpman23 officially announces @ZionWilliamson's first signature sneaker, the Zion 1.

Williamson becomes the first Gen-Z signature athlete in the history of both Jordan and Nike.

"This is surreal. I’m only 20 and I’m about to unveil my first shoe," he told @TheUndefeated pic.twitter.com/fnsh7qVDA1
— Aaron Dodson (@aardodson) April 20, 2021

“We knew that one of Zion’s main inspirations for the look of the shoe was superhero armor. But when we thought about an icon or symbol that could clearly draw out the shoe’s benefits, the 'Z' made perfect sense to us,” said Vianney de Montgolfier, senior footwear designer for Jordan Sport. “It’s the letter for speed, it has the base for power, and it’s maybe the most distinguishable letter in the alphabet. There’s nothing else like it.”

Williamson will debut the Zion 1 on Tuesday night when his New Orleans Hornets host the Brooklyn Nets. In his second season, the 20-year-old has been one of the league’s most productive players with averages of 26.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

For Williamson, it's the biggest shoe news since he famously blew out a sneaker in his freshman (and only) season at Duke. Shortly after being made the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson signed a $75 million contract with Jordan Brand. Only LeBron James has ever signed a bigger shoe deal as a rookie.

“What story does it tell? Honestly, I don’t know if it’s much of a story. For me, it’s more about the look,” Williamson told The Undefeated in regard to the Zion 1 design. “I remember, I told them, ‘If somebody walks into a store, I want them to know it’s my shoe.’ So, for me, it’s about the ‘Z.’ That’s my look. That’s my story. That’s me.”

Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook are the only other NBA players who currently have shoes available with Jordan Brand.