The Nike Air More Uptempo in Black and White is back on shelves, and it is the version most people picture when they picture this shoe at all.
Wilson Smith designed the Air More Uptempo in 1996, and the oversized AIR lettering across the panels was one of the loudest design decisions Nike Basketball has ever signed off on. Scottie Pippen wore it through the Bulls’ 72-10 season, which is most of the reason the black and white pair reads as the original even though the shoe launched in several colorways.
This build mirrors the OG layout with black nubuck panels and white leather trim, though it carries the updates from recent reissues rather than a strict 1996 reproduction. The elongated white letter underlay is here, and the heel wears a black jewel Swoosh in place of the white mark on the 1996 pair. Full-length Air cushioning stays underfoot.
This proves how well Nike has learned to pace a franchise. The Uptempo has come back on roughly a three-year cycle, hitting in 2020, 2023, and now, which keeps it familiar without letting it sit long enough to lose value. That restraint is the difference between a model that stays wanted and one that ends up on clearance racks. It also gives a generation who never watched Pippen play a reason to care about the shoe on design alone. More Nike coverage is here.
Release details: August 21, 2026. $170. Style code FV2291-001.
Where to buy: Nike SNKRS, Nike.com, and select Nike Sportswear retailers.
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