Love PlayStation? Love Nike? Perfect, because these are the kicks for you — even if you don’t like basketball.
George Paul, small forward on the Oklahoma City Thunder, worked with Nike and Sony to create the PG-2 “PlayStation” sneakers, one of the nerdiest, tech-infused sneakers ever created.
Designed by Tony Hardman, the same lead designer behind Paul’s first sneaker, the PG-1, the new model (in case it wasn’t already completely obvious) is inspired by a PlayStation 4 and its DualShock 4 controller.
Paul says he wanted to make a PlayStation-themed sneaker because he considers himself “one of the biggest gamers in the NBA” and he’s taken his gaming with him everywhere, ever since he received a PlayStation 2 for Christmas as kid.
Dude really loves his PlayStation and it shows. You’ll find elements like the controller’s buttons (circle, X, square, triangle) embossed in its patent leather and PlayStation-colored shoelace eyelets.
Image: playstation/flickr
On each sneaker’s tongue, there’s a logo (one for George Paul and one for PlayStation) that lights up when you press it. Sony says they “illuminate and pulsate blue just like when turning on the console.” These lights also don’t need to be charged up. They’re battery-powered and will last about 150 hours. Pretty sweet.
On the back of one of the sneakers, there’s a barcode that owners can scan to redeem a special Paul George theme for their PlayStation 4.
It’s a slick collaboration. Basketball sneakers are usually pretty controversial, but so far it seems like most people dig it: