On the eve of his eighth All-Star selection, Giannis unveiled a new version of the Nike Zoom Freak 5 to add color to the festivities. This *** with the Nigerian-born player brings plenty of Easter eggs to long-time fans. The life of the superstar deeply influences the upcoming pairing.
Giannis was named to the '24 All-Star for the second time, and the obvious aspect of honor was the connection with his brother Sanassis. Next to the lining is clearly written: "thanasis, thanks for sharing", which is a recognition of their adolescence. More specifically, it was a tribute to the young Antetokounmpo who often had to borrow shoes from his older brother. Again, the numbers of both brothers are printed on the heels. These products sit in parallel with those on the Nike Giannis Immortality 3, which was unveiled a few weeks ago, forming a neat two-piece set as the ASG race approaches.
Dig deeper, and there's a story in the color palette. Featuring a mismatched red and white colorway, this shoe is a tacit nod to the Greek freak's 2019 All-Star debut. In that game, he wore a pair of similarly colored Kobe Proto 4s, a game that predates his signature series with Nike. It was a step on the road to mutual respect between the two superstars, and the famous start was when Kobe Bryant issued a challenge to the then-fourth-grader to win the MVP.