For fans of the Nike Dunk who never want to miss a release, we have the full list of Nike Dunk Releases for 2023 and 2024. This section is dedicated to all Nike Dunks that are coming out, including low-top, mid-top, and high-top models. Not only do we have the traditional Dunks shown, but the SB Dunk Low and SB Dunk High, which are used for skateboarding, will be a focal point of this page. Also, expect every upcoming collaboration and limited pair to be listed. We will keep this area updated with the latest Nike Dunk releases, including the launch dates, prices, style codes, and a list of where you can buy authentic Dunks. Make sure to bookmark this page as we continue to keep you in the loop of all the upcoming Nike Dunk Release Dates.
See Also: Air Jordan Release Dates – Nike Release Dates – Sneaker Release Dates
Table of Contents
- January 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- February 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- April 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- Upcoming 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- Past Nike Dunk Releases
- November 2023 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- December 2023 Nike Dunk Release Dates
- Where to Buy Authentic Nike Dunks
- Nike Dunk Releases Through the Years
- Frequently Asked Questions
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January 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike Dunk Low GS “Football Grey Midnight Navy”
Color: Football Grey/Summit White-Midnight Navy
Release Date: January 2, 2024
Style Code: FB9109-002
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low GS “Malachite”
Color: Malachite/Black-White-Photo Blue
Release Date: January 2, 2024
Style Code: FZ4357-300
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low GS “Laser Fuchsia”
Color: White/Laser Fuchsia
Release Date: January 2, 2024
Style Code: FB9109-102
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low GS “Year of the Dragon”
Color: White/White-University Red-Black
Release Date: January 2, 2024
Style Code: FZ5528-101
Price: $100
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Just Do It”
Color: Bronzine/Playful Pink-Alabaster-Coconut Milk
Release Date: January 9, 2024
Style Code: FD8683-700
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Cool Grey”
Color: Cool Grey/Football Grey-Coconut Milk
Release Date: January 10, 2024
Style Code: FV1167-001
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Reverse Curry”
Color: Dark Curry/White
Release Date: January 12, 2024
Style Code: FQ6965-700
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Cyber”
Color: Anthracite/Racer Blue-Black
Release Date: January 12, 2024
Style Code: FZ3781-060
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low GS “Valentine’s Day”
Color: Fire Red/Pink Foam-Light Crimson-White-Team Red
Release Date: January 15, 2023
Style Code: FZ3548-612
Price: $100
Nike Dunk Low “Miami Dolphins”
Color: White/Cosmic Clay-Dusty Cactus
Release Date: January 17, 2024
Style Code: DV0833-102
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Valentine’s Day”
Color: White/Team Red-Adobe-Dragon Red
Release Date: January 23, 2024
Style Code: FQ7056-100
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Photon Dust Light Armory Blue”
Color: Photon Dust/Light Smoke Grey-Light Armory Blue
Release Date: January 25, 2024
Style Code: FZ3779-025
Price: $135
Nike SB Dunk Low “Court Purple”
Color: Court Purple/White-Court Purple-Black
Release Date: January 23, 2021
Restock Date: January 27, 2024
Style Code: BQ6817-500
Price: $100 – $115
Nike Dunk Low “NBA Paris”
Color: White/Neutral Olive-Black
Release Date: January 2024
Style Code: FZ4624-001
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 “Year of the Dragon”
Color: White/Black-Multi-Color
Release Date: January 2024
Style Code: FZ5063-190
Price: $120
February 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike Dunk Low LX WMNS “Green Ostrich”
Color: Phantom/Gorge Green-Sail-Metallic Gold
Release Date: February 17, 2024
Style Code: FJ2260-002
Price: $135
Nike SB Dunk Low “City of Love”
Color: Coconut Milk/Light Bone-Phantom-University Red-Sail
Release Date: February 2024
Style Code: FZ5654-100
Price: $125
Nike SB Dunk Low “City of Love”
Color: Burgundy Crush/Dark Team Red-Earth-Dark Pony-University Red
Release Date: February 2024
Style Code: FN0619-600
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Valentine’s Day”
Release Date: February 2024
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Vintage “Michigan”
Color: Black/Tour Yellow-Midnight Navy-Sail
Release Date: February 2024
Style Code: FZ4014-010
Price: $125
April 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike SB Dunk Low Premium “Pastoral Print”
Color: Football Grey/Coconut Milk-Khaki-Flat Gold-Sail-Dragon Red
Release Date: April 22, 2024
Style Code: FN5880-001
Price: $125
Upcoming 2024 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike Dunk Low “Plum”
Color: Daybreak/Barn-Plum
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: CU1726-500
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Brazil”
Color: Varsity Maize/Pine Green-White
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: CU1727-700
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low SE “Light Carbon”
Color: White/Light Carbon-Platinum Tint
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FJ4188-100
Price: $130
Nike Dunk Low “Waffle”
Color: Wheat/Coconut Milk-Sesame-Black-Total Orange
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FZ4041-744
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Black Croc”
Color: Phantom/Black-Sail-Gum Light Brown
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FJ2260-003
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low “Pacific Moss”
Color: White/Pacific Moss
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: DV0833-105
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Sanddrift Armory Blue”
Color: Coconut Milk/Light Armory Blue-Sanddrift
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: HF0106-100
Price: $135
Di’orr Greenwood x Nike SB Dunk High
Color: Turquoise Blue/Black-Rugged Orange
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FQ1775-400
Price: $145
Rayssa Leal x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Pure Platinum/Deep Royal Blue-Vivid Purple-White-Gum Yellow
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FZ5251-001
Price: $125
Nike SB Dunk Low “Deep Royal Blue”
Color: Deep Royal Blue/Sail-Vintage Green
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: HF3704-400
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low GS “Pacific Moss”
Color: White/Pacific Moss
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FB9109-108
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Dusty Cactus”
Color: White/Dusty Cactus
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: DD1873-105
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Alabaster”
Color: White/Alabaster
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: DD1873-106
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Platinum Violet”
Color: Light Bone/Platinum Violet-Gum Light Brown
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FN6345-001
Price: $130
Nike SB Dunk Low “Big Money Savings”
Release Date: 2024
Style Code: FZ3129-200
Price: TBA
Nike Dunk Low “Green Shock”
Color: Green Shock/Aquarius Blue-Sail-Vapor Green
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FZ4015-399
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Premium WMNS “Lilac Bloom”
Color: Lilac Bloom/Soft Yellow-Sail-Coconut Milk-Baroque Brown
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FB7910-500
Price: $120
Nike Dunk High “Be True To Her School”
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FJ2263-600
Price: $120
Nike SB Dunk Low “Navy Gum”
Color: Navy/White-Gum Light Brown
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FJ1674-400
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Photon Dust Vintage Green”
Color: Photon Dust/White-Vintage Green
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: HF2874-001
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Football Grey”
Color: White/Football Grey-Gum Light Brown
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: FN6345-100
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Photon Dust Obsidian”
Color: Photon Dust/Obsidian-White-Phantom
Release Date: Spring 2024
Style Code: HF4299-001
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Veneer”
Color: Veneer/Deep Purple-Autumn Green
Style Code: DA1469-200
Release Date: Summer 2024
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low GS “Black Toe”
Color: Black/Gym Red-White
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: HF9980-600
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low GS “Obsidian Vintage Green”
Color: Obsidian/Vintage Green-White
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: HF5177-400
Price: $90
Nike Dunk Low “Concord”
Color: White/Concord-University Red
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: DV0833-103
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Cacao Wow”
Color: White/Cacao Wow-Black
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: HF4292-200
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Ultraman”
Color: Varsity Red/Silver
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: FQ6965-600
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Knicks”
Release Date: Summer 2024
Style Code: DV0833-800
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Silver Surfer”
Color: Metallic Silver/Cascade Blue-Neutral Grey
Release Date: Fall 2024
Style Code: TBA
Price: $125
Futura x Nike SB Dunk Low
Release Date: 2024
Past Nike Dunk Releases
Nike Dunk Low Twist “Jade Ice”
Color: Summit White/Jade Ice
Release Date: August 3, 2023
Style Code: DZ2794-101
Price: $120
Crenshaw Skate Club x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Sail/Light Blue-Cedar
Release Date: August 5, 2023
Style Code: FN4193-100
Price: $130
Nike Dunk Low “Sequoia”
Color: Sequoia/Sequoia-Light Orewood Brown
Release Date: August 9, 2023
Style Code: DZ2538-300
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Industrial Blue”
Color: Summit White/Industrial Blue-Black-White
Release Date: August 11, 2023
Style Code: FD6923-100
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Satin Green”
Color: White/Team Green
Release Date: August 11, 2023
Style Code: DX5931-100
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Cracked Orange”
Color: Light Bone/Safety Orange-Laser Orange
Release Date: August 12, 2023
Style Code: FN7773-001
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Vintage Navy”
Color: White/Midnight Navy-Coconut Milk
Release Date: August 24, 2023
Style Code: FN7197-100
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Panda”
Color: White/White-Black
Restock Date: August 25, 2023
Style Code: DD1391-100
Price: $110
Nike SB Dunk Low “Noise Aqua”
Color: Orange/Noise Aqua-Emerald Rise
Release Date: August 25, 2023
Style Code: DV5429-800
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low “Oil Green”
Color: White/Oil Green-Cargo Khaki-Light Bone
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Style Code: FN6882-100
Price: $110
Yuto Horigome x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Wolf Grey/Iron Grey-Sail
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Style Code: FQ1180-001
Price: $130
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Hemp”
Color: Hemp/Sail
Release Date: August 30, 2023
Style Code: DD1873-200
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Washed Denim”
Color: White/Gym Red-Sail-Midnight Navy
Release Date: August 30, 2023
Style Code: FN6881-100
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Light Orewood Brown”
Color: Light Orewood Brown/Sequoia-Guava Ice
Release Date: August 30, 2023
Style Code: DZ2538-100
Price: $120
Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low “Rammellzee”
Color: Black/Black-Multi-Color
Release Date: August 31, 2023
Style Code: FD8778-001
Price: $130
Supreme x Nike SB Dunk High “Rammellzee”
Color: White/White-Multi-Color
Release Date: August 31, 2023
Style Code: FD8779-100
Price: $140
Nike Dunk Low Premium “University Blue”
Color: University Blue/White-University Blue
Release Date: September 6, 2023
Style Code: FN6834-412
Price: $120
Albino & Preto x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Fossil/Black-Sail
Release Date: September 23, 2023
Style Code: FD2627-200
Price: $130
Born x Raised x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Deep Royal Blue/White-White
Release Date: September 28, 2023
Style Code: FN7819-400
Price: $130
Nike Dunk Low “Smoke Grey”
Color: White/Light Iron Ore-Gum Light Brown-Smoke Grey
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Style Code: FV0389-100
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Honeydew”
Color: White/Honeydew-White
Release Date: October 12, 2023
Style Code: DV0831-105
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Polar”
Color: Polar/White
Release Date: October 14, 2023
Style Code: DV0833-400
Price: $115
Nike SB Dunk High “Sweet Tooth”
Color: Amarillo/Orange-White-Black
Release Date: October 14, 2023
Style Code: FN5107-700
Price: $120
Nike SB Dunk Low “Mystic Red”
Color: Mystic Red/Emerald Rise-Rugged Orange-Rosewood
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Style Code: DV5429-601
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Green Snake”
Color: Pro Green/Sail-Gum Medium Brown-Black
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Style Code: FQ8893-397
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Premium “Cargo Khaki”
Color: Cargo Khaki/Summit White-Clear Jade-Vivid Sulfur
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Style Code: FV3629-371
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Vintage Panda”
Color: White/Black-Coconut Milk
Release Date: October 18, 2023
Style Code: FQ8899-100
Price: $125
Nike SB Dunk Low “Fog”
Color: Black/Cool Grey-Black-Black
Release Date: October 20, 2023
Style Code: BQ6817-010
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “Dia De Los Muertos”
Color: Black/Khaki-Metallic Gold-Medium Ash-Sail
Release Date: October 21, 2023
Style Code: FQ8148-010
Price: $125
Parris Goebel x Nike Dunk Low
Color: Playful Pink/Multi-Color-Bronzine-Clear Jade-Luminous Green
Release Date: October 24, 2023
Style Code: FN2721-600
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Mid “Halloween”
Color: Black/Smoke Grey-Campfire Orange-Black
Release Date: October 26, 2023
Style Code: FQ8749-010
Price: $140
Nike Dunk Low “Red Panda”
Color: Velvet Brown/Sanddrift-Rugged Orange
Release Date: October 27, 2023
Style Code: FV0395-200
Price: $125
November 2023 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike Dunk Low “White Panda”
Color: White/Summit White-Black
Restock Date: November 2, 2022
Style Code: DJ6188-101
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low “Amber Brown”
Color: Black/Amber Brown-White
Release Date: November 2, 2023
Style Code: DV0831-004
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Cacao Wow”
Color: Sail/Coconut Milk-Cacao Wow
Restock Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: DD1503-124
Price: $110
Nike SB Dunk Low “Wheat”
Color: Wheat/Wheat-Dark Mocha
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: BQ6817-204
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Unlock Your Space”
Color: White/Ice Blue-Phantom-Multi-Color
Restock Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: FJ7743-194
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “UCLA”
Color: Blue Jay/University Gold-White
Restock Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: DD1391-402
Price: $110
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Pink Foam”
Color: Pink Foam/Pure Platinum-Phantom
Restock Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: DV3054-600
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low “Dusty Olive”
Color: Dusty Olive/Pro Gold
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Style Code: DH5360-300
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Red Stardust”
Color: Red Stardust/White-Rugged Orange
Release Date: November 8, 2023
Style Code: FQ8876-618
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Vintage Green”
Color: White/Pro Green
Restock Date: November 9, 2023
Style Code: DQ8580-100
Price: $115
Kyler Murray x Nike Dunk Low “Be 1 of One”
Color: Sea Glass/Sail-Oil Green-Rose Gold
Release Date: November 10, 2023
Style Code: FQ0269-001
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low Twist “Panda”
Color: Black/Black-White
Release Date: November 11, 2023
Style Code: DZ2794-001
Price: $125
TIGHTBOOTH x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: White/Black-Safety Orange
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Style Code: FD2629-100
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low “Anthracite”
Color: Anthracite/Pure Platinum-Cool Grey
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Style Code: FV0384-001
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Panda”
Color: White/White-Black
Restock Date: November 16, 2023
Style Code: DD1391-100
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Premium “Giraffe”
Color: Beach/Canvas-Sail-Baroque Brown
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Style Code: DH7913-200
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature “Blue Tint”
Color: Blue Tint/Cobalt Bliss-Summit White-Volt-Black
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Style Code: DD1873-400
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “From Nike, To You”
Color: Fir/Coconut Milk-Melon Tint-Team Red
Release Date: November 21, 2023
Style Code: FV8106-361
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low GS “Triple Pink”
Color: Medium Soft Pink/Hyper Pink-Pink Foam
Restock Date: November 21, 2023
Style Code: DH9765-600
Price: $85
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Medium Olive”
Color: White/Medium Olive-White
Restock Date: November 21, 2023
Style Code: DD1503-120
Price: $110
April Skateboards x Nike SB Dunk Low
Color: Racer Blue/Metallic Silver
Release Date: November 27, 2023
Style Code: FD2562-400
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low Twist “Lemon Twist”
Color: Light Lemon Twist/Light Lemon Twist-White
Release Date: November 28, 2023
Style Code: DZ2794-700
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Game Royal Midnight Navy”
Color: White/Football Grey-Game Royal-Midnight Navy
Release Date: November 29, 2023
Style Code: FQ8826-100
Price: $115
December 2023 Nike Dunk Release Dates
Nike Dunk High “Doernbecher”
Color: Multi-Color/Multi-Color-Multi-Color
Release Date: December 2, 2023
Style Code: FZ3026-919
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low WMNS “Sesame”
Color: Sesame/Picante Red-Bronzine
Release Date: December 4, 2023
Style Code: FQ8897-252
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low GS “Brown Plaid”
Color: Sail/Sail-Cacao Wow-Multi-Color
Release Date: December 4, 2023
Style Code: FV3653-191
Price: $95
Nike Dunk Low “Fir Midnight Navy”
Color: Fir/White-University Gold-Midnight Navy
Release Date: December 5, 2023
Style Code: FV6911-300
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low “From Nike, To You”
Color: Fir/Coconut Milk-Melon Tint-Team Red
Restock Date: December 11, 2023
Style Code: FV8106-361
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Twist “Sanddrift”
Color: Coconut Milk/Sanddrift-Pink Oxford-Sail
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: DZ2794-102
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Mid “Panda”
Color: White/White-Black-Black
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: FQ8784-100
Price: $120
Nike Dunk Low Premium “Burgundy Crush”
Color: Burgundy Crush/Platinum Tint-Plum Eclipse
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: FB8895-600
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low Premium “Oil Green”
Color: Oil Green/Phantom-Olive Aura
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: FB8895-300
Price: $125
Nike Dunk Low “Purple Ink”
Color: Sail/Coconut Milk-Purple Ink-Melon Tint
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: FV8106-181
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low GS “Reflective Swoosh”
Color: White/Pure Platinum-Football Grey-Smoke Grey
Release Date: December 13, 2023
Style Code: FV0365-100
Price: $100
Nike Dunk High WMNS “Chlorophyll”
Color: Chlorophyll/Sail-Chlorophyll
Style Code: DV0829-101 – DD1869-300
Release Date: December 14, 2023
Price: $130
Nike Dunk Low “Mystic Red”
Color: Mystic Red/Cargo Khaki-White
Release Date: December 15, 2023
Style Code: DV0833-600
Price: $110
The Powerpuff Girls x Nike SB Dunk Low “Blossom”
Color: Lotus Pink/Digital Pink-Medium Soft Pink
Release Date: December 15, 2023
Style Code: FD2631-600
Price: $135
The Powerpuff Girls x Nike SB Dunk Low “Bubbles”
Color: Blue Chill/Deep Royal Blue-Active Pink
Release Date: December 15, 2023
Style Code: FZ8320-400
Price: $135
The Powerpuff Girls x Nike SB Dunk Low “Buttercup”
Color: Mean Green/Black-Lotus Pink
Release Date: December 15, 2023
Style Code: FZ8319-300
Price: $135
Nike Dunk Low “Night Sky”
Color: Campfire Orange/Summit White-Anthracite
Release Date: December 19, 2023
Style Code: FV6909-800
Price: $115
Nike Dunk Low Premium WMNS “Bacon”
Color: Sport Red/Sheen-Sail-Medium Brown
Release Date: December 21, 2023
Style Code: FB7910-600
Price: $125
Where to Buy Authentic Nike Dunks
Finding Dunks is easy, but finding authentic Nike Dunks isn’t, especially if you want to buy at retail. Traditionally, you can buy Dunks at most of the chain retailers and boutiques. However, if you’re looking to buy SB Dunks, then you will have to look at skate shops or select retailers online. We have compiled of list of retailers you can buy Dunks and SB Dunks online for retail. Below, you can also see locations online you can buy at resell.
Buy Retail Nike Dunks:
- Nike – Nike SNKRS
- Foot Locker
- Finish Line
- Champs Sports
- Hibbett
- Snipes
- JD Sports
- Shiekh Shoes
- Shoe Palace
- Nordstrom
- DTLR
Buy Retail Nike SB Dunks:
- Undefeated (Also see their raffle section)
- Premier
- CCS
Buy Nike Dunks and SB Dunks at Resell:
Nike Dunk Releases Through the Years
The Nike Dunk has a rich history that dates back to 1985, when it first came out. At the time, the shoes were intended for basketball use. It was originally designed by the legendary Peter Moore, who also lent his craft to models like the Air Jordan 1, Air Force 1, and Nike Terminator. Before the Dunk was released, it was known as the “College Color High,” specific colorways were made to represent different universities and their basketball teams.
Nike unveiled the “Be True To Your School” campaign with Dunks worn by college teams while pushing the sneakers to its fans. The University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, University of Iowa, St. John’s, Georgetown, Syracuse, and UNLV were represented. Sadly, the Dunk had a short run in the 80s, and Nike would eventually move on. It wasn’t until the 1990s that we would start seeing new colorways released. However, this time, the shoes were intended for lifestyle use instead of basketball.
Before Nike SB adopted the Nike Dunk, the brand launched the Nike Dunk Pro B in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This was the first time the Dunk came with extra padding and elastic straps. The Pro B line was also connected to the CO.JP series (Concept Japan). The CO.JP series featured iconic colorways, including the “Ulgy Duckling” series. Featured are the “Plum,” “Ceramic,” and “Veneer.”
In 2002, Nike and its skateboarding division, Nike SB, launched the Nike SB Dunk. The SB Dunk has been released in low-top, mid-top, and high-top form. Sandy Bodecker, the head of Nike’s Special Projects in the early 2000s, was eventually appointed general manager of Nike SB.
The initial launch of Nike SB was not received well by skaters. At the time, many weren’t happy with a big corporate company jumping into the skate scene with no real roots. Nike saw the move as strictly business, while many of the brands at the time were created by skaters. This would eventually change as the brand would sign some of the top professional skaters.
What also helped the Nike SB Dunk was the themed releases. They would drop shoes inspired by alcohol, music, musicians, holidays, and more. Even the early people who jumped to Nike SB would release their own shoes, including Gino Iannucci, Richard Mulder, Reese Forbes, and Danny Supa. In later years, Paul Rodriguez was a big name signed to Nike Skateboarding, who has had several of his own Nike Dunks releases and his own signature line. In the mid-2000s, we would start seeing official collaborative pairs.
Throughout the 2010s, we would see various Nike Dunks releases, but it wasn’t until around 2019 that the silhouette gained hype. This was due to multiple pairs, including the Black and White “Panda,” the re-release of the Ugly Duckling, and the number of available colors. In the 2020s, Nike’s focus has been a mixture of collaborations, new colorways, and bringing back classic colors. In 2024, Nike will bring back various pairs from the early 2000s, including the “Silver Surfer,” “Ultraman,” and “Reverse Curry.” This move will bring out old fans and new fans of the model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, they release on Saturdays at 7 AM PST / 10 AM EST. However, Dunks do launch during the week.
Originally, yes. When first released in 1985, the shoes were intended for basketball. This is where the “Be True to Your School” series came. However, nowadays, the shoes are intended for lifestyle use and to be worn leisurely.
The Nike Dunk was initially introduced as a basketball shoe, but nowadays, it is a casual sneaker. The Dunk SB was designed for skateboarding. The biggest differences land on the SB Dunk, which includes additional padding to protect skaters’ feet. The padding is placed on the tongue and collar. The laces are fatter, thicker, and oval-shaped, allowing for durability against grip tape. The SB Dunk also has Zoom Air cushioning in the heels insoles to absorb impact when skating. Starting in 2011, the outsole of the SB Dunk features a more detailed tread pattern for better grip.
The traditional Dunk fits true to size. However, for the SB Dunk, you will need to go a half size up and, in some cases, a full size. This is due to the amount of padding used.
Simply put, due to the hype. The Dunk is one of Nike’s top models. Furthermore, we have special collaborations that drive the hype, and SB Dunks, for the most part, are released in limited quantities.
There are multiple reasons why the Dunk is so popular. In part due to the simple colors available that allow people to match. Furthermore, social media has helped prevail in popularity beyond any of the previous years they have released.
Before the release, Nike was going to call the model “College Color High”, referencing the “Be True to Your School” series.
1985.
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