Nike Celebrates Scottie Pippen With a Special Air More Uptempo

Scottie Pippen and the Nike Air More Uptempo have been tied together for three decades, and Nike is finally putting his name directly onto the shoe.

Celebrating the silhouette’s 30th anniversary, the upcoming Nike Air More Uptempo “30th Anniversary” reworks one of the model’s most recognizable details. The oversized “AIR” lettering traditionally stretched across the upper is replaced by “PIP” on the lateral side, directly nodding to Pippen, while the medial side retains the familiar “AIR” treatment.

It’s a fitting tribute to one of the players most closely associated with the model. Pippen famously wore the Air More Uptempo during the Chicago Bulls’ historic 72-10 season in 1995-96 and again with Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, before Nike launched his signature line the following year.

The anniversary pair keeps things clean in a Black/Sail/Anthracite colorway. Black leather forms the base, while oversized Sail “PIP” overlays dominate the sides. Additional details include Pippen branding at the heel, an iridescent tongue badge, rope-style laces and special “30 Years of Uptempo” graphics on the insoles.

Visible Air cushioning remains underfoot, preserving the bulky mid-’90s construction that made the Air More Uptempo one of Nike Basketball’s most recognizable designs.

The Nike Air More Uptempo “30 Years of Uptempo” is currently expected to release on December 23, 2026, for $180.

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