Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s move from Converse to Nike just produced its most fascinating sneaker yet: a Nike-branded version of the SHAI 001.
SGA revealed the never-before-seen pair through his secondary “burner” Instagram account, providing our first look at the original SHAI 001 carrying Nike branding. The shoe itself remains unmistakably the model Shai introduced under Converse, but Swoosh branding now appears prominently on the heel via bold blocked NIKE lettering.
The pair comes almost entirely covered in bright orange, complemented by a white interior. Notably, Shai is showing the Lace version of the SHAI 001, as opposed to the alternate construction featuring the model’s recognizable zippered shroud.
Whether this Nike-branded SHAI 001 will ever reach stores remains unknown. The unusual crossover could simply serve as a bridge between two chapters of Gilgeous-Alexander’s signature footwear career, particularly with the Nike SHAI 002 expected to officially launch in February.
For now, the SHAI 001 exists in a fascinating middle ground — born at Converse, worn into its next chapter with Nike — and we expect Shai to wear this variation of the shoe to start the 2026-2027 NBA season until the Nike SHAI 002 is ready for unveiling.
