The Nike Air Bakin OG "Varsity Red" Releases September 2026

Nike is reaching back into its late-1990s basketball archive with the Air Bakin OG "Varsity Red," a colorway that reconnects the bulky, Eric Avar-designed silhouette with the Miami Heat era that made it famous. Tim Hardaway wore the Air Bakin during his time in Miami, and the shoe's aggressive paneling and high-cut profile helped define an era when Nike Basketball footwear was as imposing off the court as it was on it.

This "Varsity Red" build starts with a black foundation across the ribbed upper, with vibrant red accents distributed throughout the layered paneling and white trim cutting through the side panels for contrast. Yellow laces complete the Miami color reference, while the molded black sections preserve the shoe's signature chunky structure. Nike Air branding lands on the heel in red, stepping in for the wavy logo from the original release.

The OG silhouette is kept intact with a high-cut collar, exposed heel Air cushioning, and pull tabs that reinforce the throwback character. Underfoot, the chunky outsole carries a red cutout with yellow Nike branding, tying the bottom of the shoe back into the same palette running through the upper.