Jordan Brand Unveils Paolo Banchero's Player Edition of the Heir Series Basketball Shoe

Jordan Brand athlete Paolo Banchero is levelling up his game and paying homage to his roots with a new Player Edition of the Heir Series basketball shoe. The standout silhouette brings forward insights from the women's game and is built for anyone who sets foot on the court.

Paolo's Player Edition represents his journey from Seattle to the NBA, honouring the influence of his mother and grandmother on his game and style. The silhouette also pays tribute to women's impact on culture and sport.

"Women athletes have always been a huge part of basketball for me: they're the ones who taught me the game", Paolo says. "My mum played in the WNBA and in university and she instilled in me the discipline and dedication it takes to win. She and my grandmother have been my biggest inspirations and, without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. To have my first Jordan Brand Player Edition honour them is special—it's a way to show my gratitude and remind myself of the foundation they built for me. Every time I step on the court wearing these, I'm carrying their legacy with me".

Paolo's Player Edition further reflects the contemporary crossover between women's and men's basketball, as well as Jordan Brand's commitment to innovating for all athletes at all levels of the sport.

First released in October, the Heir Series incorporates feedback from the collective women's basketball squad within the Jordan Brand Family and is designed to serve all athletes, including Paolo and his contemporaries atop the men's game, with a tool they can use to propel their performance.

The silhouette features an exterior layer of foam that protects a drop-in Cushlon 3.0 midsole, allowing the foot to be as low to the ground as possible to drive a flexible court feel for running and cutting, which are historically the most critical aspects of the women's game and now rank as the top priority for a growing number of all hoopers.

A rubber herringbone traction pattern adds to the silhouette's court feel, enabling quickness and control, while an adaptive, flexible cage surrounds the shoe, delivering comfort and support.

"The Heir Series is special because it proves that greatness has no limits—no matter who you are", Paolo says. "I'm proud to help Jordan Brand uplift and celebrate women in sport while also wearing a shoe that stands for both performance and purpose. To have my Player Edition be part of the movement is an honour".

In addition to honouring Paolo's mother and grandmother, his Player Edition also pays tribute to the Rotary Boys & Girls Club, where he developed his game through the Seattle Rotary Select Basketball programme.

Clad in his youth team's hallmark light blue, Paolo's Player Edition harks to his formative years on the Seattle youth basketball scene while extending his long-standing support for the programme and compelling hoopers at all levels to strive for Jumpman greatness.

"To be able to honour Rotary on my first Player Edition is a full-circle moment", Paolo says. "It's a place that shaped me not only as a player but as a person too. It's just one way I can give back to them and show love to the programme that helped me get to where I am today".

The Jordan Brand Heir Series Paolo Banchero Player Edition will be available on 17 February at Jordan.com and select retail partners.