When asked about the 2019 NCAA Tournament where he faced Rui Hachimura, he said with a bitter smile, “It was an experience I want to forget.”
On August 6th, footwear brand SKECHERS held a launch event for basketball shoes that were released on the same day at the SKECHERS Harajuku store. Knicks’ Julius Randle and Clippers’ Terrence Mann, the first NBA players to sign a contract with Skechers, appeared as guests.
Randle, now 29 years old, is a 203cm, 113kg power forward. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, he began his professional career with the Lakers in 2014 and joined the Knicks in the 2019-2020 season. Commenting on his joy at his first visit to Japan, Randle said, “This is a country I’ve wanted to come to for the last two years or so,” and revealed that he was particularly impressed by the quality of the wagyu beef, saying, “It was the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten.”
Mann, now 27 years old, is a 196cm, 97kg shooting guard and shooting forward. After graduating from Florida State University, he began his professional career with the Clippers in 2019 and has played for the team for five seasons since then. Having played against Yuta Watanabe and Rui Hachimura since their college days, Mann said, “I really love Yuta,” and when asked about the 2019 NCAA Tournament where they lost to Gonzaga University, where Hachimura plays, he said with a wry smile, “It’s an experience I’d like to forget.”
The company has been selling basketball shoes since 2023, but this will be the first time in Japan. The SKX NEXUS worn by Mann is light and soft, and is aimed at players who value speed and agility. The SKX REIGN (scheduled to be released at the end of October), which Randle will wear from the 2024-25 season, is stable and holds well, making it perfect for players who prefer powerful play.
Randle commented, “The SKX REIGN is very comfortable to wear and suits me well as a powerful player,” while Mann commented, “The SKX NEXUS is very light and durable, so I walk around in them all day. Basketball shoes need to be broken in a few times, but these are brand new and I can move around without any problems even when I take them out of the box.”
■Shoes Overview
Product name: SXK NEXUS Product number: 253015 Price: 16,390 yen
Product name: SXK LEAGUE Product number: 253010 Price: 13,090 yen
Product name: SXK RESAGRIP Product number: 253007 Price: 22,990 yen
Available at: Skechers Harajuku, Shinsaibashi, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Skechers official online store
■ Skechers official online shopping site URL
2024-08-07 06:53:19
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