One of Nike’s controversial yet beloved 1990s basketball sneakers is officially on its way back to store shelves after more than a decade in the vault.
The Nike Air Bakin is set to return in its original Varsity Red/White/Varsity Maize/Black colorway. Notable for its clashing combination of red and yellow and its aggressive, wavy design, the late-‘90s sneaker was popular on the court with players like Tim Hardaway and soon after became a street-style favorite as well — particularly in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. regions.
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But the Air Bakin’s debut ’97 launch was not without controversy. Nike’s original plan for the sneaker saw it release ahead of summertime alongside other fire-inspired models such as the Air B-Que, Air Grill, Air Melt and Air Scald. The theme extended to each shoe’s “Air” branding, which was designed to resemble flames.
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However, in April of ’97, the Council on American-Islamic Relations took umbrage with the design, asking that Nike apologize for the logo, which the council said resembled the word “Allah” in Arabic script. Nike quickly altered the branding, but not before a number of pairs had already been released.
”We absolutely regret any misunderstanding, and we regret that this appeared in retail stores,” a Nike spokesperson said at the time.
Most recently, the Air Bakin was featured in a two-shoe collaboration with streetwear brand Supreme from spring 2023. And in 2025, Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 18 sneaker received a special “DMV Drive” colorway in red, yellow and black as a nod to the sneaker’s regional appeal.
In addition to the Varsity Red style, the Air Bakin’s original Varsity Royal makeup is also set to return this holiday season.
The Nike Air Bakin OG Varsity Red will be released this fall from Nike’s Snkrs app and select Nike Sportswear retailers. The sneaker’s style code is IQ5365-600 and retail pricing is set at $170.