After last year taking in sizable investments alongside prominent industry mergers, GOAT starts 2019 with a massive new investment from a sneaker retail giant. Foot Locker has announced today its strategic minority investment with GOAT for $100 million. This number marks the largest investment ever made by Foot Locker. Moreover, the largest investment from a sneaker retailer into a secondary sneaker retailer. This speaks to the turn of the industry, and retailers like Foot Locker getting ahead of the trend. Matt Halfhill and Albert Briggs discuss what this move means for Foot Locker, GOAT, and the sneaker business as a whole. 

Nice Kicks Podcast

Ep. 24: Foot Locker x GOAT - What does this mean?

Presented by Art of Sport: ArtOfSport.com/NiceKicks Matt and Nick discuss the app-syncing, self-lacing Adapt BB just after Nike's grand New York launch event. From first reactions on and off court, to designer insights from Eric Avar and Tinker Hatfield, the shoe's $350 price point and how the internal motor works, every last detail of the Adapt BB is covered. Rundown: 0 – Intro 1:41 – Art Of Sport 2:32 – First impressions of the design 6:41 – Adapt system's snug fit 8:52 – Is Black / White an exciting launch colorway? 12:14 – Years of testing and samples involved to get things right  13:45 – THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS?? 17:32 – How's the cushioning? 22:00 – Jayson Tatum as the debut athlete? 25:05 – How do you charge the shoe? 26:55 – The App and sneaker can download future updates 27:42 – When's the next Adapt BB? 31:10 – What's the concept car for cushioning or other tech? 34:55 – Why not launch at the 2020 Olympics? 37:25 – Depth of Nike's innovation involved and looking ahead 38:05 – Outro    

Ep. 23: Inside Nike's New $350 Auto-Lacing Adapt BB

Presented by Art of Sport -- https://ArtOfSport.com/NiceKicks   Longtime Jordan exec Gentry Humphrey recounts the origin of creating the original Air Jordan 11 in 1995, the many Retro editions through the years and the design's ongoing timeless place atop sneaker culture   Produced by: Jade Hoye   Rundown:   2:22 - Art Of Sport   3:10 - Gentry Humphrey   4:55 - Stopping at 10 or continuing the line   7:55 - Iconic details of the AJ 11   10:40 - Original reaction to the shoe   13:30 - Identifying the original 3 colors   17:01 - Still coveted on an annual basis   20:01 - Adding #45 to the heel   25:15 - Crossing over into other sports   26:24 - Space Jam 2 plans   31:28 - The 11 transcending eras     End

Ep. 22: Jordan Footwear VP Gentry Humphrey On The Air Jordan 11

Presented by Art Of Sport – https://ArtOfSport.com/NiceKicks   NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins discusses his new shoe deal with Puma, how he plans to stand out on the court and why he clowned KD's shoes mid-game. Later, Matt Halfhill and Nick DePaula analyze Puma's NBA re-launch so far and the brand's potential ahead. 0 – Intro 1:24 – Art Of Sport 2:10 – DeMarcus Cousins interview 5:00 – NBA's new color rules 8:13 – @PumaHoops Marketing 9:28 – “Wouldn'tna happened in the Pumas” 10:13 – Matt & Nick analyze Puma's re-launch 12:22 – Pulse on Puma from players 14:51 – Halo effect on Men's business 20:23 – Is Basketball a declining category? 23:12 – Puma not doing a signature shoe 32:02 – Impact of Jay-Z 33:57 – What do we want to see next? 38:52 – Branding & color approach 42:40 – Top 2019 Sneaker free agent targets 

Ep. 21: NBA Star DeMarcus Cousins & Puma Basketball's Re-Launch

 Presented by Art Of Sport – https://ArtOfSport.com/NiceKicks Matt Halfhill and Nick DePaula check in with the designer of Kyrie Irving's latest signature model to hear all about the layered details, new Zoom Turbo cushioning and approach to colorways for the season ahead. 0 – Intro 1:50 – Starting points of the Kyrie 5 4:50 – Flytrap inspiration 6:55 – New Zoom Turbo cushioning 8:22 – Hamsa Hand inspiring the grip 9:38 – Additional details Kyrie wanted 10:45 – Adoption around the NBA 12:25 – New NBA color rules 13:45 – Key colorways ahead 17:45 – Keeping an accessible price point 19:22 – Building out the Kyrie franchise of core models 21:06 – Getting to know Kyrie 23:55 – Seeing Kyrie lace up his design for the first time 28:12 – Outro     **   

Ep. 20: Nike designer Ben Nethongkome on the Kyrie 5

Presented by Art Of Sport – https://ArtOfSport.com/NiceKicks Matt Halfhill & Nick DePaula discuss LeBron's newest signature sneaker, the impact of his move to the Lakers, the potential for a “Space Jam 2” theme and more with his longtime designer Jason Petrie. 0 – Intro 3:20 – Art of Sport 7:05 – Starting points of the LeBron 16 14:51 – #LeBronWatch series last year 21:06 – LeBron's excitement around the 15 23:21 – NBA's new color rules 25:16 – The move to LA 28:30 – Kobe & LeBron 30:21 – Space Jam 2 32:00 – Traveling on LeBron's Summer tour 35:26 – LeBron's fitness impacting design 37: 51 – Evolution of Knit 41:22 – LeBron's legacy 43:57 – Closing thoughts  

Ep. 19: Nike designer Jason Petrie on the LeBron 16

 Matt Halfhill & Nick DePaula discuss the NBA's top 5 signature sneaker sellers, Nike's random Kyrie release on FB Messenger, Matt's latest running update and the NK Mailbag.             

Ep. 18: NBA's Top Sellers | Kyrie 4 "Red Carpet" | NK Mailbag

Matt Halfhill, Blk Tray & Nick DePaula pick back up and discuss the best playoff sneakers, Nike's Art of a Champion Pack, Matt's new running craze, Rolling or Not Rolling + the NK Mailbag. www.nicekicks.com  

Ep 17: The Re-Boot | Playoff Sneakers | NK Mailbag

Nick DePaula, Matt Halfhill and BLK Tray. International Women's Day, Kawhi's Shoe Deal, Supreme x NBA & NK Mailbag  

Ep. 16: Kawhi | Supreme x NBA | NK Mailbag

Blk Tray, Matt Halfhill, Nick DePaula & Jade discuss what to watch for at the Super Bowl, Jordan's All-Star Weekend Lineup, Supreme's team logo-heavy Air Force 1 Mid and of course, the NK Mailbag. 

Ep 14: Super Bowl | Best Dad Shoes | Mailbag

Matt Halfhill, Blonde Tray, Nick DePaula and Jade are joined by Nike Basketball designer Tony Hardman for a full overview of Paul George's new PG2 and its PlayStation collab.

Ep 13: The PG2 Lights Up The League

Nick DePaula, Matt Halfhill, BLK Tray recount the new sneakers from MLK Day. John Wall's new deal with Adidas. And as always the NK Mailbag.   

Ep 12: MLK | Wall | Mailbag

Nick DePaula, Blk Tray & Matt Halfhill on Russell Westbrook's Why Not signature sneaker, the 5th anniversary of Boost, Adidas' new Boost You Wear tech & the NK Mailbag.

Ep 11: Russ' 1st Signature |New Releases | Mailbag

Nick DePaula, BLK Tray and Matt Halfhill recount the top 50 sneakers of 2017, look ahead at what's to come in 2018 and, of course, answer questions from the Nice Kicks Mailbag. 

Ep 10: Best of 2017 | 2018 | Mailbag

Matt Halfhill, Nick DePaula, BLK Tray and Jade. The crew welcomes in one of the Lead Designers of the Kyrie 4, Ben Nethongkome to talk about the history and creation process of the signature sneaker. Later in the show, the Nice Kicks Mailbag with real callers!

Ep 9: The Kyrie 4 Drops

@MattHalfhill and @NickDePaula of Nice Kicks discuss the latest in the shoe industry. From upcoming kicks to NBA shoe deals to exclusive interviews, this podcast covers everything the industry has to offer and more.

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Nice Kicks Podcast

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