The Nike Basketball Penny signature series was named after Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway, an all-time great American basketball player and college coach. He was one of the NBA's key players in the 1990s, playing first for the Orlando Magic. Nike took notice of his talent and produced and named a sneaker after him, the Nike Air Max Penny 1. Now decades later, the Nike Basketball Penny is still going strong, thanks to new collaborations and colorways.
The Nike Basketball Penny was designed by Eric Avar, who also worked on Kobe Bryant's Nike sneaker line. The most striking feature of this sneaker is a large jewel Swoosh on each lateral sidewall. This is not just stylish – it also gives functional lateral support. No Air Max Penny is complete without the stitched "1-Cent" branding on the heel.
Since the Nike Basketball Penny has been around for a while, retro versions have appeared on the scene. Many of the retros pull inspiration from Penny Hardaway's life. For example, the Lester Middle School Nike Air Max Penny 1 uses colors from his middle school alma mater (black and yellow). Any sneaker from this iconic line pairs well with other Nike apparel, such as hoodies, joggers, sweatpants, jackets, and t-shirts.
From the Nike Air 1/2 Cent Royal to the Nike Air Penny 5, enjoy shopping every silhouette from the Nike Basketball Penny collection below. From the subtle and subdue colors to bright and flashy, Nike has worked hard to produce a plethora of colors in this classic line.
