A special colorway of Devin Booker’s debut signature sneaker once believed to be an exclusive for the Phoenix Suns star is actually making its way to retail in 2025.
The Nike Book 1 “Forrest Gump” is immediately nostalgic to fans of the classic Tom Hanks film. Outfitted in a white upper with accents of varsity red and varsity blue, this Book 1 gets its styling from a matching Nike Cortez colorway famously featured in the 1994 movie.
Gifted to the titular character by his wife, Jenny, the white, red and blue Cortez were described by Forrest as “the best gift anyone could ever get in the wide world.” He wears them during multiple runs across the country, battering the pristine white leather shoes until they’re nearly unrecognizable.
Off screen, the Cortez is among Nike’s most historic and iconic sneakers. It was introduced in 1967 — a period when Nike still went by Blue Ribbon Sports — and was the brand’s first running-specific sneaker. The Bill Bowerman design helped evolve sneaker cushioning by introducing a dual-density midsole and would become the brand’s top-selling running shoe.
As time went on, the shoe’s sway grew beyond the track and by the 1980s, the Cortez had become popular in hip-hop fashion, markedly in the west coast’s gangsta rap scene. The Cortez would also be embraced by Chicano culture, where it remains a staple today.
“It’s really crazy how, like, my people and, like, growing up in East LA, like, they literally took that shoe and made it their own, and they made it so powerful. Like, we know when we see anyone with that shoe not to mess with them, and that’s power. That’s true power,” Los Angeles designer Alexis Quintero told NPR in 2022.
Booker’s “Forrest Gump” Nike Book 1 leans on the silhouette’s classic style to closely emulate the look of the original Cortez. The red and blue sections are accurately represented down to the blue streak across the midsole. And just like the Cortez, the eyestay of the Book 1 features a serrated edge.
The Nike Book 1 “Forrest Gump” is expected to be released Jan. 22 for a retail price of $140. The “White/Varsity Red/Varsity Blue” colorway has a SKU of FJ4249-105.
