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Jordan Brand unveils Zion Williamson's first signature shoe, the Zion 1

Zion Williamson's first signature shoe is here.

Nike offshoot Jordan Brand unveiled Williamson's signature shoe, the Zion 1, on Tuesday. The 20-year-old New Orleans Pelicans star and 2019 No. 1 pick is the first Gen-Z signature athlete in the history of both Jordan and Nike.

Jordan Brand also unveiled Williamson's apparel line on Tuesday.

Williamson will be wearing his new shoe on Tuesday night when the Pelicans face the Brooklyn Nets.

Four colorways, one unifying design element

The Zion 1 comes in four different colorways, and each one represents part of Williamson's personality and life story. The black and white Gen Zion is classic and uncomplicated. The ZNA has a cosmic design that represents the "crossover of being out of this world, but also down to earth."

The Noah colorway is all about Williamson's little brother, Noah.

The Marion colorway was inspired by places that shaped him: his home in South Carolina and the middle school he went to, where he was coached by his mom.

There is one unifying design element that ties all four colorways together and makes them uniquely Zion: the famous Z on the side of each shoe, which is purposely similar to the Z that Zion has shaved into the side of his head. According to Aaron Dodson at The Undefeated, the Z is "functionally innovative" and was created to "harness power in the heel and enable speed in the forefoot."

Surreal experience

Williamson may be a huge sports star with his own sneaker and apparel line, but he's still as humble as ever.

“Words can’t really explain it if I'm being honest. As a kid you just say it to put in the atmosphere like, ‘Hey, I want my own signature shoe’, but as you get older you see it is tough to get your own signature shoe. Things have to really go your way and I just want to thank Jordan Brand for the opportunity because I don’t think it has hit me yet still. Even though I've put them on and done a few things with them, it still hasn't hit me yet, to be honest.”

That attitude made working with Zion easy and enjoyable for the Jordan Brand development team.

“We are working with one of the most humbled athletes I think we have seen with the brand. His humility and down-to-earth manner were just refreshing to see and how he approached this entire process," Jarrett Mann, product director of Jordan Brand Footwear told Sports Illustrated. “It was an 18-month process working with a 19-year-old signature athlete and the first Gen-Z signature athlete. We wanted this to be the beginning of a shoe that bridges the gap from this generation but also have that Jordan DNA.”

Williamson will be introducing the Zion 1 Tuesday night on the court, and all four colorways will become available over the next month. The Gen Zion will be released on April 23, the ZNA will be released on May 5, the Noah will be released on May 19, and the Marion will be released on May 26.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 03: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives shoots against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the Smoothie King Center on March 03, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans has his first signature shoe. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

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