Air Foamposite One Deep Royal Mens Basketball Shoes (Deep Royal/Deep Royal/Black Ice)

The Air Foamposite One remains one of basketball's most visually distinct silhouettes. Introduced in 1997 and worn by Penny Hardaway during his peak with the Orlando Magic, the shoe's defining characteristic is its seamless, shell-like upper constructed from Foamposite material—a proprietary thermoplastic foam that molds to the foot while maintaining structural integrity. Unlike traditional leather or mesh uppers, Foamposite eliminates seams across the vamp and collar, creating an aerodynamic, almost alien aesthetic that hasn't aged despite decades of design evolution. The shoe occupies a unique space in Nike's basketball lineup: neither a cutting-edge performance model nor a pure retro, but rather a heritage silhouette that courts respect across both hardwood and streetwear contexts.

The Foamposite upper sits atop Nike's Zoom Air cushioning in the forefoot, engineered for responsive court feel and lateral support during explosive movements. The high-top collar and reinforced ankle support structure make this a guard-oriented design, though the silhouette's popularity has long transcended positional wear. The outsole employs a herringbone pattern for traction, wrapped around a full-length rubber base that provides durability on both indoor courts and urban concrete. Weight distribution and materials allow for the aggressive fits that made the original colorways iconic—this shoe demands presence rather than blending into a lineup.

The Deep Royal and Black Ice pairing represents the kind of monochromatic restraint that separates wearable Foamposites from statement pieces. Deep Royal dominates the upper while Black Ice accents the Swoosh and collar branding, a conservative approach that lets the shoe's architectural merit speak without relying on bright contrast. This colorway integrates cleanly with both basketball-inflected fits and understated streetwear—cargos and oversized tees, track pants, or vintage Starter jackets all find natural rhythm with the Deep Royal execution.

At $159.98, the Air Foamposite One drops 33% from its $240 MSRP—a meaningful discount on a shoe that rarely sees this depth of markdown at major retailers. The price applies automatically at Shoepalace with no promo code required; the sale price reflects what's shown in cart. Foamposites tend toward true-to-size fit, though the sealed upper occasionally runs snug across the midfoot for wider feet. Size availability across the full run typically remains solid on heritage models like this one.