Jordan 3 True Blue Releases July 18, Headlining a Stacked Week
After a relatively quiet stretch in summer releases, a concentrated four-day window delivers significant heat. The Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" returns on July 18 for the first time since 2018, paired with a BAPE x Vans Knu Skool, multiple adidas collaborations, and debuts from Nike Basketball, New Balance, and other major players across basketball, soccer, and skate categories.
By Ava Rodriguez
The market has been deliberate in its pacing through early summer, but the calendar turns decisive this week. Between July 13 and 18, the industry releases enough volume to reset expectations for the season ahead—a pivot that extends well beyond a single silhouette, even one as historically significant as the Air Jordan 3 "True Blue."
The Jordan 3 True Blue Returns
The Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" represents a direct callback to the model's most iconic original colorway from 1988. This particular release arrives nearly a decade after its last retro drop in 2018, marking a substantial gap in the market for one of the silhouette's most recognizable iterations. The shoe features the classic combination of royal blue leather with white and black accents, anchoring itself to the design language that Michael Jordan wore during the model's competitive debut.
The Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" releases on July 18. Ahead of the retail retro, Nike introduces the Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" Cleats on July 14, allowing the performance version to precede the lifestyle release—a sequencing that underscores the model's dual identity across court and culture.
BAPE x Vans Knu Skool and Supporting Releases
July 15 marks the arrival of the BAPE x Vans Knu Skool, a collaboration that places the Japanese streetwear powerhouse on a vintage Vans silhouette. The Knu Skool, a skate-era reference, represents a deliberate choice to platform BAPE's design language on an authentic canvas rather than a contemporary fashion silhouette.
The week unfolds across discrete daily drops, each targeting different constituencies within the broader sneaker ecosystem. July 13 leans exclusively into football performance with the Nike Air Diamond Turf 2 "49ers" Cleats—a nod to Deion Sanders' signature line—while July 14 scatters releases across basketball (Converse Shai 001 "Slither"), skate (BBC Ice Cream x Reebok Board Flip "Pale Cerulean"), soccer (MENACE x adidas Predator), and lifestyle (adidas Additive Shoes). The adidas Additive is flagged as ultra-limited and tech-forward, positioning it as a boutique drop rather than a standard retail release.
New Model Introductions
July 17 and 18 see multiple brand debuts entering the marketplace. Nike Basketball launches the Sabrina 4 "Green Glow" on July 17, continuing Sabrina Ionescu's signature line—a shoe that has established itself as one of the Swoosh's recent commercial successes in women's basketball footwear. That same day, New Balance introduces the 1954 model in monochromatic colorways, expanding the brand's running-adjacent catalog.
The adidas DON Issue #8 "Spiderman" also lands on July 17, while earlier in the week the adidas Additive drops as a distinct, limited technical offering. These introductions reflect a strategic release calendar designed to maintain attention across multiple price points and product categories.
Collaboration Depth
Three adidas collaborations anchor the week's depth: MENACE on the Predator (July 14), JAH JAH on the adiStar Control 5 and adiZero F50 Mega (July 15), and Bad Bunny on the F50 Ghost Sprint in "Solar Slime" and "Dark Marine" colorways (July 18). Each collaboration carries its own narrative—World Cup nostalgia, technical soccer innovation, and cross-cultural brand extension respectively.
Vans contributes a military-inspired "Field Pack" capsule on July 16, while the Mario Crocs collection and JJJJound x New Balance 1890 (arriving delayed on July 15 at NB.com) provide secondary entry points for collectors seeking thematic depth.
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Release Info
The Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" Cleats release July 14; the Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" Retro releases July 18. BAPE x Vans Knu Skool drops July 15. adidas collaborations roll out July 14–18 across multiple models. Nike Sabrina 4 "Green Glow" and New Balance 1954 release July 17. Complete product galleries with retail links and real-time inventory tracking are available across the week's daily coverage pages.
FAQs
When does the Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" release? The Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" releases on July 18, 2024. A performance version (Air Jordan 3 "True Blue" Cleats) precedes it on July 14.
What is the BAPE x Vans Knu Skool? The BAPE x Vans Knu Skool is a collaboration placing Japanese streetwear label BAPE's design sensibility onto Vans' vintage Knu Skool silhouette. It releases July 15.
Where can I buy these releases? All releases drop at Nike.com, adidas.com, Vans.com, New Balance, and authorized retailers. Retail links will be available on each product's dedicated coverage page upon launch.
Release Info
Air Jordan 3 "True Blue"
- Release Date: July 18, 2024
- Available At: Nike.com, authorized Jordan Brand retailers
- Status: Confirmed
BAPE x Vans Knu Skool
- Release Date: July 15, 2024
- Available At: Vans.com, BAPE, authorized retailers
- Status: Confirmed
adidas Collaborations (Multiple)
- Release Dates: July 14–18, 2024 (varies by model)
- Available At: adidas.com, partner retailers
- Status: Confirmed
Nike Sabrina 4 "Green Glow"
- Release Date: July 17, 2024
- Available At: Nike.com, WNBA partner retailers
- Status: Confirmed
New Balance 1954 / 204V
- Release Date: July 17, 2024
- Available At: NewBalance.com, authorized retailers
- Status: Confirmed
