Nike is Bringing Back the OG Colorway Air Bakin in 2026

The sneaker game is fueled by nostalgia, which means every year we get a new re-issue of a sneaker that the masses have been clamoring for. That’s not always the case, though; Nike has been known to dive deep into the archives and pull out pairs that virtually no one is familiar with. But what really drums up attention is when a controversial model makes a comeback, as is the case with the upcoming retro of the Nike Air Bakin.

Designed by Eric Avar, who had his hand in dozens of different Nike Basketball classics in the ‘90s and 2000s like the Shox BB4, Hyperflight, and Foamposite, the sneaker was worn on the NBA court by legends like Tim Hardaway. However, it didn’t take off in the same way other Nike Basketball sneakers did, and it eventually took a bow. Fast forward to 2007 and Nike re-released the OG Black Varsity Red colorway sans the flame script on the heel. Seven years later in 2014, another retro release of the OG colorway and other renditions. The 2026 re-release will mark only the third-ever release of the colorway. Like previous retros, the heel of the 2026 rendition will come with standard Nike Air text.

If you’re not part of the generation that was around for the Air Bakin’s OG release in 1997, your only memory of the sneaker will probably be its most recent release, a collaboration with Supreme in 2023. It’s been nearly three years since then, and the closest we’ve gotten to the Bakin was a Nike KD 18 themed after the original black, yellow, and red colorway. But the reason for its sporadic release (its last retro was in 2013) probably has to do with its original controversy.

When the Air Bakin first hit shelves, it featured “AIR” text in a fiery, flame-like font that could be interpreted as Arabic. Well… it actually looks really close to the Arabic word for Allah. Shortly after the release of original colorways, including the pair making a comeback next year, Nike issued a recall. Still, there are pairs out in the wild with this flame text on the heel. In ‘97, Nike actually put out a statement after speaking with the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR), stating “While we never intended to offend, we did; we have done everything possible to communicate our sincere apologies and to address issues related to the distribution of any products offensive to the Muslim community.”

The Nike Air Bakin OG will be re-released in 2026 through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price has not yet been announced. Check below for images of the last retro of the sneaker, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app for real-time updates on the latest releases in the sneaker world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com