New Images Surface of Nike’s Denim Book 2 1996 Kentucky Wildcats Tribute

Published March 3, 2026 at 5:45 PM

Quick Facts

Nike is paying tribute to the untouchable Wildcats team and their wilder jerseys this year with a Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim, tapping Devin Booker to represent his alma mater’s storied history
The denim colorway of the Book 2 adds the same light wash shade from the Kentucky uniforms, with white on the Swoosh and a deeper blue color on the hiking style lace loops, tongue label, and sockliner
The Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim will be released March 20, 2026

There’s one true rule of fashion: if you’re going to wear something wild, you better have the confidence to pull it off. When you’re the best college basketball team in the nation, and maybe in the history of the NCAA, you can wear whatever you want, even if it’s a denim basketball uniform. The 1996 Kentucky Wildcats were nicknamed The Untouchables for their domination on the court, but the nickname extended to the team’s fashion choices, because any other squad wearing a Canadian Tuxedo during March Madness would have been laughed off the court.

Nike is paying tribute to the untouchable Wildcats team and their wilder jerseys this year with the Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim, tapping Devin Booker to represent his alma mater’s storied history. The denim colorway of the Book 2 adds the same light wash shade from the Kentucky uniforms, with white on the Swoosh and a deeper blue color on the hiking style lace loops, tongue label, and sockliner.

Booker is one of Nike’s most archival-focused signature athletes, taking direct inspiration from shoes like the Spiridon, Air Force 1, and Nike SB Nyjah 2 for his latest silhouette. Combined with Booker’s Kentucky history, the callback to the mid-’90s fashion is perfectly in line with Book’s old soul energy.

The Nike Book 2 Must Be The Denim will be released March 20, 2026 through Nike and select retailers in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, retail is set at $145. Check below for a new set of images of the colorway, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay up on all the latest Nike Book 2 news and drop info.