The Nike Air Force 1 ‘01 “Philly” Gives LeBron James a Sixers-Coded Welcome

Area code heel embroidery and a cracked brick-wall insole tie every panel back to the city.

Name: Nike Air Force 1 ’01 “Philly”
Colorway: White/Rush Blue-University Red
SKU: JW9694-100
MSRP: $140 USD
Release Date: Available now
Where to Buy: SNKRS

Nike is greeting LeBron James’ move to Philadelphia with the Air Force 1 ‘01 “Philly,” a city-dedicated pair dressed in Sixers colors and loaded with local references. Rather than a signature-line release, the brand is leaning on its most recognizable low-top to mark the moment, building the shoe around Philadelphia itself.

This is the second time in 2026 that Nike has turned the Air Force 1 ‘01 into a snapshot of a city’s basketball mood. Earlier this year, the “NYC” edition arrived as the Knicks pushed through the playoffs, its insoles printed with a pixelated rendering of Madison Square Garden. The “Philly” pair trades arena imagery for team colors and civic shorthand, keeping the tribute rooted in the city rather than a single building.

Up top, the White/Rush Blue-University Red colorway is mapped with clear intent. White leather handles the toe, lacing area and heel, while royal blue covers the perforated toe box and side panels. Red leather Swooshes sweep across each side, and a smaller red Swoosh sits just below the laces to carry the accent color toward the center of the shoe.

The heel is where the city really announces itself. One shoe is embroidered with “215” and the other with “PHL,” each outlined in blue and cut through by a red Swoosh, while white “Phila” lettering stands in for standard branding on the blue heel tabs. “215” is one of Philadelphia’s area codes, giving the pair a local detail only the city would fully read.

Underfoot, a white midsole carries blue “AIR” lettering and sits on a blue rubber outsole. The most pointed detail hides inside: the insoles show a black-and-white brick wall split by cracks, with a red Nike logo smashing through one section. For a shoe built around a star landing in a new city, it’s a fitting image to stand on.