With a certified design legend in Aaron Cooper behind the curtain, EQLZ is providing the basketball market with a welcome breath of fresh air. Following successful debuts for the brand’s first two performance models – the 247 and 360 – EQLZ is now ready to take another big leap with its first collaboration. Former Slam Dunk Contest champion Nate Robinson is the partner of choice, set to release a mini-collection inspired by his atypical rise to stardom and life journey.
At just 5′ 9″, Nate Robinson managed to make a name for himself in an NBA era dominated by bigs. He played for 8 franchises across 11 seasons, but he’s best remembered for his three Slam Dunk Contest wins in 2006, 2009, and 2010 as well as multiple posterizations of big-men that tower above him. For our purposes, Robinson’s 2009 performance serves as the inspiration behind his debut EQLZ collaboration.
Dressed as “Krypto-Nate” in his green Knicks uni, Robinson won the contest by pulling off an impressive dunk over Dwight Howard, dressed as Superman. With that moment in mind, the 247 and 360 models are given “Kryptonite” colorways featuring iridescent green/blue treatments. The packaging is also on-point, with each sneaker arriving in a comic-inspired box centered around Robinson’s mantra of “N. A. T. E. — Not A Typical Expectation.”
A series of illustrations document Robinson’s professional and personal journey, including odes to his Seattle roots, unexpected foray into boxing, and life-changing kidney transplant. Shane Cleveland, a native of the Seattle area who stepped forward with a miraculous gift of a kidney donor, is featured on the actual shoe-box, with his name printed on the insole. Below, Nate gifts Shane a pair of the EQLZ footwear – one of their many meet-ups since the procedure earlier this year.
The hoops brotherhood in Seattle is also strong: Nate, alongside fellow Seattle basketball legend Jamal Crawford, visited the young hoopers of Rainier Beach High School (who had just won the state title) to present them with the footwear.
The EQLZ x Nate Robinson collaboration will be available June 11th, 2025 (8am PST / 11am EST) via EQLZ.com. The 247 model will be $160, while the 360 commands a $140 retail price.
