# Basketball Battle Tribute Sneakers These Air Jordan VIII Suns Finally Get a Release Date By Brandon Bastaldo | Published 2013-04-02 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-jordan-viii References: [sneakernews](http://sneakernews.com/2013/04/01/air-jordan-viii-suns-release-date/) & [sneakersaddict](http://sneakersaddict.com/en/air-jordan-viii-phoenix-2-35305) Just like in ancient times, some battles are so epic and memorable that they’re destined to be talked about and referenced by people for many years to come and the recently announced Air Jordan VIII Suns are a vibrant example that the basketball court is no exception to this rule. The Air Jordan VIII Suns are set to hit stores on May 18th, 2013 and are a tribute to basketball great Michael Jordan’s epic win while playing for the [Chicago Bulls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lucky-shorts) against the [Phoenix Suns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mitchell-and-ness) in the 1993 NBA finals. Accented with bright bursts of orange, cool dabs of blue and grey, the Air Jordan VIII Suns are finally delivering the eye-catching tribute to a [basketball legend](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ja-2) that has been 20 years in the making. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Fashion for Men](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashionformen) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Tribute Sneakers:** Opportunity to create sneakers that pay homage to iconic moments in sports history. - **Athlete-inspired Designs:** Opportunity to design products inspired by legendary athletes and their achievements. - **Nostalgia Marketing:** Opportunity to tap into consumer nostalgia by releasing products that reference past iconic moments. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports Apparel:** Opportunity for sports apparel brands to create unique products that resonate with basketball fans. - **Footwear:** Opportunity for footwear companies to design sneakers that capture the essence of sports history. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Opportunity for marketing and advertising agencies to leverage nostalgia marketing strategies for brands. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stealthy Colorblocked Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flu-game-colorway.md) - [Red-Accented Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/true-red-colorway.md) - [Stark Red-Tonal Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fire-red-colorway.md) - [Stealthy Tonal Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gamma-blue.md) - [Monochromatic Relaunched Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reverse-metallic.md) - [Basketball Team-Tonal Mid-Cut Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hornetscolored.md) - [Pink Sunrise-Inspired Basketball Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/book-1-1.md) - [Taupe-Tinged Basketball Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irregular-shadow-colorway.md) - [Performance Basketball Tributes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kobe-3-protro-halo.md)