Leading up to the first annual Chi League Classic (what had been a popular summer-long pro-am tournament titled “Chi League,” was changed this year to a one-weekend showcase), Nike put some select media folk through a three-phase training series. The goal was to take us on a journey, whipping us into shape in anticipation of the “Influencers Game” we’d be participating in a few days later. The game took place just before the Classic’s biggest events, including the dunk and three-point contests, and championship game. It was a bold opportunity for some to prove (or embarrass) themselves under bright lights and an anxious audience.
Phase One of the journey focused on strength, conditioning, explosiveness and quickness with Nike Trainer David Carson. Wearing the Nike Ultrafast Flyknit made a difficult workout simultaneously a comfortable one, as the shoe is super lightweight and flexible.
Phase Two took place at Chicago’s legendary Marshall High School—think Hoop Dreams, Dorothy Gaters, Patrick Beverley, Cappie Pondexter—under the direction of basketball training coach Tim Anderson, one of the best in the land. We got a chance to break in the Hyperdunk Flyknit 2016 and LeBron Soldier X during a workout tailored to highlight the strengths of the shoes in terms of cutting and changing speeds.
The final phase was a trip to the Station 23, the dedicated training space inside Jordan’s retail space at 32 South State Street, to put the Air Jordan XXXI through a trial run.
Each phase highlighted the of a pros of a specific shoe and worked to simulate what it means–and feels like–to train like a pro. Lesson learned.
You can scroll through the photos above to get a detailed view of each part of our Chi League training.
