Upon its release in 1986, the Nike Dunk originally made its mark in college basketball, thanks to its bright colorways and details borrowed from the Nike Air Force 1 and Air Jordan I. Designed by Peter Moore, the shoe was quickly adopted by skateboarders who liked its lean profile, durable leather, and traction.

After the Dunk’s hiatus in the ‘90s, general manager Sandy Bodecker initiated a skateboarding-specific Dunk in 2001. A year later, the Nike SB Dunk released with a new Zoom Air unit and padded tongue, along with added grip and cushioning. It successfully led Nike SB’s relaunch and was embraced by skaters once again.

The Nike SB Dunk was a welcome departure from the big, bulky skate shoes of the previous decade. Skateboarders Reese Forbes, Richard Mulder, Gino Ianucci, and Danny Supa touted its performance attributes and repped the shoe in their own colorways. Nike earned the respect of local shops and skaters, who kept the shoes on even after sessions.

The Nike SB Dunk—with its range of box colors over the years—grew in popularity thanks to collaborations with skateboarders, artists, musicians, and other skate brands.
20 years later, it continues propelling sneaker culture forward with adventurous storytelling and limited releases. The SB Dunk remains a canvas for creativity, with more colors, graphics, themes, and collaborators to come.