Paul Rodriguez Teases the Return of His Nike SB P-Rod 1 for Its 20th Anniversary
More from Footwear News
Sam McCracken, Founder of Nike's Native American-Focused N7 Business, to Retire in 2025
Nike Was WNBA Star Caitlin Clark's Most Valuable Endorsement Deal in 2024
Nike's New Hypersmash Tennis Shoe Looks Like the Classic Hyperdunk Sneaker
Paul Rodriguez took to Instagram Wednesday to tease the return of his landmark first signature sneaker.
The Nike SB P-Rod 1 Retro is widely expected to release in 2025 in celebration of the shoe’s 20th anniversary. Rodriguez, as well as his friend and internet personality Bear Degidio, shared a photo and video of the sneaker in its original white and black colorway from 2015. The same edition released again in 2015 for the first-ever P-Rod retro.
20 years after it began, the significance of P-Rod line cannot be overstated. The SB Dunk quickly helped Nike establish credibility in skateboarding after two previous attempts through lines that fell short of the mark, but securing P-Rod’s services as Nike SB’s first signature athlete represented a coup. Rodriguez, then only 20 years old, was already the sport’s most promising star when he signed in 2004, and his first X-Games gold medal that year followed by another in 2005 realized that potential.
Rodriguez would eventually go on to join an elite club of athletes to reach ten signature shoes from Nike, and by the time that happened Nike SB’s credibility in skateboarding had no longer been questioned in some time. Some even accused Rodriguez of selling out initially, but the later addition of Eric Koston and Steve Janoski, the namesake of another icon in the SB Janoski, helped dispel such notions as well.
Legendary designer Tinker Hatfield himself created the P-Rod 1, and he even threw in the Air Jordan 3’s signature elephant print for a colorway dubbed the “J-Rod.” On the tech front, the P-Rod 1 featured a cupsole for superior board feel bolstered by Zoom Air cushioning.
The Nike SB P-Rod 1 in its original black and white colorway is expected to release in spring 2025, and it could come at the forefront of a wider push for the 20-year old model. Pricing will be set at $110. Footwear News will keep you abreast of any updates.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
Best of Footwear News
Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.