The Nike A’One finally has a face to the name. For a feat one would dream of as a kid, A’ja Wilson put in hours working with the brand’s innovation team, creating something unique to her game and style. “I just wanted something that was going to be comfortable, but also hopefully something that you haven’t really seen too much of,” was her take. However, as the 2-year effort sees daylight, fans do not believe the shoe is delivering on the vision.

Just days after her jersey retirement in her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, Nike released short clips showcasing the awaited drop. A’ja Wilson took to her own Instagram account to make the announcement moments later. “No Leaks @nikebasketball, A’ONE HAS ARRIVED,” she penned as she posed with a collection that reflects her ‘girly, girly side.’ 

The sneaker, in the ‘Pink Aura’ colorway, packs within a whole lot of what A’ja holds close.

Her signature logo, a star combined with an ‘A’, is featured on the tongue while her tattoos in tribute to her parents make the inside of it. She also has her signature, ‘A’ja’ embossed on the heel tab and a quote by her, “Weakness. Weakness. We don’t have time for that,” is engraved on the heel. The LV Aces icon also adds pearl-themed layers of support. It did not simply come by. There’s another homage here. Wilson reveals it is inspired by the pearl necklace her grandmother gave her; one that’d instill confidence in young A’ja.

But it isn’t all about personalization.

For the game, the shoe features Cushlon ST2 foam with a firm base to deliver explosive responsiveness and smooth landing. It also reimagines a traction pattern to help athletes cut, pivot, and move sideways with precision. “Ever since A’ja was a child, she’s been that way,” Roscoe Wilson, A’ja’s father says via AP. “She’s always been meticulous in her planning.” It reflects.

The 2024 MVP has been at work on the shoe for two years now. But it just hasn’t been about ticking the box off a checklist. Wilson aims to empower young women, inspire the next generation, and help them push their limits. All so specific, yet, a few spectators cannot help but notice a few similarities with another collection.

A’ja Wilson’s “vision of a long time” did not translate for a few

To reach the stage A’ja Wilson and Nike did today, there entailed quite the efforts. The Aces icon has admitted to the long gruelling process it has been, noting people on the outside could not understand. But this has been a long-time dream of Wilson and she wasn’t letting anything slip. “This is a product of her vision from a long time ago,” her father says. But for some, it is a glaring reminder of Kevin Durant’s shoes.

“They literally made her some KD kicks lol,” one wrote. 

The Pheonix Suns star, with a lifetime deal with Nike, has more than a few signature shoes. Cushioning and comfortability that Wilson emphasizes on do make the common factor, but the extra-snug fit, personalized details, and the colorway, sound distinctive as any. But if one were to dig into any similarity, the KD17s November release last year, might hit one.

“Recycled KD 17s,” one commented. The KD17 Aunt Pearl released last year, were a homage to the NBA star’s aunt who passed away due to cancer. They came in all-pink colorway with KD logo on the tongue and  “AP” and “KD” embroidered on the heel.

“Looking like a KD and an Airmax 97 combined,” another opined. The 97s were one of the most innovative shoes of their time, but A’ja reveals that even as she leaned towards prioritizing her consumers over her own needs, it was Nike who pushed her to think of herself. In her words, “there been times where people at Nike were like ‘no, A’ja, we need you to think about you.’”

But the situation reminded another of the time Sabrina Ionescu’s Sabrina 2 ‘Mirrored’ were compared to Kobe Bryant’s Kobe 5 Blackout. “Copy and paste. Sabrina’s looking like Kobe’s, A’ja looking like KDs,” one pointed out.

The recurring patterns had a fan call out the brand for their designers. “Nike needs new designers. All the basketball shoes are starting to look alike. Do better for these athletes smh,” came a comment.

But at the end of the day, A’ja Wilson is more than proud of the outcome, sharing a vision for the consumers. She wishes for the athletes to “feel the power behind that logo: the power to dream big, then put in the work — in style and confidence.” That’s A’ja design for you, and the way they standout, one can speak from experience come May when the shoes officially release.