Puerto Rico currently slapping the dust off the competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games, is gearing up for the first ever Nike World Basketball Festival which will also feature Brazil, China, France and the United States before taking off to Turkey to participate in the FIBA World Championships taking place in Turkey from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12.

On their mostly local roster, Team Boricua will include NBA ballers Renaldo Balkman, JJ Barea and hometown hero who knows a thing or two about giant killing Carlos Arroyo.

While they chase down more big international, Nike hooked PR with some fresh n’ fly Nike Zoom Hyperfuses that will be available in limited numbers sometime this summer. Complete with the Puerto Rican flag on the tongue, these shoes will move units like Shania Twain! They are that ill! Nike also created a Team Puerto Rico Hyperdunk, but honestly — they just ain’t as hot son.

See another pic of the Team Puerto Rico Nike Zoom Hyperfuse after the jump.

The Air Jordan 2010 Outdoor worn by Dwyane Wade will help you conquer the concrete in the high-performance outdoor version of Jordan’s franchise game kicks. However, it will not help you beat D-Wade in a one-on-one game or bank account contest.

There is a strong chance that you never heard of Nike Air Force II’s before, because Air Force I’s usually dominate the headlines, songs and sneaker store conversations. But when AF2’s hit the streets in ‘87, they were Nike’s No.1 casual basketball boot with Air. Available at JD, this addition to the collection is and features tonal side panelling with unique cut off Nike swoosh logo in contrasting dark grey either side.

Bright contrasting blue sapphire/yellow colours with more dark grey making up the midsole make this colourway a must have for Air Force II fans.

The Nike Air Max 90 has been around for 20 years and ain’t a damn thing changed. They were ill back in 1990 when they dropped, and they’re still fresh in 2010. A particular favorite Air Max 90 colorway of mine and yours, is the timeless “Infrared” ones that never seem to stay on store shelves very long and that’s why we like when they get re-released.

All things cool boutique Primitive will be re-releasing the Nike Air Max 90 on July 24th and to celebrate. They have paired model Justene Jaro in her underwear, wearing Infrareds for a photo shoot to help spread the word about the drop date — I really, really, really think this idea is working.

Video from the “Underwear & Infrareds” photo shoot below.

By my count, Kobe Bryant aka The Black Mamba has won 5 NBA championship rings and has had zero hour long specials to remind me of that. Sure, this Black Mamba tee by Nike serves as a fashionable reminder of his accomplishments, but you’ll really dig that you won’t have to wait  through commercials to buy it.

The basketball version of the World Cup is just around the corner and Nike will be releasing all kinds of FIBA flavoured Nike Zoom Hyperfuse colorways, but the Brazil version has my full attention.

Basically, the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse ‘Brazil’ is the exact same color as the Brazilian national flag with more emphasises on the maize in it then the amazon like green. The list of plays that are attending the FIBA World Championships seems to change on a daily basis, but look for the likes of Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, and Nene to be rocking these joints in Turkey.

You can start rocking these joints sometime in August when they hit store shelves.

H/N Ty

Remember that movie that came out last year called “The Box” with Cameron Diaz, that dude that plays Cyclops in the X-Men movies and Frank Langella? Well, in that movie a strange package arrives on the doorstep of a married couple played by Diaz and Cyclops, who know that opening it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don’t know.

In a scene straight outta that movie, one minute past midnight at the beginning of the free agency wooing process. The Chicago Bulls had a driver deliver a mysterious box to LeBron that had classic red, white and black Air Jordans inside with the message that read:

“You’re a King, but can you take on the greatest challenge in sports. Look history in the eyes every night, and refuse to blink. The fans of Chicago have a question for you. Do you dare to fill these shoes?”

Why don’t you tell us what’s really on your mind guys? Conceived in the creative labs of the Leo Burnett agency, creative director Patrick Rynell acknowledged that ”It was a gutsy idea,”  but figured LeBron has a “good sense of humor” and that “a good in-your-face dare would kind of lighten the mood, and show what Chicago’s personality is about.”

Word??? **Dave Chappelle voice**

The children in Michael Jordan’s family can’t even fill the shoes of Air Jordan and they have his genes. They couldn’t play a game of Yahtzee without somebody saying, “man, you’re a good Yahtzee player but your dad — man could he ever play some Yahtzee. I’ve never seen such dice rolling under pressure”

The though of somebody adding more pressure to the most important decision LBJ will have to make in his professional life, seems kinda wacky. Why not just say, “Hey LeBron accept less money, be stressed out every night when you look up at our championship banners and become teammates with Joakim Noah public enemy number one in Cleveland”.

If Wade joins the Bulls, I can see a strong starting core of Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Joakim Noah shouldering the load of Jordan’s shadow, but unless that happens. It’ll be no dice on landing “The King”. One man’s hairline can only manage so much stress alone and LBJ enjoys his mini afro.

In “The Box” pressing the button is the beginning of the end for the pressers involved, and I’m thinking that instead of putting on Air Jordan I’s, LBJ will stick to his LeBron VIII’s in Cleveland and Cyclops won’t have to take a bullet.

You are gonna like these! Chris Paul has been running with the Jordan Brand label for a minute now and he’s on to his third signature shoe with the legendary label. The lightweight, responsive performance of the CP3 Jordan tribute shoe meets the timeless style of the Air Jordan III like the man said in the video above and when these bad boys hit the shelves, buy a few pairs. They’re bound to be classics by the time you walk out of the store.

Peep all three colorways after the jump.

Somehow as the NBA draft fast approaches, Chris Paul has been named in trade talks which would be beyond a bad idea if you’re the Hornets. Can you name one other Hornets player you would pay to see that has his own shoe besides Chris Paul? Didn’t think so. Nike probably wouldn’t trade Paul for the world, and they are set to release a special pair of CP3 III’s only available at the House of Hoops in white and gold.

Yes, these are indeed pretty tight.

More Jordan CP3 III goodness after the jump.

Via LTD

While helping himself to 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assist. Kobe Bryant broke out his new Nike Zoom Kobe V Big Stage Edition kicks for the first time.

If you have a thing for simple looking shoes, that pay heavy attention to detail. These joints are for you my friend. White with copperish accents, the real magic of “The Big Stage” is the multitude of Kobe Bryant’s stats from the ‘09-’10 season embossed throughout the shoe.

The stats you’ll see include Bryant’s games played (73), minutes played (2835), points scored (25,970 ), assists (365), rebounds (391), scoring average (27 ppg), and the day he surpassed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers with 25,207 points scored on 02.01.10.

If Bryant decides to wear these through the finals for home games, the Celtics will hope to see them at least 3 times.