Kentucky fans love tradition almost as much as they love winning, and why wouldn't they. Kentucky is one of the best college basketball programs of all time. Now BBN is getting both tradition and winning in sneaker form. Kentucky's own Trent Noah took to Instagram to unveil the latest Kentucky-themed kicks provided by Devin Booker and Nike. It is a throwback design commemorating the 1996 national championship team, widely regarded as one of the best college basketball squads of all time.
The sneakers, styled with a denim-inspired look, nod to the era when Kentucky dominated college hoops with swagger. Nike previously released the first version of these throwbacks back in April, but this updated design leans even harder into the denim aesthetic. Could that mean a full return of Kentucky’s iconic denim uniforms? Some think so.
In fact, KSR floated the idea of breaking out the denim unis with these shoes on December 20th in Atlanta against Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team. That would be a marketing masterstroke, a chance to pit Kentucky tradition against one of the Cats’ most complicated coaching figures. Get it done Mitch.
Throwing it back to '96 😼
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) September 26, 2025
Thanks, @DevinBook, for the 🔥 kicks. pic.twitter.com/xyvMBCh3ap
Why ’96 matters today
That ’95-96 Kentucky team wasn’t just good, it was historic. Not only the best Kentucky team of all-time, but one of, if not the, best college basketball teams of all time. It is hard to argue.
- 9 players went on to the NBA, a staggering level of depth.
- Despite losing twice (to UMASS early and Mississippi State in the SEC Championship), the Cats never dropped below No. 5 in the AP Poll.
- They ultimately rolled to a national title and earned the nickname “The Untouchables.”
Fans are already ready to drop some coin on the new shoes: Do you want the denim look back, even if it just for one game? And will you be copping a pair of the D Book 1 “Denim” editions when they drop?
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion