Penny Hardaway’s Nike Air Foamposite One first debuted in 1997 and has since become one of the most iconic basketball sneakers of all time. Originally designed as a performance basketball sneaker, its futuristic look and bold design made it a cultural phenomenon. The Foamposite gained steady popularity in the late ’90s and early 2000s, and it reached a legendary status in 2012 with the release of the ‘Galaxy’ colorway, a sneaker that would redefine hype in the modern sneaker era.
For the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando—where Penny Hardaway spent most of his career—Nike released a galaxy-themed collection inspired by the city’s connection to NASA. The pack included the KD 4, LeBron 9, Kobe 7, Barkley Posite Max, Air Flight One, and the standout ‘Galaxy’ Foamposite One. This was the first-ever Foamposite to feature a printed graphic, with a star-covered galaxy upper paired with a green glow-in-the-dark outsole. Releasing at the peak of the Foamposite’s resurgence, it instantly became a grail for sneakerheads.
The hype surrounding the release was unprecedented. Demand was so intense that store releases were canceled due to riots, and resale prices skyrocketed. In one of the most infamous sneaker trade requests, a seller on Craigslist was offering his car, a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier for a size 10.5 pair of ‘Galaxy’ Foams, highlighting the extreme lengths some were willing to go to acquire the sneakers.
More than a decade later, the sneaker world has changed, and Foamposites are no longer at the peak of their popularity. However, the original ‘Galaxy’ Foams have retained their status in the sneaker community, with resale prices on the secondary market ranging from $1,000 to $1,500.
Now, in 2025—13 years after the original release—Nike is bringing back the ‘Galaxy’ Foamposite One, giving sneakerheads another chance to own this historic pair. The sneaker is set to release in February for $230 on SNKRS and select Nike retailers. While trends have shifted and Foamposites aren’t as popular in today’s sneaker culture, this rerelease is expected to bring back nostalgia and attract both longtime collectors and a new generation of sneakerheads.
The ‘Galaxy’ Foamposite remains one of the most influential sneaker releases in history, representing a time when sneaker culture entered the mainstream. Its impact stands today, proving that the perfect blend of design, hype, and storytelling can elevate a sneaker to a legendary status.
