Devin Booker’s latest shoe drop channels Forrest Gump in the most creative way

How Devin Booker turned a simple shoe release into an unforgettable moment. Again.

You don’t need to be a sneakerhead, a hypebeast, or even someone who knows the difference between mids and highs to appreciate the genius of what Devin Booker just pulled off. The Phoenix Suns guard dropped his latest Book 1s and, in true Booker fashion, he didn’t just release a shoe. He created a moment.

Devin Booker has been rolling out versions of his Book 1 shoe for over a year now, and the journey has been nothing short of impressive. What began with the Book 1 Mirage v.1 has evolved into a lineup of colorways reflecting his passions. There are the Sedonas, paying homage to a city Booker loves to escape to, and the Sunsets, a tribute to the Phoenix Suns with their purple and orange hue.

And now, Booker unveiled the Forrest Gumps, a design inspired by the iconic Nike Cortez, the first-ever track shoe released by Nike in 1972, and, of course, the tennis shoes worn by Forrest Gump himself.

It’s a clean, no-frills shoe. White as a blank slate, with a sharp red swoosh and a cool blue stripe wrapping the heel. Simple. Minimalist. A quiet flex. It’s one of Devin Booker’s more stripped-down colorways. No snakeskin, no lilac, no soft pink pastels screaming for attention. And honestly? This is the one I’ve been waiting for. A shoe for those of us who thrive in simplicity. A shoe for people who believe subtlety is the loudest statement you can make.

Since the shoe was immortalized in the iconic 1994 Robert Zemeckis film, Booker seized the connection as a golden opportunity to create some unforgettable content. Through his Instagram story, he dropped a series of hilarious videos, swapping his face onto Forrest Gump and dubbing over Tom Hanks’ voice with his own.

Pure genius.

True to form with his shoe drops, Booker has a knack for turning releases into treasure hunts, leaving autographed pairs hidden around whichever city he’s in for fans to discover. We saw it in Indianapolis during last year’s All-Star Game and again in Paris over the summer during the 2024 Olympics. Yesterday, he brought the excitement to Phoenix, stashing three signed pairs in different locations for fans to track down.

It was a fun and creative way to launch a shoe, and while Devin might not always show an outgoing personality in interviews, he showcased his sense of humor and paid tribute to the Oscar-winning film.

You can try your luck at snagging a pair of the Book 1 “Cortez” now. As Forrest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”. And the same might apply to finding these shoes. Good luck.