Kentucky Basketball Unveils Nike 'Must Be the Denim' Shoe

The new sneaker celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Wildcats' iconic 1996 denim uniforms.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Two days before Kentucky men's basketball channels the 1996 national championship team by wearing denim uniforms, the Wildcats have collaborated with Nike and alum Devin Booker to unveil the Nike Book Chapter 2 'Must Be the Denim.' Kentucky players will be wearing these shoes during Saturday's game against Tennessee.

Why it matters

The denim uniforms worn by Kentucky's 1996 national championship team have become an iconic part of college basketball history. This new shoe collaboration allows the Wildcats to celebrate that legacy while also connecting with their current star player, Devin Booker.

The details

The new 'Must Be the Denim' shoes feature a denim upper with white and blue accents. They were designed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Kentucky's famous denim uniforms from 1996. The shoes will be worn by the current Wildcats team during their game against Tennessee on Saturday.

  • Kentucky will wear the denim uniforms for the first time in 30 years on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • The new 'Must Be the Denim' shoes were unveiled on Thursday, February 6, 2026, two days before the denim uniform game.

The players

Devin Booker

A former Kentucky basketball player who collaborated with Nike on the design of the 'Must Be the Denim' shoe.

Mark Pope

The current head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team, who was the captain of the 1996 championship team that wore the iconic denim uniforms.

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What they’re saying

“Well, I was trying to push it earlier in the season, but you would be surprised at how complicated it is to roll something out like this. There are, like, a thousand different pieces. Huge kudos to (UK Associate Director of Equipment) Mark Evans and the whole crew at Nike for getting this to come to pass.”

— Mark Pope, Head Coach, Kentucky Men's Basketball

What’s next

Kentucky will wear the new 'Must Be the Denim' shoes when they take on Tennessee on Saturday, February 8, 2026 at 8:30pm ET on ESPN.

The takeaway

This shoe collaboration allows Kentucky to celebrate its iconic 1996 denim uniforms while also connecting with current star player Devin Booker. It's a unique way for the program to honor its past while also looking towards the future.