Jimmy Butler will debut Jordan Ultra.Fly shoe in Bulls game

Jimmy Butler will be the first NBA player to lace up the Jordan Ultra.Fly in a game.

Expect to see the Bulls’​ Jimmy Butler in a new on-court, Jumpman-adorned shoe, which will feature Jordan Brand’s foray into a new material on a new silhouette.

Jordan Brand today announced the high top Jordan Ultra.Fly, a shoe the brand says takes inspiration from Michael Jordan’s “Black Cat” nickname. Jordan has leveraged that to create a “cage-like upper” meant to evoke thoughts of a black cat.

courtesy Jordan

courtesy Jordan

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Jordan introduces Kurim material to the upper, an extremely pliable and durable material, Nike says. Kurim also looks different than what we’re used to on a sneaker, and the material overlay tightens the fit while allowing for flexibility in the structure and its design “follows a pattern that mimics the coat of a spotted leopard.”  

courtesy Jordan

courtesy Jordan

While Butler gives us our first on-court look at the shoe, Jordan plans to release the Ultra.Fly on April 2 in one white and two different black colorways.

courtesy Jordan

Tim Newcomb covers sports aesthetics—stadiums, sneakers, uniforms and more—for Sports Illustrated. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.