Review: LEGO Nike Dunk 43008

Nike x LEGO; A slam DUNK or easy lay-up?

Adding to the list of brand partnerships with LEGO is Nike, with the LEGO Nike Dunk. Chasing after the LEGO Adidas model of yesteryear. With a new partnership to focus on youth sports and “putting play back into sport”, LEGO have made clear that it doesn’t stop here. With immersive experiences coming to various cities and collections of products like footwear and apparel, how does the first item hold up? Read on!

Build & Display

The model comes to us in three distinct sections; the Dunk Shoe, the Basketball and the backdrop.

We get hit with a slew of blue colours against a white and bright yellowish green, which isn’t a colour combination I would expect. But it is on brand for Nike’s kids range. However, these all seem to come together for the intended effect quite well. The set also uses quite a lot of technic elements hidden at the back to get the ball to hold up in a certain degree – visible from the back.

The model also has quite a surprisingly larger footprint than I imagined. This was to help counterbalance the ball up the top and make it more of a sturdy model on a shelf.

Nike Basketball

Building a perfect round shape is one thing, but building a round shape whilst also have perforated lines through it is another. With a really neat custom silver brand fusion, the basketball build is something that comes together nicely. It’s by all means not perfect, but darn is it pretty close. It also tries to not overuse parts too, so we don’t have to worry about this taking up too much.

Nike Dunk

With LEGO previously making brand partnerships with adidas, a show build is nothing new to the LEGO scene. What we do get with this set is a much more sculpted model, more curves and shaping. The Dunk also gives us customisation options, allowing the shoelaces to change colours to match the backdrop. We also get a clean hideaway build to store the Minifigure, plus a bit of extra space to store who knows what else.

I especially like that the ‘tongue’ of the shoe can lift up, which is an insane attention to detail.

Basketball Nike Minifigure

Probably one of the bigger highlights for the LEGO collector is the exclusive Minifigure, a Nike Basketball player! Fit with dual moulded legs and side printing of a Nike Dunk, the figure goes all out for an exclusive. We also get a basketball head mould, new for this model. It’s reminds me of the classic N64 game NBA Hang Time, where you could play as a basketball headed character!

The torso also shows references to origin years for both companies, 1932 and 1972 respectively.

Verdict

Overall, this is a set that has its target audience well set. The model costs just under the price of a pair of real adult Nike Dunks , so the price point is about right for audience.

But to the average person? Well, it is certainly the most brand-iest of brand deals. It’s clear that the collab is for marketing and partnership of the two companies. But for someone who only cares about one of the two brands, I don’t think this has the ‘pull’.

It’s a set that looks great as a display, but hard to not look at it as anything more than an advertisement for both brands. It’s a weird feeling.

But if you were thinking about buying the set, I don’t have any issues with it. It certainly invokes a good build experience – it’s just not a set for me.