Jordan Brand and Chris Paul Take Over New Orleans to Celebrate the Launch of Paul’s Next Signature Shoe

Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE Inc. (NYSE: NKE), and Chris Paul are announcing the nationwide launch of his second signature shoe, the Jordan CP3.II, with a series of exciting events in the Big Easy. The Jordan CP3.II commemorates Paul’s accomplishments on and off the court, as Jordan Brand recognizes him as one of their Team Jordan athletes and one of basketball’s best and brightest superstars.

CP3.II events will begin today with Paul treating fans to the ultimate retail experience at Foot Locker on 801 Canal St. From 6:00-6:45pm consumers will have the opportunity to meet their favorite point guard and experience Jordan Brand firsthand. Paul will be joined by Jordan Brand Senior Footwear Designer Jason Mayden to provide an in-depth look at the Jordan CP3.II, as well as sign autographs for fans in attendance.

The following evening, Jordan Brand Night takes place at the New Orleans Arena as the Hornets take on the Dallas Mavericks. Fans will be given the opportunity to see Paul on his "Home Court” and learn more about the CP3.II shoe through various marketing elements designed by Jordan Brand. Following the game, Paul will be joined by family, friends and celebrity guests at an exclusive, red carpet launch event. Guests will be entertained throughout the evening by world-renowned DJ Beverly Bond as they experience the one-of- a-kind event in true New Orleans style. Invited celebrity guests include Jermaine Dupri, Pooch Hall, Derek Luke, Trey Songz and Bun B as well as Hornets’ Coach Byron Scott and Paul’s teammates Tyson Chandler, David West, Morris Peterson, Peja Stojakovic, James Posey and Julian Wright among others.

"It’s an amazing honor to have my very own signature shoe with the Jordan Brand and to celebrate its launch right here in New Orleans,” said Chris Paul, Team Jordan athlete. "There are several elements of the Jordan CP3.II that have been influenced by my childhood in Winston-Salem and my life now in the Big Easy. New Orleans has become and will always be a big part of my life.”

The Jordan CP3.II draws inspiration from the sport of futsal, a dynamic and largely international game of indoor five-versus-five soccer. Futsal is known for lightning-quick dribbling foot patterns and agile cutting, two performance attributes the Jordan CP3.II delivers for Paul’s on-court performance needs.

Paul’s style of play heavily influenced the design of the Jordan CP3.II. Senior Footwear Designer Jason Mayden wanted to create a shoe that not only looked good, but met Paul’s performance needs. It’s Paul’s quickness that sets him apart from other players, and was something that Mayden took into account in designing the shoe.

"Chris’ quickness is his most deadly weapon,” said Mayden. "When he has the ball in his hands, he is like a high-performance motorcycle among a group of slow-moving cars. We designed the CP3.II with that in mind and created a shoe that is versatile enough to withstand the rapid changes of pace, the break-neck speed and the pinpoint agility of Chris Paul’s style of basketball.”

Paul has always stressed the role that his faith, family and friends have played in his success. To honor this, the Jordan CP3.II incorporates several elements of Paul’s personal life including: graphics represent the community of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras tradition, number 61 honors the memory of CP’s grandfather, Nathanial Jones, heel graphic features details of CP’s life such as his birthday, brother CJ’s initials and the name of Wake Forest coach, the late Skip Prosser, and outsole includes parents’ names and nods to CP’s faith.

In his fourth year in the league, Paul has established himself as one of today’s premier players at the point guard position. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, that won the Gold Medal in Beijing last summer, and he was recently selected as the starting point guard for the Western Conference All-Stars. He also leads the Hornets’ in most major statistical categories as they continue their push towards the playoffs.

Paul’s character and unrivaled talent lead him to be to hand-picked by Michael Jordan during his rookie year to become a member of Team Jordan. Paul joins fellow Team Jordan athletes Carmelo Anthony and Derek Jeter as the next generation to carry-on Jordan’s legacy on and off the court.

The Jordan CP3.II launches nationwide on Saturday, March 14, 2009 with a suggested retail price of $118. For additional information please visit www.Jumpman23.com.

About Jordan Brand

A division of Nike, Inc., Jordan Brand is a premium brand of footwear, apparel and accessories inspired by the dynamic legacy, vision and direct involvement of Michael Jordan. The Jordan Brand made its debut in 1997 and has grown into a complete collection of performance and lifestyle products. The Jordan Brand remains active in the community by donating a portion of its proceeds to Jordan Fundamentals, an education grants program for teachers.

For more information on Jordan Brand, visit www.Jumpman23.com.

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