Puma goes full Pokémon on the hardwood
Puma has officially introduced its Pokémon basketball collection, a release that mixes performance footwear with a full slate of character-themed apparel. Because apparently the answer to everything, including basketball, is Pokémon.
At the center of the drop is the All-Pro NITRO 2 Pokémon sneaker, which was first revealed in March. It is joined by matching jerseys, shorts and graphic tees featuring familiar faces like Pikachu, Mew, Mewtwo and Squirtle.
The collection arrives April 2 and will be sold on PUMA.com, at Puma flagship stores and through select retailers. The All-Pro NITRO 2 Pokémon is priced at $140, while the apparel runs from $45 to $75.
Mewtwo leads the apparel lineup
One of the more attention-grabbing pieces is a Mewtwo basketball jersey. It uses a galaxy-inspired print, includes “Pokémon” across the chest and features a Poké Ball badge near the shoulder. On the back, the jersey carries “0150”, Mewtwo’s Pokédex number, for anyone keeping score at home.
The matching mesh shorts continue the same cosmic design, creating a coordinated court look that mirrors Puma’s basketball uniforms while still making room for Pokémon branding.
Other items in the collection include:
- A black Pikachu tee with electric effects and gold graphic lettering
- A pink gradient Mew shirt with graffiti-style branding
- A blue tie-dye Squirtle tee with “Gotta catch ’em all” text
- Additional graphic shirts with Poké Ball designs and stylized Pokémon logos
The overall lineup keeps Puma’s basketball styling intact while layering in the familiar characters and symbols that make this sort of thing instantly recognizable. Merchandising, but with more electricity.
This is the latest Pokémon-themed release tied to the franchise’s 30th anniversary. In February, a Japanese airline also unveiled themed planes named after the original first-generation games: Jet Red, Jet Blue and Jet Green.
