Been Counting the Days: Nike Book 1 “Blue Blood” Drops April 2025

Y’all, I literally spilled my morning coffee when I heard this news. The Nike Book 1 “Blue Blood Kentucky” is officially dropping in April 2025, and I’m already planning to camp outside the store. Not even kidding.

As someone who’s watched Devin Booker’s career unfold since his Kentucky days (remember that 2014-15 season?), this shoe release feels personal. I’ve been rocking Nike basketball shoes since my failed attempts at making the high school team back in the day, and there’s something about this particular release that’s got me feeling extra nostalgic.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Last weekend, I was cleaning out my garage and found an old box of Kentucky basketball memorabilia. Talk about perfect timing! I sat there for hours flipping through old game programs, completely forgetting about the garage organizing project I’d promised my wife I’d finish. Oops.

The “Blue Blood” colorway takes me right back to those nail-biting Kentucky games. The blue and white palette isn’t just any blue and white—it’s THAT blue and white. The one that filled Rupp Arena and made the place shake during big plays. If you’ve ever been there, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That place gets LOUD.

The Details That Matter

Nike really did their homework with this one. The “34-2” record stamped on the tongue? That’s the 1996 championship season record, folks. I watched nearly every game that season from my dad’s beat-up recliner. We had a strict “no talking during free throws” rule in our house back then.

And Booker’s “BOOK” logo alongside the Wildcats emblem? Chef’s kiss. Perfect. It’s like they designed this shoe specifically for the walls of Kentucky sports bars and the feet of die-hard fans like me.

When I showed my 10-year-old son the preview pics, even he thought they looked “super cool,” and this is a kid who usually only gets excited about video game-themed shoes. That’s when you know Nike’s onto something special.

More Than Just a Shoe

The “Chapter One” phrase on the heel tab isn’t just marketing fluff. It’s actually pretty meaningful when you think about Booker’s journey. One season at Kentucky before heading to the NBA might seem brief, but it was the launching pad for everything that followed.

I’ve always told my kids that every big success story has a chapter one—that first big step that changes everything. For some reason, that little detail on the heel hit me harder than I expected. Maybe I’m just getting sentimental in my old age. My wife would definitely say so.

Will They Be Worth the Wait?

April 2025 feels like forever away. That’s nearly two basketball seasons from now! But honestly, I’m already planning my purchase strategy. These are definitely going to sell out fast.

The last time I tried to grab a hyped shoe release, I fell asleep at my computer waiting for the online drop and woke up to a sold-out notice. Not this time, Nike. Not. This. Time.

I’ve already warned my family that I might be slightly obsessed with checking for updates about these shoes for the next year and a half. My daughter just rolled her eyes and said, “So nothing new, then?” Teenagers, am I right?

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re a Kentucky fan, a Booker fan, or just appreciate a clean basketball shoe with some real history behind it, the Nike Book 1 “Blue Blood” is gonna be worth checking out.

At my house, April 2025 is now officially marked on our family calendar—right next to my youngest’s birthday. Don’t tell him I put them on the same level of importance. (Kidding! Mostly.)

The way things are looking, this might be the start of something big for the Book 1 line. First chapter of many, perhaps? Only time will tell.

For now, I’ll be here, impatiently waiting, probably boring everyone at family dinners with facts about Kentucky basketball history and Devin Booker stats. My brother-in-law is already dreading Thanksgiving this year.

Anyone else already counting down the days? Drop a comment below if you’re planning to grab these when they drop. Maybe we can form a support group for the long wait ahead.

Until next time, keep those sneaker dreams alive—and maybe start saving now. Your wallet will thank you in 2025!