Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson is known for his ability to cut to the rim and finish with authority. As Henderson prepares for his second season in the NBA, he is also introducing his second signature sneaker.

Henderson made waves last season by becoming one of the few rookies in NBA history to debut a signature sneaker. Henderson and PUMA capitalized on the momentum and used Trail Blazers Media Day to debut the latest model.

The PUMA Scoot Zeros II has a sleek, stylish and bold design inspired by “Scoot is too Shifty!” Henderson will wear the model on the court this season as fans wait for the first colorway to release on December 20, 2024.

The importance of a second signature sneaker is not lost on Henderson. As part of the exciting announcement, Sports Illustrated’s Steps on SI spoke to Henderson about his partnership with PUMA and its undeniable popularity with the latest generation of hoopers.

How does it feel to already have your second signature sneaker?

“I feel blessed, man. I feel blessed. I know there’s a lot of people out there who have never been able to get their hands on one signature sneaker, but the fact that I have two… I’m just ready to get them debut and see what the fans think.”

Was the design process similar to that of the first sneaker? I remember your sister was instrumental in designing the first shoe.

“It was quite similar to the first one. My sister, China, and the PUMA team really wanted to be more of a cut and sharp shoe for energy. They are also stylish, you can wear them outside the court.”

Without giving too much away, do you have some favorite colorways of the PUMA Scoot Zeros II?

“Yes, I have some of my favorite colorways (laughs) but that would mean giving them away, you know? But I have a few that I think people will definitely love.”

Kids and young hoopers love your shoes. To what do you attribute the success?

“I think it’s a little bit of everything. I think there’s a lot of them, because of the colorways. Because when I was growing up I saw a shoe on the shelf and I asked my dad for it. So that’s how I go about it, my sister and the team that designs the shoe, I want something that the kids will love and that everyone can wear with the colorways and style.

Last question: why should fans buy the PUMA Scoot Zeros II?

“I think the PUMA Scoot Zeros II is completely different from any other shoe out there right now. Exactly the way they look, and there’s so much energy behind the shoe that a lot of shoes at the moment don’t have. It’s just a lot of flair in the shoe and fire colors coming out. It’s different from what I’ve seen in recent years.

There’s one feature of the shoe that I love: it’s like the wing effect on the eyelet. And the fact that the shoe is so comfortable that it grips your foot like a glove. I can’t wait for people to try it and see what they think.”