Every upgrade we've made to the Player1 line started the same way: a player told us something could improve. Not a focus group, not an internal design review. Real feedback from real players who put the shoes through actual games and came back with honest takes. That's not just how we improve. That's how we build.
That's the foundation on which everything SPO builds. And nowhere is that clearer than in the Player1 line, now on its fourth iteration with the just-released Player1.5.
Here's how it got here.
Player1: Where It Started
The original Player1 was our first statement as a brand. Low-top, performance-focused, built around three things we believed the market was underserving: lightness, breathability, and customization.
The translucent TPU Nervnit upper delivered on the first two. But the real innovation was the drop-in midsole system. Rather than locking players into one cushioning setup, we designed the shoe so the midsole could be swapped out and repurchased. Different players need different things. A guard who wants court feel is not the same as a big man who needs impact protection. The Player1 was built to reflect that from day one.
That core idea hasn't changed. Every shoe in the SPO lineup still carries it. And every version since has been shaped by the people wearing them.
Player1 2023: You Spoke, We Listened
The second edition didn't overhaul the shoe. It was refined in collaboration with the players who wore it.
The feedback centred on fit. Specifically, the toe box felt too roomy for some foot types, the lateral feel during cuts could be tighter, and the heel lock-down needed work on hard stops.
So that's exactly what we fixed. The Player1 2023 brought a snugger toe box, lateral toe padding for comfort during lateral movement, and a tuned heel counter that kept the foot from sliding back during changes of direction. We aimed to be the lightest basketball shoe.
Small adjustments. Big difference on the court.
Player1 Plus: Built With the Community
The Player1 Plus took everything we'd learned across two editions and pushed it further.
Lower to the ground than any previous model, which meant better court feel and faster reaction on cuts. Elite traction. And lighter than we'd ever built before, without sacrificing the structural integrity players depended on.
It also came standard with two pairs of drop-in midsoles, so you could customize your shoe right out of the box. No waiting, no separate purchase. The Strength and Quick midsole options gave players a real choice based on how they played.
The Player1 Plus transitioned to include the Explosive midsole, our most favored cushioning setup to date. Built on a unique supercritical foam blend, it delivers serious rebound without sacrificing shock absorption. On landing, the foam compresses, stores that energy, and fires it back into your next move. Lighter than traditional TPU foaming, it sharpened the first-step feel, improved rim attacks, and held up through hard landings.
The Player1 Plus became the reference point. The shoe that the SPO community pointed to when describing what this brand actually is. The Player1 Plus earned high praise from basketball reviewers, with many ranking it among the best performance shoes on the market. It didn't happen by accident. It happened because players told us exactly what they needed.
Player1.5: The Upgrade Players Asked For
Aiming to be ranked amongst the best basketball shoes in 2026, the Player1.5 is where everything we've learned lands.
The Player1.5 isn't a new direction. It's the Player1 Plus with every remaining gap closed. Players told us the tongue step-in feel could be smoother. Done: it's thinner and cleaner. They wanted a better lockdown without sacrificing comfort. The new inner sleeve and grip lining deliver exactly that: firmer hold, softer containment.
The 3D carbon fibre heel counter is new, and it's a meaningful addition. Rear-foot stability through hard stops and cuts is where a lot of shoes fall short. That counter keeps your heel anchored without adding bulk.
The Explosive 2.0 midsole is lighter and bouncier than its predecessor, sitting on an extended EVA base and TPU frame that distributes pressure evenly. The result is a shoe that feels stable without being stiff, and it's more durable than ever.
Every specific upgrade in Player1.5 has a reason. Players flagged it, we listened, and we built it. That's the process. That's SPO.
Tech Upgrade Breakdown: Player1 Plus vs Player1.5
For those who want to get into the specifics, here's exactly what changed between the Player1 Plus and the Player1.5.
Cushioning
The Player1 Plus ran on the original Explosive midsole. The Player1.5 moves to the Explosive 2.0, built with PEBA foam for a lighter, higher-rebound platform with stronger anti-deformation performance. Weighing just 36g, it delivers 10% more rebound than its predecessor and sits on an extended EVA base with an anti-pinch TPU frame for a stable, pressure-free feel.
Durability
The Player1.5 outsole is all new. A tire-inspired, full-length serrated rubber compound improves traction durability by 30% over the Player1 Plus, while keeping the flexibility needed for natural foot movement on any court.
Lockdown and Structural Support
The Player1 Plus had a solid lockdown. The Player1.5 tightens it further with two targeted additions: a cat-tongue grip fabric lining that reduces internal foot slippage during dynamic movement, and a reinforced 3D carbon fibre heel counter that keeps the rearfoot contained through hard stops, cuts, and landings. That same heel counter integrates a carbon fibre shank into the rearfoot TPU structure, improving torsional support during acceleration and landing. A built-in anti-torsion carbon plate in the midsole enhances rigidity while keeping weight down. The result is firmer hold and a more stable base, without sacrificing comfort.
Fit
The last has been redesigned for better compatibility across different foot shapes. A slimmed-down tongue works with a thickened, full-length inner bootie constructed via heat-fused bonding to create a more adaptive, secure fit. The pre-flex binding system secures the foot before the natural flex point, keeping the fit consistent regardless of foot shape.
Built Together, Every Step
Four versions. Three rounds of feedback from a community that cared enough to tell us the truth. And the same core belief running through all of them: the best performance shoe adapts to the player, not the other way around.
That's why the drop-in midsole system was never optional. It's central to what SPO is. Your position, your foot shape, your playstyle, your preference. The shoe should work around those variables, not ask you to compromise on them.
The Player1.5 is where that philosophy lands right now. But it won't be the last word.
If you've got thoughts after putting them through runs, we're listening. That's how we got here. And if you've been here from the beginning, you built this with us.
Meet the four colourway releases that launched the Player1.5: Macaw, Budapest, All Black and Pure.
