Justice Swann

Courtesy of Laci Swann (Justice Swann); Courtesy of Nike (sneaker)

Sneaker Superstar

Courtesy of Nike

Justice Swann is a lot like many kids. The 7-year-old loves to do puzzles and jump on trampolines. But last year, Justice did something most kids don’t get to do. He designed a special pair of sneakers. 

Sneaker company Nike asked Jewell Loyd of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to create her own shoe. Loyd thought Justice was perfect for the job. So she reached out to her best friend, Laci Swann, who is Justice’s mother.

Justice has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like some people with ASD, Justice doesn’t speak. But he expresses himself in other ways, like through his drawings. 

Nike sent Justice a blank piece of paper in the shape of a shoe. His older sister, Sloan, helped with the design. Justice filled the sneaker with his favorite thing to draw: smiley faces. But in place of a smile, Justice used Nike’s logo, a swoosh, for the mouth. 

On the Court

Nike made the sneaker, and it  went on sale last May, selling out within minutes. Luckily, Justice was gifted his own pair. 

“As we opened the box of shoes, his eyes lit up,” Justice’s mom says.  

Justice wore his sneakers everywhere, including to cheer on Loyd at WNBA games. And Loyd proudly wore her smiley sneakers on the court. Everyone in the crowd got to see Justice’s design—and that made both Justice and Loyd smile.

Scott Eklund/NBAE via Getty Images

During a WNBA game last May, Jewell Loyd (right) wore the sneakers Justice designed.

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