MAYBE YOU’VE HEARD that Gen Z is falling behind. Or that they’re checked out IRL. That they’re weak, unprepared, snowflakes.

Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, and more pose for Esquire on the biggest night of their lives so far.

Let’s be honest, sneakerheads—there are plenty of times when an Air Jordan drops, and if the number isn’t 1 through 14 (and ...