Top 15 NBA All-Star Weekend Sneakers (Part 2: 2000-2019)

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by Brendon Schunck | Feb 14, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers, uncategorised

All-Star Weekend 2020 is officially here. A couple of days ago we previewed our “Top 15 NBA All-Star Weekend Sneakers (Part 1: 1980-1999).” Today we showcase another 15 models, dating from the years 2000 to 2019. This list from the 21st century was much harder to compile than the list spanning from the 80’s and 90’s. The new millennium brought fresh ideas to All-Star Weekend when it came to marketing, fashion, and sneakers as a whole. Brands started to make All-Star specific releases to coincide with their athletes that represented them. Most sneaker aficionados would have to agree that the 2012 Nike All-Star pack was, and is, the best All-Star pack to date. This “Galaxy” themed pack could not miss and every player’s signature shoe sold out and immediately went for high-ticket resale. Nike had a good 4-5 year run when basketball sneakers were king and those were the models demanded by both the public and sneaker resellers.

The 2000’s saw Michael Jordan’s last two All-Star games, high-flying dunks by young Vince Carter and Nate Robinson, as well as mismatched shoes by Tracy McGrady. With the demand high, All-Star packs from each brand became the norm and every city hosting All-Star Weekend had enormous release parties. With Kobe, Lebron, and KD carrying the load from the late 2000’s and into the 2010’s, Nike just couldn’t be topped when it came to ASW. Will we ever get back to the good ol’ days of can’t-miss All-Star signature releases? Will the 2012 “Galaxy” themed pack ever be topped? Look below to see what our top picks were for the best sneakers worn during All-Star Weekend from 2000-2019.

15. Jordan XVIII “White/Sport Royal” (2003) – Michael Jordan

14. AND1 Tai Chi “White/Red” (2000) – Vince Carter

13. Jordan XVII Low “Lightning” (2002) – Michael Jordan

12. Nike Air Foamposite Lite “Kryptonate” (2009) – Nate Robinson

11. Adidas T-Mac 3 “ASG” (2004) – Tracy McGrady

10. Nike Shox VC III “All-Star” (2004) – Vince Carter

9. Nike Kobe 3 “All-Star” (2008) – Kobe Bryant

8. Jordan XX3 “All-Star” P.E.’s (2008) – Carmelo Anthony & Ray Allen

7. Nike Kobe 7 “Galaxy” (2012) – Kobe Bryant

6. Nike KD 4 “Galaxy” (2012) – Kevin Durant

5. Nike Kobe 6 “All-Star” (2011) – Kobe Bryant

4. Nike Lebron VII “All-Star” (2010) – Lebron James

3. Nike Air Foamposite One “NRG Galaxy” (2012) – Rajon Rondo

2. Nike Lebron 9 “Big Bang” (2012) – Lebron James

1. Nike Lebron IV “All-Star Graffiti” & “All-Star Metallic Gold” (2007) – Lebron James (All-Star Game + Skills Challenge)

Feb 14, 2020 No Comments

Top 15 NBA All-Star Weekend Sneakers (Part 1: 1980-1999)

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by Brendon Schunck | Feb 11, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

NBA All-Star Weekend is just a few days away. The best players the world has to offer will be competing in skills challenges, 3-point contest, the dunk contest, and of course the actual game to cap things off. For decades now, players and brands have been using the platform of All-Star Weekend to showcase new colorways of their prized signature athletes’ shoes. Back in the 80’s and early 90’s players would just wear a colorway of a sneaker that they’ve already been wearing throughout the season to that point. Brands started realizing that they should take advantage of the attention All-Star weekend brings and thus create and release special colorways just for All-Star Weekend. Michael Jordan was the obvious first one to take this initiative and start wearing mockups of his signature shoes for the All-Star game that he otherwise would not be allowed to wear with his Bulls uniform during the season.

We are doing a two-part “Top 15 NBA All-Star Weekend Sneakers” with Part 1 being from 1980-1999 and Part 2 starting at 2000 and ending at 2019. To many, the mid-to-late 90’s is seen as the golden era of sneakers and by looking at our list you will definitely be able to see why. Original Jordan models make up 5/15 spots on this Part 1 list, but it’s hard to argue that any of those five shouldn’t be there. There are four avenues in which a shoe can be considered to make the “Top 15 All-Star Weekend Sneakers” – the shoe has to be worn by an NBA player in either the dunk contest, 3-point contest, skills challenge, or the actual All-Star game. All four of these events coincide with NBA All-Star weekend as a whole. This four-event criteria will come more into place in Part 2 because in modern day NBA players will change sneakers numerous times over the course of just a few events. Besides just what the shoe is, we also looked at if there was a specific moment attached to when that player was wearing that shoe (i.e. Dee Brown, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird). This could have a big impact on how high or low we placed a sneaker on the list. Look below to check out the best All-Star Weekend shoes the years of 1980-1999 had to offer.

15. FILA 96 Grant Hill 2 “All-Star” (1996) – Grant Hill

14. Reebok Kamikaze II “All-Star” (1996) – Shawn Kemp

13. Nike Air Zoom Flight ’98 The Glove (1998) – Gary Payton

12. Nike Foamposite Pro “Pearl” (1998) – Tim Duncan

11. Nike Air Maestro II “Trifecta” (1994) – Scottie Pippen

10. Reebok Shaqnosis (1996) – Shaquille O’Neal

9. Adidas KB8 (Crazy 8) (1998) – Kobe Bryant

8. Converse Weapon (1988) – Larry Bird

7. Reebok Pump Omni Lite (1991) – Dee Brown

6. Jordan VII “Bordeaux” (1992) – Michael Jordan

5. Nike Air Max Penny 1 “Game Royal” (1996) – Penny Hardaway

4. Jordan I “Chicago” (1986) – Michael Jordan

3. Jordan VIII “Aqua” (1993) – Michael Jordan

2. Jordan XI “Columbia” (1996) – Michael Jordan

1. Jordan III “Black Cement” & “White Cement” (1988) – Michael Jordan (All-Star Game + Dunk Contest)

Feb 11, 2020 No Comments

Top 15 Kicks Worn During Week 16 of NBA Season

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by Brendon Schunck | Feb 10, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and the All-Star break is right around the corner. Some teams traded superstars while others dumped theirs in favor of future draft picks. Andrew Wiggins looks to be a good addition to the Warriors as he no longer has to carry the load of being the biggest “Superstar” on his team. Once the Warriors are back healthy, look for Wiggins, along with Steph and Klay, to once again be a formidable force in the Western Conference. The Clippers got even deeper with the acquisition of “3 & D” guy, Marcus Morris. The Western Conference is shaping up to be a battle between the two Los Angeles teams.

P.J. Tucker must’ve looked at the last few weeks of our Top 15 Countdown because he came back stronger than ever in week 16. Tucker had to remind people who the sneaker champ of the NBA is. Once again, players continue to pay tribute to Kobe, with a select few rocking customs done by top-tier Instagram sneaker artists. Lebron James has been sporting his 17th signature sneaker the majority of the season, however he still sprinkles in a few of his fan-favorite Lebron 15’s here and there. James Harden threw everyone a curveball with the way he paid tribute to Kobe in what was somewhat of a loophole for him. Harden wore some Reebok Questions in a game which he technically is allowed to do since Adidas owns Reebok. Similarly to how Nike athletes can be seen wearing Converse Chuck Taylors due to Nike owning Converse. Look below to check out Week 16’s Top 15 Kicks Worn on Court.

15. Nike Kobe 6 “Rice” – Lonzo Ball – New Orleans Pelicans

14. New Balance OMN1S Low “Thunder” P.E. – Darius Bazley – Oklahoma City Thunder

13. Jordan XXXIV “BHM” P.E. – Cody Zeller – Charlotte Hornets

12. Nike Kobe 4 “Prelude” – Trey Lyles – San Antonio Spurs

11. Packer Shoes x Reebok Question Mid For Player Use Only “Kobe Bryant” – James Harden – Houston Rockets

10. Nike Kobe A.D. NXT (Custom) – Montrezl Harrell – Los Angeles Clippers

9. Nike Kyrie 6 “Kyrie Invitational P.E.” – Jaxson Hayes – New Orleans Pelicans

8. Nike Lebron XV “Waffle” P.E. – Lebron James – Los Angeles Lakers

7. Jordan Why Not Zer0.3 “80s/90s” P.E. – Russell Westbrook – Houston Rockets

6. Nike Kobe 8 “What The” – Trey Lyles – San Antonio Spurs

5. Jordan XXXIV P.E. – Rui Hachimura – Washington Wizards

4. Nike Kobe 2 “All-Star P.E.” – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

3. OVO x Jordan XI “Snakeskin” Sample – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

2. Nike Kobe 1 “Westchester P.E.” – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

1. Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Mamba Forever” Custom – Royce O’Neale – Utah Jazz (done by @andr3wtl)

Feb 10, 2020 No Comments

Top 15 Kicks Worn During Week 15 of NBA Season

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by Brendon Schunck | Feb 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

It has been one full week since the tragic passing of future NBA Hall of Famer, Kobe Bryant. The Lakers played in their first game since his death, and there was not a dry eye in the arena. Players and teams around the league continue to honor Kobe, whether that be wearing his Nike signature shoes, writing heartfelt messages on their footwear, wearing his old #8 and #24 Lakers jerseys, and even changing their own numbers so that no player in the league will wear #8 or #24 anymore. Even coaches around the NBA are wearing Kobe 4’s, 5’s, 6’s, 8’s, etc on the sidelines with their suits during games.

Our Week 15 list is yet again comprised of a good amount of Kobe signature silhouettes. With Kobe no longer with us, one way players are going to make sure his legacy is seen, is through his footwear. Players who have their own signature shoes are even taking a break and rocking some old Kobe gems from the vault. Will a Kobe shoe grab this week’s top spot on the countdown? Look below to see which star athletes are paying tribute by what they wear on court.

15. Jordan XXXIV “Mardi Gras” P.E. – Zion Williamson – New Orleans Pelicans

14. Enspire x Nike KD 12 – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

13. New Balance OMN1S “No Emotions Are Emotions” P.E. – Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers

12. Nike Kyrie 6 “Pure Platinum” (Nike iD) – De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings

11. Nike Kobe 5 “Lakers” (Home) – Tobias Harris – Philadelphia 76ers

10. Nike Kobe 4 Protro P.E. – Isaiah Thomas – Washington Wizards

9. Nike Kobe 7 “What The” – Langston Galloway – Detroit Pistons

8. Nike Kobe 4 “Finals MVP” – Isaiah Thomas – Washington Wizards

7. Nike Lebron XVII P.E. – Lebron James – Los Angeles Lakers

6. Nike Kobe 1 Protro “81 Pt Game” – Lebron James – Los Angeles Lakers

5. Nike Kyrie 3 “Mamba Mentality” P.E. – Kyrie Irving – Brooklyn Nets

4. Nike Lebron II “Oregon P.E.” – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

3. Nike Kobe 3 “Lakers” (Home) – Tobias Harris – Philadelphia 76ers

2. Jordan VII “Oregon P.E.” – P.J. Tucker – Houston Rockets

1. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Kay Yow” – DeMar DeRozan & Anthony Davis – San Antonio Spurs & Los Angeles Lakers

Feb 3, 2020 No Comments

Top 15 Kicks Worn During Week 14 of NBA Season

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by Brendon Schunck | Jan 27, 2020 | Featured, NBA, Sneakers

The NBA and sports world as a whole got hit with a bombshell on Sunday. One of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball, Kobe Bryant, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. To add even more grievance to this tragedy, Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was among the individuals that perished in the wreck. A total of nine people were killed in the helicopter crash, including Gianna’s AAU basketball teammate and the parents of that girl too. The entire NBA community mourned Kobe’s loss with a heavy heart on Sunday.

Kobe not only revolutionized the game of basketball but also impacted the way sneakers were worn on the court. His long-standing partnership with Nike was/is immensely successful. Many players currently in the league grew up watching Bryant don the Swoosh. Countless NBA athletes grabbed a sharpie and wrote messages on their sneakers for their Sunday night games paying tribute to the fallen superstar. “Mamba 4 life”…..”There will never be another”…..”Mamba mentality”…..”8 + 24 Forever”…..”Legacies live forever” are just some of the messages NBA players used to show their love for Kobe. Our Top 15 Kicks this week features more Kobe signatures than ever before, with over half of our list containing Nike Kobe models. Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant, you will surely be missed.