Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day and you know it's gonna be a lovely daaaaaaaaaaayyyy- It's SPRING TIME! Since we're always looking to throwback at The Free Shai World Report, it seemed like the right time to drop a Top 10 list of the illest kicks to ever touch the hardwood (or remain in the original box as a collector's item).
On a side note- 24 years on this planet has taught me a little bit about money. There are only 2 things that are gauranteed to appreciate in this world. Real estate and mint condition Nike Air Jordans.
Make sure to post your favorites. Anything missing?
Without further ado, the Top 10 greatest basketball sneaks ever:
10
Reebok The Question
Reebok? Reebok? How did they make list? Allen Iverson's first sneaks were dope, regardless of the manufacturer. They look phat on the court or with khakhis/jeans. Someone find me the orange toed ones and you'll get some ink in the World Report.
The real question is which Nike designer did Reebok jack for this design?
9
Nike Air Garnett III
KG shoulda stuck with Nike like Nate Dogg shoulda stuck to choruses for Dre and Snoop. Can you name anywhere else where a powder blue gradient looks good? A definite hit.
8
Nike Air Pippen II
The most Dove-like award goes to these Pippen's for being so clean. Also probably the most underrated of all time.
It's hard to look so good in so many colors (Michael Jackson could only pull it off in black), but the Pippen II's looked tight in white/red, white/blue, white/black, and black/silver.
7
Nike Air Jordan IV
The only Jordan's that had an air bubble showing. These are the kicks that really got the Jordan line started. Oh yeah, I guess that Mars guy deserves some props too.
6
Nike Air Zoom Flight 95
When I saw kids wearing these back in the day I had go and check my calendar to make sure it wasn't 2025, not 1995. These Flights were ahead of their time. Looked super-light too.
5
Fila Grant Hill I
Fila and Grant Hill? No, I'm not recommending these sneakers for ballin- rumor is that if you wear these for playing you have to sign a contract that gets Fila out of any legal obligations for damage to your ankles.
Seriously though- these might be the only good looking shoes Fila ever made, but they are undeniably cool. Method Man rocked these in the "All That I Need" video with Mary J.
Can't go wrong with these for any outfit. Just make sure to tape and wrap up your ankles after you walk around in them. Sometimes looking tight just hurts.
4
Nike Air Max Uptempo 95
Rumor is that these shoes were more comfortable than Robert Horry with a last second 3 pointer (especially after not having a single point or rebound the rest of the game).
These kicks actually look flyer in black, but I couldn't find a decent pic. Anyway, these sneaks looked so good that when Joe Smith wore them we were fooled into thinking he would be a decent player for the Warriors. Even Mike Dunnuthin's game would look tight if he sported these kicks. We can only pray he isn't reading this.
3
Nike Air Penny I
Unlike Penny's game, the first Air Penny's are superstars almost 10 years later. They set the bar so high for Penny's shoes that the 2nd Air Penny's were actually priced higher than the Jordans that year. Penny doesn't have any rings, but having a shoe that was priced higher than Jordans has to count for something. Lil' Penny must be smiling somewhere.
(you might notice the orange-blue colorway... limited edition Air Penny I's in the Knicks color scheme coming to an Eastbay.com in your computer's web browser this Spring 2k5)
2
Nike Air Jordan V
The cool (although useless) shoelace clips helped these kicks barely edge out the Penny's for the #2 spot.
Check out Will Smith's kicks in the intro for The Fresh Prince. The Jordan V's still look hot in the re-runs!
If you own these sneaks extra props if you've kept the white soles from yellowing over time. Hopefully you placed them in a fridgerated safe to keep those soles "So Fresh and So Clean!"
1
Nike Air Jordan XI
The smoothest of the smooth. Back in the day these shoes were so hot you'd have to line up and wait before stores opened to even get a glimpse of these. Just like the movie, the Jordan 11's were Gone in 30 Seconds. My favorite colorway was the white with black patent leather, but you just can't go wrong with any of these.
Another reason these sneaks are the G.O.A.T. is that they are so versatile. Jodeci weren't fools when they rocked these kicks with some tuxes in that one video- they were tighter than the tightest.
Throwback track of the week: Jodeci "Love Your for Life" (maybe a slight reference to these kicks!)
9 comments:
Excellent list. I'm feelin' #6 + #3. I dunno about the G.Hills, they may be worse than Shaq's shoes. Where are the LA Gears and British Knights???
djfuzzylogic-
HAHAHA, LA Gears and British Knights? Do you mean the double-laced, late 80's LA Gears? Or did you mean the Karl Malone Catapults? I know you aren't trying to give props to those ugly British Knights Jamal Mashburn wore.
yo yo yo...what about the karl malone catapults man???? just playing....aight...i agree that the 11's might be the hottest shoe of all time....however....i think the zoom flight 95 gotta be a close second....no other shoe was WAY before its time and changed the design of shoes more than the zoom flight 95's except perhaps the the gran daddy of them all the JORDAN 1's...here goes for an honorable mention list of other great shoes for consideration...how bout the david robinson force's with the pump in the ankle, that was the true HIGH TOP....how bout mike bibby's blue foamposit's? no other shoe made more talk during their tournament run than those...how bout the barkley air force 180's what other shoe do you know that has an air pocket all the way UNDER the shoe?? another oldie but a goodie was the first air force's for webber....or even the air force's he wore for the fab five....but here's the sleeper pick...REEBOK PUMP VERT 1 and REEBOK PUMP VERT 3...these two shoes were so hot im surprised that more people didnt buy them...i swear this was a lake of marketing....when i rocked these....i got more attention than i could remmeber...look them up and get amazed...these shoes were TIGHT!!!
warriors are hopeless -
aw man, i'ma have to research this. check back in the next couple of days.
ya'll forgetting Bob Cousy's "Converse All-Stars." Puts all of those other shoes to shame.
Definately feeling the 11's at number one. But I dont know about those grant hill's. And I agree that the Pumps should be on there. Dont you remember Dee Brown when he pumped up his Reebok's for the dunk contest.
Oh and what about LJ's React Juice Converse? Man, those were the days!
Great list1
Great list. The XI's definitely are #1.
I agree, the Pumps have to be on there. The Converse All-Star's too (haha i remember sportin those back in 2nd grade)
Damn! The react juice, those were sick! Gotta be top 10.
And the air maestros, back in junior year of high school.
So to accomodate those 4 you gotta drop the answers, the pippens, the flight 95's (too weird), and the g-hills.
haha what about the shoes that spalding put out. (were those ewing's or the dream's?)
Sup Justin, i would have to disagrere with you. The Flight 95s were and are sick as hell. Oddly shaped as they are, they're style has never been reduplicated since... truly, instant vintage. The Garnetts on the otherhand... those, i think, can be omitted and those G-hills. Instead of G-hills shoes, you ought to put a picture of G-hill's wife! Hmm... top sports athletes wifey list???
hahaha, a wifey list. how about a singers list?
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