On Court magazine

ISSUE 1

on court BASKETBALL AND KICKS

THE BANNED AIR JORDAN SHOES NBA ALL-STAR GAME 2017 NIKE DESIGNERS Q&A

Adidas Adidas Crazylight Crazylight Boost Boost

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

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RISE ABOVE THE COMPETITION 2 | ON COURT

Concept design by

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10

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CONTENTS 4

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7

Performance Review

NBA All-Star Game 2017

Adidas Harden Volume 1

10

UA Curry 3 Performance Review

14

Adidas Crazylight Boost

29

Nike Designers Q&A

36

Anta KT2 Performance Review

The Evolution of Basketball Shoes

39

18

42

Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Performance Review

Nike PG1 Reebok Celebrates ‘The Question’ Shoe

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Banned Air Jordan ON COURt | 5

THE EAST

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VS THE WEST

Kickz on Court -

All-Star Game 2017

By Sophia of KICKZ.com

Last weekend, New Orleans was once again venue for yet another great NBA All-Star weekend. While Jason “White Chocolate” Williams and Baron Davis showed the audience in the NBA Celebrity Game that they still know how to ball, the NBA youngsters had quite some impressive skills to offer as well. In Friday night’s BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, Team World defeated Team USA 150-141. Just by looking at the score, it is fair to say that this weekend’s games were not at all about playing much defense – something we would spot in the All-Star Game on Sunday again. The Taco Bell Skills Challenge kicked off the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night and presented us quite a surprise: Kristaps Porzingis, the big man of the New York Knicks, took home the crown. In comparison to the showdown of Kyrie Irving vs. Eric Gordon in the 3Pt-shootout final, the Verizon Slam Dunk contest was rather weak. Rather weak?

Some might say it was one of the worst in years. While Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon rocked last year’s contest, this year’s dunks were rather uncreative and tedious. It’s a shame since the Slam Dunk Contest was the fans’ favorite.

(Top)LeBron James, Isaiah Thomas and the best of the Eastern Conference teamed up to represent the East!

(Bottom)The mighty Western Conference posing for a portrait during the NBA All-Star Game.

On Sunday, the West beat the East 192-182 in the All-Star Game 2017. Not much defense played either, but the game had quite some highlights to recap. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant giving us the alley-oop we have been waiting for. No more beef between Mr. Triple Double and the Villain – at least for this scene. The entire West bench was celebrating both players for squashing their dispute in this game. Another “highlight” was Steph Curry literally laying down to avoid getting yammed on by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Quite a controversial moment, but let’s just leave it at that… Anthony Davis, the hometown hero of the New Orleans, took the MVP award home and set a new All-Star record with 52-points made – sorry, Wilt Chamberlain, your stats are history now! What an impressive game

from Davis, Russell Westbrook (41 points), Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 points) and the best of the league.

Basketball fans and sneakerheads did not only set their eyes on the performances of NBA’s elite, though, but on the kicks on court as well. The shoe game was strong as usual, but with quite some surprises this year. For the first time in forever, there were no Nike All-Star sneakers for the game. Quite a surprise given Nike’s long tradition of releasing special themed designed signature shoes. This year, the brand skipped the All-Star edition (mustsought after sneakers, btw!) and equipped the players with pairs from its “Black History Month” collection – quite suitable considering the current political sitaution in the US… just saying! Jordan Brand released their sneakers geographically themed, but unfortunately with the change of location – pulling out of North Carolina and presenting New Orleans with the NBA All-Star Weekend – the city and the colorway did not quite match. adidas sneakergame did not quite add up as well.

Although some of the brand’s biggest signature players such as Portland Trail Blazers’ guard Damian Lillard and New York Knicks’ guard Derrick Rose were not voted as All-Stars, it did not stop the german brand from designing special-edition “All-Star” colorways for its signature players. Solely James Harden was able to rock his colorful “All-Star” Harden Vol.1 in the NBA All-Star Game.

Check our recap of Sunday’s sneakergame to see who got heat on their feet:

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The All-Stars were not the only ones stealing the show with their exciting footwear. Several other players have dug up some very interesting sneakers for the NBA All-Star Weekend as well. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, JBL Three-Point Contest and the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest – the festivities had quite some opportunities for the contestants to show their best kicks.

Customized sneakers, rare shoe collabos and dope kicks could’ve been seen on court.

#shoegamestrong

Highlight of the night: John Wall – Air Jordan XVI “Trophy Room” – Oldschool!

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A Shoe to stand out The Adidas Harden Vol. 1

By Max of KICKZ.com

Fear the

Beard

So this is it. James Harden has got his first official signature shoe. And Adidas did not let him down. Not only, did they set up an incredibly unique event to present the sneaker in Houston, they also did everything they could to present one of the most unique players with a shoe that is able to hold up to his standard. A shoe that looks unique. One that stands out. Because in the end, that’s what James Harden wanted. And that’s what he got.

Adidas did neither take some shoe that they had already had in the portfolio to act as some sort of template neither did they shape it after anything that had been there before. The question Adidas asked? „Can we make a shoe that you can spot from distance just the same way you spot James“, Brian Foresta, Adidas Vice President of Design, told us during the presentation in Houston. Well, they gave the clearest of answers. The Adidas Harden Vol. 1 is definitely something you spot within the blink of an eye once it is in sight.

And since uniqueness does not come from any old idea that has been sitting there for a while, „we wanted to build the shoe from the ground,“ Foresta explains. „James plays a lot of minutes and has a lot to do. So we wanted to make a shoe that transcends off the court. We know that James is known for the stuff he does on the court. So we had to make sure, that it matched with the performance, with high technology standards.“ But how do you start? How do you tailor a shoe to one player. A player so unique that his coach even created a new position to suit him. Well, you put him in a lab. Yes, that’s right.

Adidas took the scientific approach and measured Harden’s game. „We looked at how his body works and took it from there“, says Foresta. „We got him into a lab, where we figured out how quickly he stops. It is deceptive. We didn’t realize how fast it was until we got him into the lab. He stops faster than anyone else. He is also incredibly fluid.“ ON COURt | 9

A drive. A stop. Maybe some hesitation moves. A Jab- or the Euro-Step. That’s how James Harden plays. And that’s what the Harden Vol. 1 has to be able to keep up with. Hence, to go along with the Beard’s fluid game, „we wanted to cover the top of the foot with full-grain leather. It is more tense around the toe and then loosens up. And we didn’t stitch it down, so it won’t leave behind any bites. This part (the toebox) protects the foot. When he slams on the breaks, his foot can graduate into it. We also moved the lacing to the side of the shoe because of the incredibly quick Jab Step. That way, it doesn’t break down and he knows where his shoe is all the time.“ One player. One shoe. Needless to say that the Harden Vol. 1 features full-length Boost as well as some Primeknit. What it also features, though, is the NBA’s Assist leader’s very own input.

Because James Harden did not just call the Adidas headquarters to order a new signature shoe, to later just wait until they were done. Quite the contrary. He took a vibrant role in the production process, gave his input, listened to the designers. Even pushed them.

“He was extremely open“, says Brian Foresta. „But mid-way through was the real break through. We had a couple of different concepts. We had a meeting with him and he went super quiet. Then he said: „I really like them, they are really strong, but can you push even harder.“ We said: „Yes, of course.“ And that was the turning point. We went from being kind of partners to more like a family thing. I really thought that pushed the process forward and I think the shoe wouldn’t finish that strong if you don’t have that feeling.“ Having seen the designers interact with James Harden in Houston, Brian Foresta pretty sure hasn’t exaggerated the relationship his team and Harden built during the process. They seemed to genuinely like each other. They seemed close. And it shows. The result is definitely something to show off.

Especially since every colorway that is going to be released will have something to do with Harden’s history. The pink „Gila Monster“ for example takes hints from the – you got it – Gila Monster. A lizard that is common around the Arizona State University, Harden’s Alma Mater. Other colorways were influenced by the Beard’s high school days or his general vita.

Adidas really paid attention to detail. They wanted to create a shoe that „seperates you from everything else.“ (Brian Foresta). Well, and they did. Congratulations, James Harden!

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UA Curry 3

Performance Review

By NightWing2303 of WearTesters

Traction Herringbone is utilized once again, and like the Curry models that have come before the 3, traction is beastly. The pattern on the Curry 2 was a bit more aggressive than what is used on the 3, but the rubber compound on the 3 is much more tacky in comparison. With the rubber compound changed, I’d give a slight edge to the Curry 3 overall in terms of grip.

This same thing happened on the Nike Kobe Mentality line; the traction on the Mentality 1 and 2 did not change at all.

However, the performance was greater in the 2 due to the rubber compound switch up.

The rubber used is pretty firm so the Curry 3 would be a viable option outdoors. The grooves are shallow, so that’s something to keep in mind, but if you’re looking for performance over longevity then these should suit you.

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Cushion Charged is used once again, and it’s pretty firm. There is an Ortholite insole which aids in step-in comfort, but that comfort quickly dissipates once you start moving around on-court.

If impact protection is your thing then you’ll want to look at an Under Armour model that utilizes Micro G. However, if you’re in the market for something with adequate court feel then these may be for you.

Materials Other than the traction, the materials are my favorite part of the shoe. Under Armour has introduced Threadborne into its material arsenal and it’s pretty awesome so far. High tensile threads are used throughout the lateral side of the shoe and provide you with a comfortable fit without sacrificing any support. anaFoam makes a return to the Curry line and it’s as awesome as it ever was. It’ll mold to your foot with each wear and ends up feeling like a custom fit in no time. I only wish there was more of it.

Fuse is the last material utilized on the Curry 3 and it’s strategically placed in high-wear areas. It does what you’d expect fuse to do, and luckily it does so while being out of the way.

Fit The Curry 3 fit me perfectly true to size, but there have been varying reports from multiple buyers that have claimed it fits small, while some even claim it fit long. When this is the case then we always recommend that you try on the shoe prior to purchasing, if that’s an option.

Lockdown on the shoe is solid throughout. The slight asymmetrical lacing system provides the midfoot with a wonderfully secure feel.

Meanwhile, the heel feels great with the added padding implemented throughout the rear and tongue.

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Support Plenty of solid support features are used throughout the Curry 3.

The exaggerated midsole sculpts into the heel counter while true carbon fiber wings are in place for additional security. Your ankle isn’t going anywhere in these guys so long as you’re wearing your proper size. There is an outrigger in place, but the shoe sits a little high so I would’ve liked to have had the midsole cup that area just a bit better, but it isn’t bad as is. There is also a true carbon fiber shank for torsion support. The entire shoe sits atop a nice flat base for stability. As long as the shoe fits you properly then you shouldn’t have any issues with support.

Overall Much like the Curry 1 and 2, the Curry 3 is a great shoe on-court.

These are my least favorite in terms of cushion — much too firm for me — but speedy guards will likely enjoy their time in these.

As mentioned above when referencing the Kobe Mentality; the Curry line from Under Armour is pretty similar to the Nike Kobe signature line in that the overall performance has been pretty consistent thus far. When you purchase a Kobe model you usually know what the shoe will offer you on-court — the same can be said for the Curry line. Thus, the Curry 3 receives good marks in all categories.

If you’re a fan of the Curry 1 and 2 then you’ll likely love the 3.

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The Evolution of

Basketball Shoes

By Sophia of KICKZ.com

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The Converse All-Star aka Chuck Taylor is widely known as the first full-blooded basketball shoe ever. And even though its history can be traced back to 1917, the big on-court breakthrough came only in the 50s and even more so in the 60s.

But the broad history of basketball shoes in the 1960s is also a short one. There was the Converse All-Star in black and there was the Converse All-Star in white. That’s it. Not before the end of the decade did Converse decide to produce other colorways.

In the NBA the Boston Celtics dominated the competition like probably no other team will ever again. With legendary center Bill Russell patrolling the middle, the Celtics reached the NBA Finals 13 times between 1957 and 1969, winning 11 championships. Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West also shaped

Basketball footwear experienced an explosion of diversity in the 1970s. Where only a couple of years before one single shoe ruled the NBA floor, the 70s brought new NBA stars with new basketball shoes. Adidas came out with the Superstar, Pro Ked brought the Royal Master, Pony released the Topstar, Nike came out with the Blazer and Puma gave a bright young superstar his own sneaker. The Puma Clyde was born.

Of course the player mentioned here is no other than legendary Knicks point guard Walt “Clyde” Frazier, who brought the swag full tilt before the word was even invented.

With a suede upper and a wider sole for a better stand the Clyde became one of the most popular shoes in the NBA of the 70s.

the basketball world during this time but ultimately could not do anything about the Celtics dominance. Chamberlain who was arguably the most dominant basketball player of all time broke dozens of records (many of which still hold true today), but the perfect team play and defense of the Celtics, who were coached by Red Auerbach, were impossible to overcome even for him.

Today only a few sneaker connoisseurs know that the “Chuck” is really a basketball shoe. Still it is the prime example for the fact that basketball like no other sport has always shaped sneaker-history.

Like many other basketball shoes of thar era, the Puma Clyde found its way off the court and onto the streets eventually, now being an essential part of lifestyle sneaker culture, even though today only a few know this shoes’ true basketball roots.

While the Celtics ruled the NBA like no other team in the 60s, the 70s saw eight different teams winning the title with only the Celtics and the Knicks winning it twice. Worth mentioning is the unbelievable winning streak of the Lakers (33 wins straight) and the emergence of the first Above-The-Rim superstar in NBA history: Julius “Dr. J” Erving who would become an idol to one certain Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

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The curtain rises for Michael Jordan! His Airness stepped into the NBA spotlight in the 1980s and changed basketball forever. Not only did his style of play revolutionize the game, an unprecedented mix of a unique smoothness and elegance combined with an inhuman athlecticism and relentless abandon, MJ’s shoes did too.

Stars like Moses Malone and Charles Barkley were testimonials for Nike’s Air Force line or represented other brands.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird for example both wore the Converse Weapon when they battled each other on the court, while Knicks big man Patrick Ewing and the NBA’s all time leading scorer Kareem Abdul Jabbar donned adidas.

Up to this day the Air Jordan 1 is an absolute staple for sneakerheads and hypebeasts worldwide. All other 1980s Jordans became classics too. Especially the Air Jordan 3, a design by Tinker Hatfield, was the perfect combo of fashion and performance as it mixed premium materials and creative patterns, the infamous elephant print, and the top technology of these days, Air Max. MJ’s early success, the Dunk Contest, several All Star selections and scoring records also contributed to special status of the Air Jordan series.

Jordan’s opponents also played their parts in sneaker culture.

The connection between hip hop culture and basketball led to basketball shoes being rocked on the streets everywhere in the 1980s. That hasn’t change up until today and the saying still goes “don’t step on my Js!“

The next generation of NBA stars also meant the next wave of basketball shoes. While Michael Jordan still dominated the basketball and the shoe world and wore arguably the most coveted and most beautiful basketball shoe of all time, the Air Jordan XI, while winning his 4th NBA championship, new stars stepped onto the scene and with them new basketball shoes.

had their own signature lines or functioned as the faces of big Nike Basketball campaigns like the Uptempo Series. Rodman’s Air Shake Ndestrukt has to be one of the most outrageous designs, besides the Foams, that Nike has ever released.

The most famous (2nd to MJ) player when it comes to signature shoes has to be Penny Hardaway. Not only did Penny have his own Air Penny line with Nike, in 1997 he also wore the most spectacular and most unique basketball shoe the world has ever seen, the Nike Air Foamposite One. Eric Avar’s design was so futuristic and otherworldly, that the shoe with its liquid metal optics still pops out in 2017.

Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, Jordan’s Bulls teammates also were huge Nike endorsers. They both 18 | ON COURT

While Reebok had deals with spectacular stars like Shaquille O’Neal, Shawn Kemp and bad boy Allen Iverson, adidas endorsed German Detlef Schrempf and a teenage Kobe Bryant as the faces of their brand. Nevertheless, Nike still reigned supreme in the basketball world.

2008 was quite a special year for basketball. The Boston Celtics won the Championship after a 22-year long drought.

The Redeem Team, consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, restored the glory of American Basketball after winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Peking – and NIKE provided the best shoe possible for all players, who hadn‘t yet been given the honor of an endorsement deal.

In Peking, the Swoosh launched the very first Hyperdunk.

The designers hit the bull‘s eye releasing the brandnew Nike model in an US-themed colorway and helped basketball fans worldwide show their support to TEAM USA. The Hyperdunk is one of the most popular basketball shoes in forever, a performance machine, which initiated a change for future design innovations.

‘“Could u wake me up at 7:00 and could u leave me a couple of dollars. P.S. Keep this paper. Imma be a star!“, wrote James Harden on a note to his mom back in the days.

Teenager Harden with dreams and aspirations turned into Superstar Harden, more precisely, one of the best Shooting Guards in the NBA. His story, his performance, his stats made a signature shoe contract long overdue. adidas stepped in and fulfilled The Beard‘s youthful dreams and presented him – and us – the Adidas Harden Vol.1.

Adidas‘ explosive takeover of the basketball business is characteristic of this decade. Not only is NBA veteran Derrick Rose still on board, but Signature freshman James Harden, Allround talent Damian Lillard and other stars such as Andrew Wiggins and Kristaps Porzingis are rocking the Three Stripes as well.

Not only the Hyperdunk but other iconic performance shoes revolutionized the kicks game of the millenium – at the turn of the millennium, Vince Carter stepped on court in his AND1 Tai Chi and rocked the legendary streetball shoe in unarguably the best Dunk Contest of all time. In 2003, LeBron James was granted the honor of being signed by none other than Nike. The Nike Air Zoom Generation opened LBJ the doors to the most exclusive club in sports. What happens next is history: the era of a king begins…

Even if the adidas Hoops family keeps on growing, the Nike‘s supremacy will still be unchallenged. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the newest squad member Paul George – the Swoosh has them all. Not without good reason is the brand from Portland still dominating the entire basketball shoe business.

Off-Court as well as On-Court, the competition is enormous.

Who will be this season‘s MVP? Which team will win the Finals? Which player wears the most successful performance shoe? The next days will show…

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Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Performance Review

By NightWing2303 of WearTesters

Traction Blade traction runs through the outsole’s tooling in multidirectional fashion…and it’s awesome. Yes, they used translucent rubber along the outsole of the Hyperdunk 2016 Low. No, it doesn’t hinder performance — this time. The pattern and rubber compound were awesome, even in dusty settings. You’re covered linearly, laterally, and even with quick jabs steps or step backs. Last year’s Hyperdunk had great traction, and these do as well. Luckily for us, the traction wasn’t the only highlight on the shoe this time around.

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Cushion Last year’s Hyperdunk 2015 brought back our beloved Zoom Air cushion, and despite bringing back the fan-favorite setup, it had horrible cushion. The 2016 edition changes that completely as it provides you with ample cushion that is low profile and responsive.

It’s not the Zoom Air’s fault when Zoom goes bad; it’s usually the foam that the cushion setup is encased in. There are different densities of foam, much like rubber, and the more dense the Phylon is the firmer it feels.

For this year’s Hyperdunk 2016 Low, Nike used better Phylon that allows you to feel the cushion underfoot. Not only that, but they cored out the heel and forefoot sections as well. That means those sections will compress more than they would have had they been filled. This allows you to really feel what Zoom Air is capable of. This is what it felt like to play in a Zoom Air setup back in the 90’s. This is how I fell in love with the tech.

Materials Fuse and screen mesh are the primary materials. These aren’t my preferred materials, but they worked really well and were comfortable on top of that. If durability and ventilation are your primary focus when looking at material options then you’ll want to consider these as they offer both without sacrificing containment.

Support Everything we’ve previously gone over plays directly into the support of the Hyperdunk 2016 Low. The materials being durable and containing the foot properly, as well as their overall fit, and the wide base they ride on, all tie into their support. They don’t go above and beyond what you’d expect, but they don’t need to, as they do exactly what you need them do — something most players will appreciate.

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Fit After the Flyknit rendition of the Hyperdunk 2016 was noted to fit a little long and wide, we assumed that the regular versions of the shoe would as well. Well, you know what they say about those that assume. Yeah, made an ass out of myself as I wound up with a shoe 1/2 size too small. I could tell that there would’ve been a bit of room within the shoe width wise, but it would’ve been manageable with the length running true to size. My recommendation would be going true to size, and the width might even accommodate wide footers well enough.

Lockdown was solid as the lacing system did what it’s supposed to do. It’s also slightly asymmetrical which really hugs the foot nicely.

It’s something so minor that you tend to dismiss it, but that’s sort of the point. You want a shoe that will fit so well that you forget all about them while playing.

Heel lockdown was solid as well; it’s something Nike has gotten down pretty nicely over the past few years. It’s rare to find a low top Nike Basketball shoe that doesn’t offer ample lockdown in the rear of the shoe — a bonus for those of us that enjoy playing in low tops.

Overall Much better than last year. Although last year’s were pretty bad, so that isn’t saying much. What you’ll receive here is great traction, a real Zoom Air experience, durable materials, a nice fit, and ample support. Yeah, the Hyperdunk 2016 Low is back being one of the best all-around basketball shoes for players at any position.

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The True Story Behind the Banned Air Jordan

By Marvin Barias of Sole Collector

Why was it actually banned by the NBA?

We’ve been led to believe that the black and red colorway of the Air Jordan 1 was banned 31 years ago. But was it really? The Air Jordan 1 is a mysterious shoe that originally released in all sorts of colorways, and in order to gather the history and evolution of the brand, we must first look back at its roots.

As the story goes, Michael Jordan was, or would be fined, $5,000 per game if he wore a certain pair of red and black Nike basketball shoes, as evidenced by 2011’s “Banned” Air Jordan 1 High. Per the “uniformity of uniform rule” set by the NBA, “A player must wear shoes that not only matched their uniforms, but matched the shoes worn by their teammates.”

At the time, red and black was much more rebellious than plain black and white shoes. That being said, first year NBA commissioner, David Stern “threw them out of the game.” Legend has it that MJ continued wearing the pair anyway, while Nike footed the bill. Does this story sound familiar to you?

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Here is a letter written by then NBA Executive Vice President, Russ Granik, addressed to Nike Vice President, Rob Strasser. It states that Michael Jordan wore a certain pair of Nike basketball shoes that violated the league’s rules and procedures on or around October 18, 1984.

There are so many questions to be asked. For one, how many games did MJ wear the Black/Red Air Jordan 1? And did Nike really pay said imposed fines? And here’s the biggest question: Was the Black/Red Air Jordan 1 even the right sneaker that was first “banned” by the NBA? No, and here’s why.

I’ve had regular discussions with people on the matter. In particular, bigbostrong on Instagram, who has provided detailed pictures of Air Jordan history, as well as our friends from Australia, Adam Ryan and Aaron Stehn—both of whom who run a popular podcast on inallairness.com. A mutual colleague of theirs, Adam Howes, runs bullsonparade.me and does the same, but with all focus on the rich historical events of Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls history.

The top photo is Michael in a 1984 preseason game against the New York Knicks wearing the Black/Red Nike Air Ship. The game was played on October 18, 1984 at Madison Square Garden. It was the 6th preseason game the Bulls had played, and they were going into the game with a 4-1 record. A few days earlier on October 15, 1984, the two teams played each other at Glens Falls, NY some 200 miles north of Madison Square Garden. The NBA notified Nike and/or the Bulls that the black and red sneaker from the October 18 game broke the “uniformity of uniform rule.” He would immediately have to stop wearing the colorway on court.

There have been no pictures surfaced of Michael Jordan ever wearing the Black/Red Air Jordan 1 in an NBA game. I’ve been analyzing this mythical story for a some years now, and have even challenged our Jordan forum to provide a picture and/or video of Michael wearing the shoes. I’ve been presented with all sorts of unique attempts such as the 1985 NBA Slam Dunk competition, to Patrick Ewing in a one-on-one match up, to screenshots of Michael from the “Just For Kicks” documentary of 2005.

We have already scratched the surface as to what MJ first wore during his rookie campaign, which is identified as the Nike Air Ship—a mysterious shoe that has yet to be retroed. To my knowledge, Jordan wore three colorways of the Air Ship: White/ Natural Grey, White/Red and Black/Red. And that Black/Red version of the Nike Air Ship is the actual sneaker that was banned, not the Air Jordan 1. Jordan did however had a PE edition of the Air Ship, which read “Air Jordan” on the heels.

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Let’s break down each attempt. The 1985 NBA dunk contest doesn’t count since it wasn’t an NBA sanctioned game. It does however suggest that the NBA may have again warned the Bulls superstar and Nike for breaking the “uniformity of uniform rule.” Referencing back to the letter, it was dated February 25, 1985. All Star festivities began on the weekend of the 10th. It may suggest that a second warning did take place, but no evidence has surfaced regarding any imposed fines the NBA may have issued - something we can perhaps research at a later time.

The matchup between Jordan and Ewing was for the cover of the November 1985 issue of Inside Sports magazine, and utilized for promotion of the 1985-86 NBA season. It simulated the matchup between the previous Rookie of the Year (Jordan) versus the potential (and eventual) Rookie of the Year (Ewing). Jordan continued to wear the White/Red Air Jordan 1 in the 1985-86 NBA season, before and after his foot injury.

The documentary Just For Kicks again attempted to align the notion that Jordan was fined for wearing the shoes. But there has yet to be evidence from Nike and the NBA that prove that the violation ever took place. These screen captures from the documentary were modified. Photos of the game were taken from the first round of the 1986 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics in which Michael scored a playoff record 63 points. It still stands as a record today.

Keep in mind that the uniform style worn during Michael’s rookie season were different. The road jerseys consisted of black script lettering for Chicago along the chest and the home jerseys with the Bulls team name in red. After the 1984-85 NBA season, the Bulls sported a new uniform style which is similar to what Jordan wore throughout his illustrious career.

So there you have it—the true story behind of the actual “banned” sneaker. It was not the Air Jordan 1, but indeed the Nike Air Ship in the Black/Red colorway. Perhaps someday we’ll come to understand how Nike strategically rolled out the “banned” campaign. We can only wonder if we’ll ever get a retro of the Nike Air Ship—which seems like a possiblity after it was finally offically acknowledged by Jordan Brand last year.

Whether or not the Air Jordan 1 was banned, the myth is most definitely a part of sneaker history, and the precursor to what Jordan Brand is today.

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Adidas Crazylight Boost Performance Review

By Ian Stonebrook of Nice Kicks

Over the course of the past four summers, the adidas Crazylight series has emerged as one of the most watched franchises in performance hoops. A category changer for The Three Stripes, the original emphasis on cutting weight to outperform peers has shifted to creating a streamlined showcase of the brand’s top tech.

Taking on the mantra “it’s not about light weight, it’s about right weight,” the adidas Crazylight Boost 2015 avoids tunnel vision on the scale and places emphasis on brand innovations such as Boost and Primeknit. Serving as the second season of Boost in basketball and the first time Primeknit has hit the hardwood, we played in the adidas Crazylight 2015 to get some early observations on the newest release from adidas Hoops.

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Cushion Cushioning is a bit of a double edged sword. Like last year, the Boost in the heel feels fantastic. Like last year, there’s still no Boost in the forefoot but rather very low profile adiPrene. Because of this, you have a lot of bounce in the heel but not where you want it as a guard that plays on your toes. While Boost in the forefoot is what we all want, is it what we need? Though less than amazing compared to the heel Boost, the adiPrene in the forefoot does allow you to play very low and have great court feel. The spring in the step isn’t there, but neither is the separation. While Boost has always worked best for casual and running wear in big, bouncy fashion, perhaps it would be best slimmed down on the hardwood. All in all, my feet felt good through a whole run when playing in these — both my heel and my forefoot — but the bounce or full-length wow factor isn’t there.

Traction Traction was a bit of a disappointment for me on the Crazylight Boost 2015. Not that I ever slipped when playing in them or didn’t feel like I had my footing, but the grip wasn’t to match with how low to the ground they played and the amount of wear on the outsole after playing indoors was disconcerting. The last shoe I regularly played in, the adidas D Lillard 1, had really deep grooves on the outsole and the traction pattern on these is pretty basic. So far not bad from a slipping standpoint, but definitely something that could be worked on.

Lockdown Lockdown wasn’t bad on these, but it could’ve been a lot better. The Primeknit upper feels great on the foot — it’s soft, supportive and breathable — but it doesn’t hug the foot like you’d want it to. The main issue is in the toe box. Much like the D Lillard 1, there’s a lot of room above the toes even when the length is right. I had to tie these up really tight to play in and feel snug enough and usually re-tie a few times during multiple runs. In general, Primeknit is the right direction for the Crazylight Boost franchise, I’d just like to see it tighter knit like on the Ultra Boost runner.

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Aesthetics Aesthetically, the adidas Crazylight Boost 2015 is a gorgeous shoe, but in regards to performance it lands more in the ranks of very good versus great. The only aspects keeping it from great are evolved Primeknit construction, a better traction pattern and some sort of forefoot cushioning upgrade — which most if not all would like to be Boost.

Overall Over the past few years, adidas Basketball has continued to put out solid product that lacks fatal flaws but also lacks the ‘wow’ factor that propels a shoe to a solid A or A+ ranking. They’re close.

The Crazylight Boost 2015 is no objection to the trend, performing strong on court but not quite changing the game. From a technical standpoint, the biggest innovation is bringing Primeknit to basketball. While the Primeknit upper proved a major leap in breathability from that of its Crazylight Boost predecessor, it sacrificed lockdown to some extent seen mostly in a roomy toe box and the need to tie and retie extra tight.

From a personal standpoint, I like the Crazylight Boost 2015. They breathe better than last year’s Crazylight Boost and they bend better than the first three Crazlights. The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of lockdown through the toe box on this generation of Primeknit and durability issues with the traction. In general, they wowed me aesthetically but left some room for improvement in performance. Still, I do like playing in these and will continue to.

For the guard on the go, these will serve you well during your open gym runs and are worth testing out before the season starts. For a big man on the block, the lack of cushioning and impact protection in the forefoot may disappoint. There’s no doubt that adidas is definitely on the right track with their Crazylight series and visually they’ve created their best pair yet. I’m just hoping that the next one improves the fit of the Primeknit upper, the cushioning in the forefoot and the traction pattern.

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NIKE DESIGNERS

Q&A

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ERIC AVAR

By Andy Butler of Designboom

INTERVIEW: Nike creative director and VP of innovation Designboom caught up with eric avar, NIKE‘s creative director and vice-president of innovation, at the launch of the Kobe 9 shoe. avar joined NIKE in 1991 and has since designed some of the brand’s most innovative and best selling shoes including the Foamposite, Hyperdunk and the Kobe signature series.

Andy Butler (AB): What made you want to become a designer?

Eric Avar (EA): My dad was a mechanical engineer and my mom is a fine artist so I have fallen right in the middle. I have always loved art and drawing but as a kid I had no idea what industrial design really was so I went to the rochester institute of technology to study mechanical engineering. not long after I had been there I wandered up onto the floor where the industrial design program was and it hit me immediately that it was the perfect blend of science an art that I was looking for. I changed programs as fast as I could.

AB: How did you come to specialize in footwear design?

EA: Growing up I had several passions, art was one and sports was another. I absolutely loved sports. I played and watched sports all the time, so it felt natural to combine those interests.

AB: What was your first project at NIKE? EA: Right after school I started out as a junior designer for NIKE. I worked on lots of small jobs for various different senior designers. those projects included cross training shoes and some ACG (all conditions gear) stuff but the most significant of my early projects was working on the AIR HUARCHE with tinker hatfield.

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Nike Kobe 3 – 7

AB: What was your favorite sport growing up?

EA: Soccer.

AB: Have you worked on any soccer projects? would you like to?

EA: I haven’t! but I would love to!

AB: Could you tell us more about working with tinker?

EA: Working with tinker is incredible. during the twenty three years that I’ve been at NIKE he’s been a mentor and a good friend to me.

AB: As someone responsible for innovation, how do you keep yourself sharp?

EA: As a designer you’re always looking at everything that’s going on around you, you can’t help it, it’s a compulsion. to be a designer is to always be curious. you’re constantly thinking, looking, listening and dreaming. you’re taking in things from everywhere: science, technology, aesthetics, performance. so there’s all that and when working on something I always ask myself the question ‘how can we make this better? how can we take it to the next level?’.

AB: What challenges have you set yourself for the near future?

AB: Which project has given you the most satisfaction?

EA: It’s hard to say just one, but probably the initial FREE shoe. I’m a big believer in footwear allowing for natural motion and a lot of fascinating research and collaboration went into that shoe. we had an amazing team of designers, bio-mechanists, developers and engineers. with most projects you have great teams but each member tends to be working on several projects at once. with the first FREE we had a really tight-knit team that worked together everyday from start to finish, just on that project. the end result was very rewarding – especially the influence that shoe has had on the market and it’s continuing legacy.

EA: It’s a very interesting time we’re living in with regards to the state of technology, science and how all of that is informing design and manufacturing. we need to be thoughtful about what we design and the impact our manufacturing has on the planet, that’s one challenge that we’re always addressing and pushing ourselves to do more about. another is to know and understand athletes better, to watch and listen to them and extract everything from that research so that our designs can improve their performances. my personal design goals and the company’s goals are always to get better on all fronts: performance, style, science and sustainability.

AB: What’s the last thing that you saw that made you think ‘wow’?

EA: Nature. I’m always surprised and amazed by it. there’s such a simplicity and purposefulness to how nature ‘designs’. I spend a lot of time hiking and just being outdoors looking at what’s around me and soaking it up, I love being in the mountains.

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TINKER HATFIELD

By Andy Butler of Designboom

INTERVIEW: Lead designer of Nike & Jordan brand

Andy Butler (AB): How did you come to work for Nike?

Tinker Hatfield (TH): My first job with the company was to illustrate a marketing book for geoff hollister in the early 1980s. Later I working as an architect I designed retail spaces, which gave me a view into the design culture at the company from the outside. Shortly after I joined the Nike design team.

AB: How many of you worked in the design team back then?

Tinker hatfield (b. oregon, USA, 1952) is the designer of some of NIKE‘s most popular and innovative shoes such as the Air Max One and the infamous Air Jordan range – now in its 28th edition. He oversees the ‘innovation kitchen’ where the brand cooks up some of their biggest and best ideas. He is Nike’s vice president of design and special projects.

TH: When I came there were nine designers and about the same number of developers for footwear. The aim of this team was simple: to make the best running shoes possible. Back then virtually everyone was a runner – rather than a trained designer and because of this the approach was somewhat utilitarian. There wasn’t much focus on aesthetics but I was able to bring in some insight having a background in architecture and design.

AB: How did your background as an architect influence your work as a shoe designer?

TH: In the mid 1980s the brand was slipping behind its competitors a little and the only shoe that was top of its market was the Air Jordan 1. As an architect I had the feeling I could bring something new to the table in terms of design especially compared to the shoes that were in the marketplace at that time. So, I began working on a renegade set of shoes that were not part of a design brief or marketing drive: the Air Max One, the Air Trainer One, Air Revolution,

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Nike air max one, 1987

Air Sock and Air Safari. The Air Max One was a performance shoe but I wanted to bring a storyline that would highlight the technology to people. I went to paris around the same time and saw the pompidou center and was struck by how renzo piano and his team had turned this building inside out. That helped me come up with the idea of the visible air window – to help people understand the new air bag technology used in the shoe. It’s gone on to become one of our best sellers and that shoe helped us understand how to sell a story and market our products.

AB: Have any pieces of architecture or industrial design inspired you recently?

TH: Everyday I see stuff – that’s part of the job of a designer – to see what going on in the world, to look at what other people are doing.

Actually I was inspired in paris again recently. Not by a piece of design but by the people and the city overall. You can think you know something and have preconceived ideas – but things are always changing, people are always changing. As a designer you have to pay attention to everything, to observe changes, think about them, and respond to them. Noticing a change in paris made me feel good and as a result I was having a lot of ideas. When you feel good it changes how you see the world, how you perceive things, and it’s in these moments that I have my best ideas.

AB: What has been the most satisfying project you have worked on during your time at NIKE? TH: That’s a difficult question to answer without upsetting someone! (laughs) but some of the ones that stand out in my mind are the Air Jordan 11, the Air Max One and the Nike Air Huarache.

The Air Max One was a sort of revelation on how to design a shoe and tell stories through design and of course it sold very well.

The Nike Air Huarache was special because it came straight out of left field. I designed that shoe after a water-skiing experience, the use of neoprene got me thinking how it could be used on a shoe. I loved that project because it wasn’t typical of my work at the time, in that I wasn’t working with an athlete but basing the design on my own direct experience of water-skiing. That was a provocative shoe because people weren’t sure about it – most people at Nike didn’t want to produce it but the marketing director at the time did. He manufactured 5000 of them and took them to the new york marathon and sold them all in just three days. that validated the design. We sold well over half a million pairs of that shoe over the next year.

I also really enjoyed the AIR JORDAN 11. Everyone told me to stop designing AIR JORDANs because michael had decided to retire but I said no, it doesn’t matter and continued with the project. Of course he came back and ended up winning a championship in that shoe.

AB: Do you draw a lot?

TH: Right now I’m drawing more often and it’s largely thanks to the iPad. I’ve always carried around a sketch pad with me, but because I like to work in color I didn’t always want to be carrying around lots of pens or equipment. With the iPad and SketchBook® Pro you can sketch easily and apply color or effects easily and the experience is very similar to the Wacom Cintiq tablet that I use in my studio. The new technology has encouraged me to draw more which is important – because drawing teaches you how to see, and drawing documents how you see things differently from the next person.

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LEO CHANG

By Brock Cardiner of Highsnobiety

INTERVIEW:

Nike Basketball Design Director We caught up with Nike Basketball Footwear Design Director Leo Chang while he was in Berlin to find out what he’s been up to, his most challenging sneaker designs and much more.

This time last year we caught up Nike footwear designer Leo Chang to learn about the Hyperdunk 2014. Almost a year to the day, we sat down with Chang to learn more about his latest work on Kevin Durant’s signature line, as well as his beginnings as a footwear designer, his time at the Rhode Island School of Design and much more. So without further ado, see what he had to say below.

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Brock Cardiner (BC): Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Leo Chang (LC): My name is Leo Chang. I oversee all the footwear that comes out at Nike Basketball and I’ve also been working on KD’s stuff since the beginning. It’s been really fun. It’s been a dream come true for me.

BC: How did you get into footwear design initially?

LC: I got into footwear design because I always had an obsession with shoes since seventh or eighth grade. I loved Nikes; it wasn’t just shoes, it was Nikes because of the innovation and the crazy designs.

It was unobtainable for me because Nikes were so premium and I didn’t have that much money growing up, and so I’ve always wanted that and it’s something I desired.

I saw that all my friends had it and I was also into drawing so I put the two together – design, art and shoes. It wasn’t until I went to college (Rhode Island School of Design) that I kind of forgot about it because I didn’t think it would ever happen. There they were presenting all the different majors you can study and industrial design came up and on one of the presentation slides they actually had a shoe on there. I was like, “Ok, I’m going back.”

Nike KD 8, 2015

BC: Do you remember which shoe it was?

BC: What’s a typical workday like for you?

LC: It was a student project so it wasn’t a real shoe. That’s when I made it my mission to just go online and apply for Nike internships.

The summer of 2000 is when I actually got the internship. That’s when I interned in Running and it was actually an incredible time because it was leading into the Summer Olympics and I was sitting next to the guys that were working on Michael Johnson’s gold spikes, which was insane – it was crazy.

Then I went back to school to finish and graduate in 2001 and try to get back full time. I did a brief stint at Tumi Luggage and then by October I landed a job at Nike in Running again. It wasn’t until I think ’06 or ’07 that I switched over to Basketball. One of the first things I did actually was meet up with KD.

LC: You know, I don’t even know what a typical workday is. I have lots of meetings with engineers, developers, marketing guys and my design team (color and materials) on various projects that are coming out. We are working on the 9 right now so…everything from wear-test concerns down to the lace colors, or meeting with our PR guys about how to communicate the stories to our consumers, which is really important especially when you are dealing with signature athletes and you want your story to make it through to the end. My job kind of encompasses all of that.

BC: And Basketball was where you wanted to work at Nike?

LC: Absolutely. There’s two types of categories and two types of shoes that I love: running shoes and basketball shoes, so it’s great it worked out.

BC: When you started working with KD, did you know who he was?

LC: I knew who he was…I didn’t really follow Texas but I knew who he was. Then when we were ready to sign him I really did a ton of research on him just to make sure I knew him before I even met him.

It was funny because people were like “he’s going to be the next Jordan,” but you can never be the next Jordan. I don’t even think that’s a fair comparison; he is him and his style of play is so different from Jordan’s but people were definitely hyping him up at the time.

BC: Was there a specific sneaker that got you into it?

LC: You know surprisingly a lot of people say Jordans but it wasn’t the Jordan for me. It was a lot of the other Nike Basketball stuff at that time in the early ’90s. I even remember obsessing about the Zoom Spiridon and then the Air Max 97. I’m a sucker for reflective materials so with the 360 reflective stripes around it – it was insane.

Actually, those two were one of my first real dope Nikes that I got when I started to get my own money. Then later on the Flightposite came around and Hyperflight.

Eric Avar designed all these amazing Nike Basketball shoes and I saw him in these sneaker magazines like Kicks Magazine. It was kind of a legendary magazine and that first issue was dope because it inspired a whole generation of footwear designers.

BC: What’s the usual trajectory from concept to completed sneaker on the market?

LC: It’s over 18 months and sometimes longer depending on how long it takes for us to develop a certain innovation. Sometimes it takes two; sometimes three years.

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Anta KT 2

Performance Review

By NightWIng2303 of WearTesters

Traction The traction on the KT1 was solid, but ANTA was somehow able to up the ante with the KT2. I believe it’s a combination of a great pattern — herringbone is always an excellent choice — and a really sound rubber compound. There is nothing special about the outsole of the ANTA KT2 while looking at it, but it plays special which should really be the focus when designing an outsole meant to grip the floor while enduring multiple changes in direction.

Outdoor players will enjoy the KT2 as well as it’ll hold up and grip well without issue. There is an ANTA KT2 Outdoor model — we’ll be testing it in the near future — but if you wanted to play in the main model outdoors then you’ll be able to without worry.

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Cushion ANTA used a basic slab of EVA foam for the KT1’s midsole setup, and much like the traction, it has really improved things with the cushion on the KT2. The brand is calling the setup ANTA EVE, and while it isn’t anything groundbreaking, it’s really comfortable and it works. In a nutshell, ANTA is still using the basic EVA midsole as the stable platform to work with, but at the heel and forefoot have been upgraded with two different density foam pads. This is how Lunar Foam used to be implemented — Cushlon, Podulon, Podulite, Li-Ning’s BOUNSE and CUSHION tech etc. — the list can go on. ANTA went from being basic to finally catching up to what everyone else has been doing. Granted, ANTA is an affordable brand in China so it was never meant to be groundbreaking; rather, it is simply supplying the public with quality footwear at an affordable price. With the acquisition of Klay Thompson, things have changed and the brand has quickly caught up to modern times.

These went from a “well, these are surprisingly nice” to a “I’m not really enjoying the cushion in the CP3.X tonight so I’ll switch into the KT2”.

Materials Nothing has changed between the KT1 and KT2 in terms of materials. They both feature Fuse and mesh…but mostly Fuse. While Fuse is not my personal preference, it gets the job done and it’s durable as hell. These have taken a beating on-court and if I were to actually clean my shoes (which I find no point in doing when they’re just for basketball) then they’d still look brand new. The upper moves well with your foot while containing it properly. No complaints at all.

Fit The fit is a little snug, especially if you’re wide-footed. After playing in my pair over the last few weeks I’ve grown to love how they fit me in my true size. So, I’d recommend going up 1/2 size for those that don’t enjoy a super snug fit, otherwise go TTS. Lockdown is solid on the shoe as well. Again, no complaints. Nothing over the top, nothing special. The ANTA KT2 just gets the job done.

And that’s exactly what you want in a hoop shoe — you need them to get the job done. If they don’t then, well, they’d be useless.

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Support The support is another aspect that gets the job done, and gets the job done well. There is a TPU support shank at the midfoot for torsional support, while the TPU heel counter keeps the heel from sliding or shifting off of the footbed. Having Fuse along the upper ensures containment is never a problem, and the outrigger is more than enough to keep you covered upon lateral movements. I believe I said this with the KT1 performance review, and I’ll say it again. The KT line, so far, is similar to the Hyperdunk line in that it’s a good all-around shoe for every position on the floor.

Overall I was expecting much of the same from the ANTA KT2 as it looked similar, in all aspects, to the KT1. However, I was very surprised to find that the traction was tackier and more durable than the original model, and the cushion was way better than the last model’s. This might be the most comfortable Chinese brand shoe I’ve ever played in — actually, I think it is. It isn’t t soft, but also not firm. It’s just right.

The KT2 has enough of everything to make them a great option on-court, and it comes in at a reasonable price as well — even more reasonable if you live in China.

If you’re ever curious about Chinese shoe brands, or any brand other than what you’re used to, then I’d recommend trying the ANTA KT2 out. I think you’ll be surprised with how well it plays. I’d also recommend just trying new things in general. You’ll never know what awesomeness could be out there if you only stick with what you know. I mean, you’ll only ever be certain if what you know is what you want after you’ve tried everything else to make sure.

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Paul George’s Signature Debut - The Nike PG 1

By Sophia of KICKZ.com

PG

13

There are only a few injuries that stuck in my head the same way Paul George’s injury did. I still remember watching the recap of him pursuing James Harden in a Team USA scrimmage in late September 2014. The camera is on George while he awkwardly lands against the stanchion and the focus captures his leg fracturing at exactly this moment. I do not recommend watching this- the clip will make your stomach turn and your basketball heart break. Paul George suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and the fibula, plain speaking, a severe leg injury. Being in surgery for two hours and getting a pin placed in his leg, most basketball experts gave up on the Small Forward of the Indiana Pacers.

A young superstar, leading his team to the brink of the NBA Finals in 2014, was now facing a devastating injury that could have completely derailed his career. But Paul George is Paul George after all – while less focused players would have given up their hopes, the baller from Indiana set his aims even higher. This NBA season 2016-17, PG13 is better than never, returning to his full skill level and potential on court. The Forward’s journey has been pretty incredible and we salute him for his determination! But as I have already mentioned earlier, Paul George is Paul George! He simply did not stop there, but rather took it to a higher level.

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One of the Most Exclusive Clubs

Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good

Achieving the status of a Nike signature athlete, PG finally has his very own signature shoe. “Thanks” to the injury, the Nike design Team had pushed the plan back a little longer and used the three more years to create a brilliant basketball performance shoe. The introduction of Paul George’s first model spread big news in the basketball scene and rightly were both fascination and George’s entitlement for such a silhouette. Being the fourth active basketball player with his own shoe from the Swoosh, PG13 joins one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports. Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Durant – Nike has them all. In the brand’s 44-year history, fewer than ONE percent of its endorsed athletes have been given a signature shoe.

The signature shoe finally debuted on court at the 02-Arena in London on January 12. Playing against the Denver Nuggets on an international stage, the timing could not have been chosen better!

The PG 1 has been perfectly tailored for the player’s needs, uniting George’s smooth personality with performance attributes. Hardman managed to adapt from most of Paul George’s inspiration such as the Zoom Crusader. Since PG is a huge fan of low-tops, the new silhouette was designed to adjust the looks of his fav performance shoes. In addition to that, his idea was to create one of the most comfortable shoes in the wide range of signature lines, but bringing explosiveness as well. Since PG13 is mostly playing on the forefoot, the design team decided to use Zoom, combining it with a thicker sockliner and putting some foam above the Zoom.

Ranking the 21st basketball player to receive a signature contract with Nike, Paul George’s signature model reflects his versatility on both sides of the court. In order to create a shoe that fits that perfectly to the two-way player, designer Tony Hardman was the right man for this job. After seven years with Nike and five with Nike Basketball, Tony finally had his very own shoe to design. Believe me, the name is one to remember and will soon be mentioned alongside big names of Nike design legends! The PG 1 gives a first hint at Hardman’s incredible work and I am sure that there is a lot more to come. The Nike designer and Paul George worked very closely on their collaboration, both putting much effort in George’s ideas.

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The materials used on the PG 1 give the signature silhouette the ideal finishing. Mostly inspired by no other shoe than the Nike SB Janoski, one of George’s favorite everyday shoes, natural materials and leather were applied on the signature shoe. Compared to the state-of-the-art technical features, the leather upper might look old-fashioned at first, but due to the “look good, feel good, play good”-mentality of George, the shoe sweetly balances simplicity and natural materials. From hairy suede to scaled leather, every colorway comes with an unique and high-quality look. Style, comfort and performance in Paul George’s first signature shoe!

Blending performance innovation with personal details, the signature shoe not only features the latest technologies but some small references to George’s private life as well. This is actually quite rare for the Small Forward from the Indiana Pacers considering that PG usually keeps his privacy rather to himself. The number of details add a personal touch to the PG 1, starting with two small graphic features on the silhouette. On the medial side on the left shoe, the numbers 5-1-15 honor the first birthday of Paul George’s daughter Olivia – first birthday, first signature model. The right shoe adorns his own birthday, the 5-2-90. In addition to that, the right heel tab features a stripe as a reminder of the titanium rod used to repair George’s devastating right-leg fracture. George’s nickname, PG13, inspires the 13 on the shoe’s heels. Last of all, Paul George’s logo locks his initials P and G into a bowtie, once again depicting his simplicity and sophistication.

Benefits • Forefoot strap with Flywire technology loop system provides adaptive support • Zoom Air unit under the forefoot and plush sockliner provide responsive cushioning • Full-bootie construction delivers a snug, 1-to-1 fit • Multidirectional scale-inspired blade traction provides ultimate court grip

Feast your eyes on the PG 1! After first colorways such as the ‘2K’ and the ‘Shining’, this Saturday’s release comes in the ‘Ferocity’ colorway. The Pacers themed upper matches his Pacers’ uniform thanks to a dark Obisidian base and University Gold accents on the mid foot strap, the flywire cables and the PG logo on the tongue. The heel pull tab and the upper eyelets are adorned with hyper violet hints.

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Reebok Celebrates 20 Years of ‘The ’ Shoe

By Jordan Zirm of STACK.com

?

On March 12, 1997, a rookie named Allen Iverson beckoned Michael Jordan to the top of the key and proceeded to lay the foundation for what would become a Hall of Fame legacy. Iverson crossed over to his left, then back to his right, leaving the greatest basketball player of all time grasping at a shadow as he pulled up and hit a mid-range jumper.

Twenty years later, Reebok set up shop in Union Square in New York City to celebrate two decades of the shoe Iverson wore when he gave MJ the business: the Reebok Question. Making its debut ahead of the 1996-1997 NBA season, the shoe had two major design signatures—bright coloring on the toe box and the “Hexalite windows” across the sole—that became as iconic as Iverson himself.

For Iverson, receiving his own signature shoe was crazy enough; it got taken to another level the first time he saw a kid rocking his sneakers on the street.

“I will never forget the day I saw a little kid with my shoes on,” Iverson said. “I pulled over and watched until he walked away.”

A few weeks after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Iverson received a pair of the Reebok Question “Curtain Call,” a collaboration with Packer Shoes to officially celebrate the 20th anniversary of the shoe. For Reebok’s vice president Todd Krinsky, the moment felt surreal.

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“It’s amazing. I grew up with him, and I learned the business through him,” Krinsky said. “It’s super emotional. I never thought 20 years later he’d be in the Hall of Fame and we’d still be working together.”

And although the “Curtain Call” colorway, with a jet black upper offset with a red toebox, is super dope, the best story surrounding The Question comes from the 2000 All-Star Game, when Iverson refused to wear a specific colorway of the shoe after being razzed in the locker room because the colors were so bright.

“We agreed every year that we’d take The Question, and he’d wear the colorway of the home team that was hosting the All-Star Game,” Krinsky recalled. “He was supposed to wear a yellow and blue shoe for Golden State. The day of the game, he decided he wasn’t going to wear them. I was like, ‘You have to wear them. We sold it, people are buying it, you have to wear it.’ And [Iverson] was like ‘Nah man, I’m not wearing it.’ I had to beg his mother to go in the locker room to convince him to wear it, I tried everything.”

“It’s all about practise, not the game”.

- A.I.

Iverson couldn’t be convinced, though, and instead he wore a pair of red and white Answer 3s that he’d secretly packed for the game.

Still, his decision to ditch the yellow and blue kicks added to the shoe’s intrigue, and the pair was nicknamed “Unworn” when it was re-released by Reebok this past February.

Iverson’s shoe line may never reach the heights of the man he crossed over as a rookie, but judging by the crowd and excitement surrounding his arrival at the event, The Question isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

“We’re always going to do stuff together,” Krinsky said. “There’s always going to be demand for his product.”

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