Sole Shift Issue 3: The Olympics Issue

NO.3 The olympics ISSUE

shifting perspectives, one pair at a time

Basketball. footwear. performance. culture. the toronto issue

Co-Founder / Editor in Chief Duane Watson Co-Founder - Jason Tiangco Associate Editor - Ray Bala Creative Director -Craig White Photo Editor - Charlie Lindsay Web Master - Angelo Manalili Contributors Michael Baillie, Rey Roncesvalles, Fitzroy Facey, Hektor Yee, Will Strickland, Dr. Joel Kerr, Marc Griffin, Derek Deonarain, Alysha Galbreath, Rob Ong, Colin Garraway, Dustin Newhook, AZOD, Kevin Couliau, Robert Van Riel, Brian D Lynch, Peter R, Pete Stasewicz, Vesa M, Gen Kanai, Ulana Holtz, J Amezqua, Sean Francois, Jalani Morgan, Jemma Kamara, Melvin Ejim, Sharmarke Abdi and Ilya Klen

Photo by Ilya klen

J u ly 2 0 1 6 , No. 3 Sole Shift is published four times a year. @SOLESHIFT

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editorial: the olympics issue

tip-off, Athletes train their whole lives for the Olympics, it’s the pinnacle of sport and competition and the bar to be measured against. On the basketball court, the XXV Olympiad brought together an assemblage of the best players to set foot on the hardwood – The Dream Team. And while no other group will surpass them, others continually strive for greatness.

With our third issue, we recognize our own Dream Teams, relive some remarkable moments and talk to some special people. There are profiles on the top Olympians and those who fell short on their medal quest, while the Photo Essay takes you abroad on a tour of different courts around the world, as our Performance Reviews and Olympic Essentials keep you grounded with what’s on foot.

Every four years the best compete in the Olympic Games, and every four months we come together to bring another issue of Sole Shift. Is it gold-medal worthy? We’ll leave that for you to judge, but I know regardless, the Sole Shift team is always striving for greatness. Step to the podium.

Duane “Sweets” Watson

Con tents 6 8 10 The contributors

Wants & Needs

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29

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59

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the dunk of death

doodles and dinosaurs

Jordan XXXI first impressions

Baseline Health Tips By Dr. J: Four pillars of health

performance review: the jordan super.fly 5

player's perspective: Melvim ejim

essentials: the olympics edition

land of rings: a photo essay

special game, same passion

dom's boutique

SOLE SHIFT

contents

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50

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fall from grace

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footwork: every four years

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kia: the chosen

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performance review: the nike hyperdunk 2016 flyknit

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performance review: the nike zoom soldier 10

performance review: the adidas crazy light boost 2016

the international dream team

top 5 with in vintage we trust

the fila gh2

performance review: the nike zoom kd9

the all-time dream team

5 second call with samuel smallidge

Photo by jemma kamara - barcelona, spain

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The Contributors Duane Watson CO-FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Favourite Basketball Shoe: Air Jordan 3 For someone who voraciously consumes basketball and sneaker content in all manners of manifestation, he dishes it out equally via TV, print, radio, digitally and social media.

Duane still ends up being the oldest guy on any court he steps on, so he makes up for it with hustle, energy and grit, always bringing veteranism and play in the paint like Tim Duncan in his final NBA season.

Rob Ong PHOTOGRAPHER Favourite Basketball Shoe: Nike Zoom Kobe 9 A sneaker enthusiast since high school, Rob always had an interest about the technology in the shoes, and the stories they told. As a former football player, he drives the lane with a fearless “hit or be hit� mentality, and is a pass-first guard in the mould of John Stockton, who doesn't like getting involved with all the trash talking.

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contributors

Photos by fitzroy facey

Rey Roncesvalles WRITER Favourite Basketball Shoe: Nike Zoom Kobe 6 With a Computer Science degree from the University of Waterloo, Rey currently translates his mathematical passion toward into an undying fantasy sports obsession. Growing up a tiny point guard, then sprouting late into a power forward, his basketball story is eerily similar to Anthony Davis, but with a Tim Duncan-like demeanor. When he's not blocking shots like volleyball spikes, he can be found spiking balls on the volleyball court like basketball blocks.

Michael Baillie WRITER Favourite Basketball Shoe: Air Jordan V Black/Metallic OG After lacing a pair of Zoom LeBron II's in the sixth grade, Michael stepped foot into the wonderful world of sneakers and hasn't looked back. Fascinated by music, basketball and all things digital, he gets computers 'puting and always puts on for the culture! With a heart that strives for greatness, Baillie's game is similar to the style of LeBron James, yet even cleaner than his all white draft suit.

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WANTS & NEEDS

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The Oly

With the NBA Finals wrapped up in June, summer is usually a sad time for basketball fans. Once all the confetti is thrown and the Larry O’Brien trophy is handed to the champions, the arenas will be quiet until October. Luckily, every four years, we can count on the Summer Olympics to see some of our favourite players battle for a gold medal. With the Olympics in Rio all Summer ‘16, we’ve compiled a starting five and 6th man, of Olympic sneaker essentials for the hardwood.

By Michael Baillie / photos by FITZROY FACEY Jerseys courtesy of In Vintage we trust @ invtgwetrust

Air Jordan VII Coming off his second MVP award and NBA title, Michael Jordan joined the historic 1992 U.S. Summer Olympic Basketball team in Barcelona. Nicknamed “The Dream Team,” this was the first time NBA players were allowed to compete in the Olympics.

Joining superstars like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and David Robinson to name a few, the team decimated the competition. Winning by an average margin of 44 points per game, they went undefeated in the tournament, and won the gold medal. With Jordan in peak form, this was a passing of the torch from one generation to another, as co-captains Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were near the end of their professional careers. The Air Jordan VII featured colours from the American flag as well as silver and gold, paying homage to Olympic medals. The shoe substituted #23 on the back heel for #9, the jersey number he wore on national duty.

From the personal collection of @meachdasilva

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essentials: the olympics edition

ympics Edition Nike Air More Uptempo '96 With Nike having two sneaker models for their athletes back in the day, Flight for the quick, light guards and Force for the power players, there was still room for a more versatile model. While the Uptempo had a relatively short run, it still made a splash as part of the hottest Nike models of the 90’s.

This was especially true for the Air More Uptempo ’96: mainly known for the “AIR” plastered across the shoe, it’s most notable for being worn by Scottie Pippen during the ‘96 Bulls season as well at the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta. With Jordan out of the Olympic picture, Pippen had more room to shine on the court with his ostentatious (hint of red) white and blue kicks with the Dream Team II. The shoe was even customized to have his Olympic #8 on the heel of the heel. Oh yeah, the U.S. won gold. Again.

From the personal collection of @meachdasilva

Nike Zoom Kobe VII Not many would’ve known it back then, but the 2012 Olympics in London would be Kobe’s last.

This team sparked debates about whether or not they’d be better than the ‘92 Dream Team. Both teams weighed in their opinions as to who was better: while the ‘92 team had a higher total point average and winning average, the 2012 team had more opponents from the NBA. This includes seven on the runner-up Spain team (2012) as opposed to the two on the runner-up Croatia team (1992).

Officially dubbed as “USA”, Kobe’s journey to gold consisted of a colourway that featured white, obsidian and university red. The historic low cut sneaker stayed true to previous Kobe models incorporating full-length cushioning and Nike’s highly praised Flywire technology. Nike later released a special “Gold Medal” edition of the Zoom Kobe VII’s which featured a gold swoosh to commemorate America’s victory over Spain.

From the personal collection of @undsed

Nike Flightposite II Before having deals with AND1, adidas, and Anta, KG was making good bread with Nike. Coming off the Air Garnett I, Nike and KG came together to make a sequel to the Air Flightposite in the Air Flightposite KG (also known as the Air Flightposite II). Nike followed suit with the millennium trend of making everything look futuristic, just in time for the 2000 Olympics. KG was awarded a special Olympic colourway of the Air Flightposite KG. The gold that took over the lower half of the shoe foreshadowed their outcome in the tournament, while the upper suede was a navy blue, resemblant of their jerseys. While Garnett had a respectable performance throughout the tournament, his defining moment had to be hyping up Vince Carter after dunking over Frédéric Weis. Typical KG behaviour.

From the personal collection of @meachdasilva

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essentials: the olympics edition essentials: the all-star edition

Nike Air Force 180 Before getting his own Nike signature line which included the Air Max CB ‘94 and Air Max CB 34, Charles Barkley was the poster boy for the Nike Air Force 180. The shoes features both a mid strap for extra lockdown, and of course, a special colourway of the aforementioned ‘92 Olympics where “Sir Charles” was the leading scorer on the Dream Team, averaging 18.0 points and set a then Olympic record for points in a single game with 30. The famous shoes are re-releasing on July 7th, just in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. From the personal collection of @undsed

Nike Shox BB4 Poor Frédéric Weis didn’t know what was going to become of him the summer of 2000. The French media named it "le dunk de la mort" (The Dunk of Death), but we just know it as “that one time Vinsanity dunked over that 7’2” French guy.” The Nike Shox BB4 was plastered all throughout 2000 with their “Boing” campaign that featured Vince Carter. This featured the brand new Shox technology, adding four separate shox in the heels for increased response time and energy return. It only seemed fitting that VC would be sporting them during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The French team was in transition when Carter stole Yann Bonato’s horrendous behind the back pass. 2 seconds later, Vince Carter soared above Weis’ head, before slamming the ball down with authority. You could feel the soul being snatched out of Weis’ body.

From the personal collection of @j43luk

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

The Nike

oom LeBron Soldier 10

By Jason Tiangco / Photos by dustin newhook

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performance review: the nike zoom lebron soldier 10

While LeBron James recently cemented himself as one of the greatest in the game, leading his Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit over the Golden State Warriors to win the 2016 NBA Championship, the shoe he wore at the time, the Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 10, was equally historic. The Soldier line initially started as LeBron’s post-season shoe, and now, a decade deep they undergo a revolutionary approach in design: going laceless.

The Soldier 10’s The solid rubber outsole has a square shaped storytelling pattern, incorporating the words “Witness,” “King James,” “Cleveland”, nods to his high school “SMSV” and his stats. Traction scored above average on both clean and dusty courts, enabling confident stoppage, lateral and cutting movement.

Still, it’s recommended that this model only be used indoors, unless selecting the Xtremely Durable Rubber (XDR) outsole option.

Traction: 8/10 Despite the two large volume Zoom Air units incorporated into the heel and forefoot, cushioning was not as responsive as expected, possibly the result of the units bottom loaded and housed under a solid Phylon midsole. Nevertheless, cushioning was still quite good: solid impact protection in the heel, firm responsiveness in the forefoot and above average court feel.

Cushioning: 7.5/10

Although these shoes do not have any laces, they make up for it with a lot more. The Soldier 10 has a one-piece tri-layer foam and textile upper (for comfort and breathability), a compression inner-sleeve, Hyperfuse overlays on the toe box for durability, and three Velcro layover straps at the forefoot, midfoot and ankle, to assist with containment. To note though, much like most bootie-style sneakers, these are difficult to put on. However, Nike incorporated pull-tabs on both tongue and heel to combat that, and once you’re in, you’re set.

It doesn’t take long to notice that the Soldier 10 fits true to size: they are super comfortable, providing a snug fit with no hot stops. The fit felt 1-to-1 right away, but lateral movements, cuts and during gameplay revealed slight movement within the midfoot.

Furthermore, the three Velcro layover straps fall just short of completely securing the midfoot upon the footbed. The shoe would’ve benefitted from the crossover Hook & Loop strap system in the Soldier 9, which offered exceptional midfoot lockdown. To combat this, you may want to move down half a size for reduced movement and a more snug fit overall.

Definitely try them on first before you purchase.

Upper Materials & Fit: 7.5 / 10

As mentioned above, even the slightest movement within a shoe can adversely affect its support and stability, especially one without laces, yet the Soldier 10 proved to be stable during weartests. An internal TPU shank anchors midfoot stability, and the combination of the ankle strap, internal heel counter and malleous padding keeps the heel locked in and minimizes ankle instability. The one knock? The forefoot and midfoot straps do very little in providing any adjustable compression to help anchor the foot down.

Support & Stability: 7.5/10

Final Thoughts Nike took a leap producing a basketball sneaker without laces, but Sole Shift Final Logo Design still made a shoe thatVariations was equally eye-catching on-court, and solid All Colour in performance. Overall, if you play 1 through 4 and are looking for a model that has great traction, good impact protection, comfort right out the box and one that’s lightweight (in a true high-top package), consider the Soldier 10.

Overall Score: 30.5 OF 40

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

The Fila GH2:

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The Fila Gh2: A Retrospective

A Retrospective

By Rey Roncesvalles / Photos courtesy of Fila Twenty years ago, one summer stood out for its particular significance. It was a summer that featured an NBA Draft that would become arguably, the best draft class ever, a summer followed by one of the greatest Olympic Games to be played on American soil. But the summer of ’96 would also be synonymous with the golden age of hip-hop, as the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast beef simmered on, with The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur at its centre. During that time, one would hardly expect a wholesome, clean cut, good spirited Grant Hill, to emerge in an era of attitude and arrogance as the face of the NBA.

Back then, the 90’s basketball footwear industry was dominated by Nike and Reebok in the 90’s, and one unlikely Italian company, largely known as a tennis powerhouse, sought a piece of the proverbial pie – Fila. The key driving force behind Fila’s explosion into the sneaker landscape on and off the court was the ingenious signing of a consensus NCAA First Team All-American player named Grant Hill.

Hill, the quintessential good guy, was an ideal spokesperson for any brand, displaying skills well beyond his years and entering the NBA as a tripledouble machine. Tagged as the heir apparent, he was putting up ridiculous Jordan-like numbers before his career was plagued with injuries. In fact, fresh off a stellar rookie season that would earn him Co-Rookie of the Year honours, Hill was a key player for USA Basketball in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Hill and Dream Team III marched to a gold medal victory while wearing his own USA-inspired GH2’s. The Olympic colourway’s white leather was accented with navy and red on the upper, sitting on a speckled navy sole with 3 red, white and blue stars on the toe.

The simplistic design of the shoe served as an extension of the clean image that Grant Hill portrayed himself.

David Raysse, who years later founded Brandblack, was the architect behind the GH2. The simplistic design of the shoe served as an extension of the clean image that Grant Hill portrayed himself. Known for its classic aesthetic and patent leather trim, the GH2 was in direct competition with a Nike shoe that released the same year that also featured patent leather, the Air Jordan XI. The upper of the GH2 consisted of the aforementioned, combined with synthetic tumbled leather, providing support and overall comfort. The noticeably thick midsole was equipped with Fila’s underrated A2 cushioning technology, which gave a consistent, responsive feel and necessary flexibility and absorption to handle the grind of repetitive jumping. Unique to this shoe was the Velcro strap positioned at the heel, which added stability and solid heel lockdown. The thick and textured rubber outsole, with flex grooves provided a suitable amount of traction and balance, despite not being designed with the traditional herringbone pattern.

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The Fila Gh2: A Retrospective

Much like Hill’s well-rounded skill set, the GH2 was an all-around shoe equipped to perform on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. Fila came with a s strong marketing campaign, with ads of Hill wearing his shoe in a tuxedo, and the tagline “Dress Nice.” His game and persona were exactly that – nice.

The Hill and Fila partnership proved to be very prosperous for a moment in time. Although the first Grant Hill signature broke sales records for a nonSwoosh debut shoe, it was the GH2 that really put the company on the basketball map. Hill achieved superstar status, and his “Obey Your Thirst” Sprite commercials in the 90’s, with Fila’s on feet, were legendary and highly influential. As a result, Fila became incredibly popular amongst urban youth, being athletic, and looking sleek yet affordable, earned the necessary stamp of approval from parents. From rappers to b-boys to round the way gangsters, everyone on the street was rocking Fila.

Believe it or not, once upon a time, Fila was cool.

That same year, when Tupac Shakur released the seminal album All Eyez On Me in 1996, fans flipped through the artwork to find ‘Pac decked in the outfit of the day - denim and a pair of GH2’s. The outlaw wearing the shoes of an angel signified an undeniable

Much like Hill’s well-rounded skill set, the GH2 was an all-around shoe equipped to perform on both indoor and outdoor surfaces. cultural moment on the impact of sneakers and society.

The GH2 flourished during a time when hip-hop and basketball became inextricably intertwined, and remains one of the most iconic and basketball Solenostalgic Shift Final Logo Design sneakers of all time.

All Colour Variations

Hill was the absolute model of professionalism and the GH2 both encompasses all that is Grant Hill and represents him at his prime. One could argue that the 90’s were the golden age of both hip-hop and sneakers, and in the middle of it all, an unlikely player and unlikely brand made a significant impact on the courts, on the urban community and on its lifestyle.

Summer Ninety-Six, when the Grant Hill 2, later fittingly retro released as the Fila ’96, cemented its place in sneaker history forever.

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The all-time dream team

By Hektor Yee / illustrations by craig white For the record, yes, there’s only one Dream Team. Yes, many other star-studded US Men’s basketball teams assembled thereafter, but that true distinction is reserved solely for the original 1992 squad, the one that set the wheels in motion for basketball to globalize into a world phenomenon. The following list, however, is Sole Shift’s prospective Dream Team, our ultimate Team USA squad comprised of players who, at the time when they suited up for their respective Olympics, represented the best embodiment of themselves and the game.

MICHAEL JORDAN A no brainer-pick to start on the wing. Fresh off his second straight NBA championship, the notion that MJ really is the G.O.A.T. was starting to take shape when he suited up in ’92 in for what would be his second go at Olympic gold. This was Jordan in his prime: no amount of endorsement disputes (clashes between his main sponsors and those of the US Olympic program threatened to derail his participation) or fatigue (he would regularly play up to two rounds of golf in the lead up to Barcelona on top of practice and late nights gambling in Monaco), would stop him from shining on the world stage. Jordan’s legendary competitive nature kept everyone at their best, both in practice and in games. And as for being co-captain alongside Magic, despite countless All-Star games and being pitted against each other in the NBA Finals for Jordan’s first ring. The prospect of both Magic and Michael actually on the same team was what the collective basketball world was waiting for when the announcement to allow pros in the Olympics was made.

Jason Kidd On a team full of viable number one scorers, Jason Kidd is exactly what you would want for that reason. His ability to find shooters in transition, trailers on the break, slashers in the cut and getting the rock to the block, kept everyone happy and point differentials high.

Instant offense guys like Jordan, Kobe and LeBron work so much better when they have a facilitator, and JK is that guy. Always known as a pass-first point guard, he was a kid (no pun intended) in a candy store racking up assists to guys like that. Did we mention that he’s a defender too? Having a reputation as a player for his D, he’s quick enough to stay with smalls, while having enough size to put up resistance to bigger opponents. Kidd, either starting or off the bench, makes this team.

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The all-time dream team

CHARLES BARKLEY On the 1992 Dream Team often referred to as “rock stars,” Sir Charles was definitely the lead singer, as well as leading scorer (18 ppg) in this band. Initial concerns that Barkley might act out and embarrass the USA program almost kept him off the team altogether. In the end, Sir Charles and his charm ended up being the perfect global ambassador. Despite elbowing poor Angolans on the court, Barkley was rumbling down Las Ramblas Boulevard (one of Barcelona’s busiest streets), sans bodyguards with a gang of followers like the Pied Piper. He came back for one more, winning another gold medal on home soil in Atlanta, as part of “Dream Team II” in 1996. Ultimately, Barkley was a Dream Teamer through and through and for that, couldn’t be kept off this list.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL The Big Gold Medalist himself. Shaq starts at centre on the strength of being the most dominant inside force of his generation. In 1992, there was debate that he would be a member of the original Dream Team, but that 12th roster spot was ultimately bestowed upon Christian Laettner. Still, as a member of the 1996 US Men’s Olympic team which romped through the tournament in equal fashion as its Dream Team predecessor, Shaq won what would turn out to be his only Olympic gold medal. Although young Shaq’s game in ’96 may not have been at it’s peak, his agility and brute force put him at his physical apex. The 7’1” centre sitting in the back of a zone defense, where he Is able to swat the ball off the cylinder is a scary thought. Both politics and declining to play in subsequent Olympics limited his haul, but Shaq’s still on our list of all-time Olympic greats.

Carmelo Anthony Melo is an ideal player for the international game. Slotted on the wing, he has great size on the smaller defenders, and equally great quickness on those that are larger. Melo remains the perfect jackknife frontcourt player, with a silky smooth game that he works from the outside in, or inside out. Spending most minutes at the three, he could also move to the four in smaller lineups. Anthony has the added bonus of having experience in a true zone, albeit only one season, in college at Syracuse. With the international game largely more fluid and reliant on movement and playmaking, Anthony is a perfect fit, and is as a pure of a scorer as they come.

DWYANE WADE Flash makes the grade by virtue of being the leading scorer on 2008’s “Redeem Team.” On a more personal level of atonement, Wade was coming back from knee and shoulder surgeries the previous summer, which plagued him for the 2008 NBA season.

Brought into the USA Basketball program early in his career, Wade also had revenge on his mind, after coming home with only a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He did his part and then some at the Beijing Games with a game-high 27 points in the gold medal game versus Spain.

KOBE BRYANT Kobe shares the swing duties with MJ. This Laker/Bulls pairing is almost juicier than Magic and Michael sharing the backcourt. How would any team guard MJ on one wing and Kobe on the other?

The only real way to stop them is to hope they get into a fight and break off into a one-on-one game versus each other! Kobe being on this squad or any Red, White and Blue make up is as automatic as his ability to put the ball through the hoop, especially with his Shaq starting at the five. The only real shame when it comes to Kobe’s international career is that he’s only participated in two Olympics on the 2008 “Redeem Team” and the 2012 “Supreme Team.” Given the high level Bryant competed at over his career, he could’ve easily had twice as many gold medals as anyone on this list.

LEBRON JAMES A guard disguised in a power forward’s body, King James gets the starting nod at the 4 spot. His versatility and strength gives him the flexibility to start here despite PF not being his natural position.

But given that LeBron is so multi-talented, who’s to say where his real position on the court actually lies? With an uncanny ability to distribute the rock, nail shots despite not being a “pure shooter,” all while being an unstoppable freight train in the open court, his talents span across the board. LeBron’s game is tailor made for International rules. Having been bred into the Team USA program early in his career, LeBron was part of the 2004 Olympic team, the only incarnation since pros began participating in 1992 to not win the gold medal for the USA. Nonetheless, he subsequently won gold as part of the 2008 “Redeem Team” in Beijing and repeated his golden feat as a member of the great 2012 “Supreme Team” in London, which many hoopheads consider to be the second greatest team ever assembled.

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The all-time dream team

MAGIC JOHNSON The 1992 version of Magic was recently retired after his careerending HIV announcement. Despite his retirement, Johnson was still unanimously voted to start in the ‘92 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando and true to form, put on a timeless MVP performance.

With such an abrupt halt to his playing career, the prospect of seeing Magic lace ’em up one last time and leading his peers onto the world stage with the first U.S. Olympic team to include NBA stars, was the perfect story book ending. Although he was at the tail end of his playing days and a bit past his prime, Magic’s presence as co-captain of the original Dream Team was a huge part of the aura of invincibility and rock star environment that followed the team around Barcelona both on and off the court. It was almost as if the rules were changed in favour of allowing pros to compete, simply so we all could see Magic throw no look passes one last time.

David Robinson The Admiral has the distinction of being on the last USA Basketball Team to field collegians, while also being on the first team to allow NBA players. Talk about going from lows to highs: the bronze medal he helped win in 1988 was just a precursor to the tidal wave of the next two gold medal teams he played on in ’92 and ‘96. Unlike now, where it’s common to see bigs with speed and outside touch, Robinson was a first of his generation of big men to play like a Euro.

He was a centre no doubt, but had that sweet outside touch and end-to-end foot speed. Equal parts wing, slasher Sole andShift paint enforcer, Final Logo Design Robinson seemed to find the happy place between all three.

His All Colour Variations greatest asset to this team is his defense: with a true zone in effect, no one was safe in Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood.

The Dunk of Death

By Marc Griffin / Art by Azod Sports Claymation @azxd

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The dunk of death

As he landed back to the earth, a surge of energy came up from his soul, out his mouth towards the heavens above.

In the chaos of the moment, Kevin Garnett ran over eyes wide open, grabbed his teammate and patriotically shoved him in the chest. The whole world was a gasp, attempting to decipher what was just seen.

Sydney was host of the 2000 Summer Olympics, which took place in September, coinciding with the end of Australia’s winter. It was a strange paradox, much like the presence of Vince Carter and Gary Payton with a full head of hair.

USA Basketball was plowing through the tournament, as most empires do, en route to an eventual gold.

France was an upstart basketball country; both Tony Parker and Boris Diaw were teens and had not earned the right to defend their home.

Frederic Weis was not a center du jour, but a cornerstone for France’s bubbling future. He was an athletic, lanky 7’2” who at age 23 was a four-time French League All-Star and drafted 15th overall by the New York Knicks.

Vince Carter was poignantly the same age; an American immigrant to the Great White North where he was taking root as Half Man, Half Amazing (Ed’s Note: no offense Mr. Heyward). Thousands of kids across Canada were putting Carter posters on their walls and picking up basketballs instead of pucks.

Vinsanity had entered the public lexicon with Kenny Smith’s coronation, “It’s over! It’s over ladies and gentlemen!” in Oakland at NBA All-Star Weekend.

During that dunk contest Vince painted a mosaic that was equal parts thunder, grace, and artistry.

Carter’s head was somewhere above rim level; his arm cocked back like a centurion taking his sword out for battle.

So France knew what they were up against that day; Air Canada was in the building.

The game itself was not a typical domineering affair.

The second half saw France chipping away at a fifteen point American lead. There was a strange sense of uncertainty until Carter’s alpha instincts took hold.

A French guard grabbed a rebound and threw an ill fated behind the back pass. Carter swooped in like a hawk, intercepted the ball, and headed to the hoop with one man standing in his way.

Vince and Frederic Weis rendezvoused at the rim.

Weis stood motionless in front of the basket, somewhat cognizant of the slaughter heading his way. He kept his hands at his side fatally attempting to draw a charge, as Carter catapulted from just outside the paint.

Vince began to elevate like no man on earth, his shoes being some kind of gift from the gods. He floated through the sky in Nike Shox BB4 decorated in beautifully minimal blue and white colorway, the midnight shox on the sole defiantly giving him extra lift. Carter’s head was somewhere above rim level; his arm cocked back like a centurion taking his sword out for battle.

Vince Carter jumped over a giant.

The dunk itself was thunderous. People were confused.

Lost. Excited. I stood in my apartment in Toronto hooting at the television. The whole world rejoiced together, except for America. It was on tape delay. No streams. No social media. No CNN news tickers telling us what we missed.

Frederic Weis was mortified be the act. A smaller man just jumped clear over him. This same smaller man's groin was hurdling his face. It was a basketball coup d’état of the highest order.

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

He parlayed that Olympic performance into the best season of his life. Carter led an upstart Toronto Raptors squad to the second round of the NBA Playoffs, one missed shot away from the semifinals.

Carter went on for a lengthy, highlight-driven career, forever accented by Le Dunk De La Mort.

One Frenchman and one American are forever linked by a moment in space. Vince went up, Weis went down, and the basketball globe would never be the same.

Weis’ life began to corkscrew out of control; no more all-star selections, Olympic medals, and the Knicks were no longer on the horizon. He wandered around European leagues a shell of his former self. Years of depression and alcoholism ensued. After a failed suicide attempt, he reunited with his former wife and their autistic child, cleaned himself up and found some semblance of hope.

Vince Carter’s life bounced the opposite direction.

Watch the full dunk of death claymation

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baseline health tips by dr. j : The four pillars of health

The Four Pil ars of Health

By Dr. Joel Kerr

The Summer Sixteen Olympics mark 24 years since the Dream Team was assembled and dominated the international playing field.

It was the first time that U.S. born professional basketball players were allowed to compete in the Summer Games, and universally is recognized as the greatest sports team ever assembled. They soared to a gold medal at the podium, defeating opponents by an average of 44 points per game. Their collective level of competition against the opponents, and likely even fiercer against each other during practice, exhibited a level of professionalism and mastery that had never been seen.

Fast forward to the 2002 FIBA World Championships where the American squad finished in sixth place.

Next, the 2004 Olympics where those representing the stars and stripes included sure-fire Hall of Famers, only to return home with a bronze medal.

A common theme for both teams was a lack of commitment to the program, each other, and to their level of professionalism. Rumours of late nights, wild social activities, and little regard for practice surfaced following these embarrassing finishes. Subsequently, USA Basketball appointed Jerry Colangelo Managing Director, to reinvigorate the program. Colangelo was solely responsible for selecting the team and requested a three-year commitment from each player. More importantly, he demanded a level of professionalism that included personal development, health and fitness.

Mr. Colangelo expressed to the players when he demanded a level of professionalism in order to be successful. It cannot just be turned on a month before competition; it has to be practiced daily.

This rejuvenation of USA Basketball was the catalyst for the creation of The Health Institute’s Four Pillars of Health.

The Four Pillars of Health are designed to provide practical tips to professional, collegiate and aspiring athletes of all ages – and those who are interested in living a healthy lifestyle every day. I suspect this is what Mr. Colangelo expressed to the players when he demanded a level of professionalism in order to be successful. It cannot just be turned on a month before competition; it has to be practiced daily.

Individuals pursuing a career in sport need to adopt this concept of professionalism, particularly those aspiring to take their game to the next level.

The Four Pillars Of Health embody the concept of professionalism in a multifaceted and dynamic manner that enables young and old to buy into the concept.

The Four Pillars of Health are: I: Hydration II: Nutrition III. Training = Therapy IV. Rest.

Pillar I: Hydration. The body is comprised of 98% water and requires it to execute every bodily function.

In order for the body to perform at it’s highest, body temperature and hydration need to be under control.

Water is and should be the number one liquid option to stay hydrated to ensure muscle, ligament and joint temperature regulation. There are no definitive research findings indicating sport drinks can prevent dehydration over water. Save your money, reduce your sugar and chemical intake, and drink nature’s liquid: H20.

Pillar II: Sport Nutrition. The eating habits of athletes need to fuel their play, training, and healing ability.

Clean sources of protein such as: chicken breast, turkey and fish need to support muscle development and strength. In addition to clean protein sources, leafy green vegetables contain an abundance of vitamins and minerals required for muscle function, (running, jumping), and healing from the bumps and bruises of playing a contact sport.

Avoiding processed foods, sugars, bad fat and salt are imperative for athletes. All of these food sources create an inflammatory state within the body and support injury proliferation, dehydration and sluggish play.

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baseline health tips by dr. j : The four pillars of health

Pillar III: Training = Therapy. The concept is simply strengthening the body from resistance training to create a strong frame for the body to compete. The stronger the body, the incidence of injury is reduced.

Injuries can’t be avoided, but if they do occur an athlete who regularly trains and has mobility and strength, gains optimal for his/her game, the return time to play from an injury is reduced. If an injury does occur to an athlete, evidence based treatment protocols should be applied. A diagnosis and treatment plan needs to be devised as well as return to play protocol.

Pillar IV: Rest. Rest for the body is pivotal and allows the three previous pillars to be applied. Sleep habits are researched heavily and the preliminary results are promising. Proper sleep habits allow for the body to heal and use the nutrients consumed to assist in growth and regeneration. Rest doesn't necessarily need to be a full out 8-10 hours of sleep, naps are highly encouraged and effective to give the body a charge up.

The ideal naptime is 10-20 minutes Sole forShift a recharge of Final Logo Design the juices and entering of the non-rapid eye movement All Colour Variations or non-REM sleep stage. Napping longer than 20 minutes provides a sluggish response.

Being a professional requires a high level of commitment, and knowledge of these concepts is useless unless applied. Throughout the NBA and professional leagues around the world, players who maintain an elite level of play, can attribute their success to the preparation they did off the court. This is the true definition of a professional.

a photo essay Every four years, the best basketball players in the world compete for a coveted spot on the podium as the Olympics traverse the globe. Here, Sole Shift looks at the other side of the games, the one that happens away from the lights, away from the medals and away from the closing ceremonies. We visit the same cities and countries that once hosted the Olympics to see basketball in its natural summer element.

Berlin,

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Germany

36

D IN

PHOTO BY kevin couliau

land of rings: a photo essay

PHOTO BY robert van riel

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land of rings: a photo essay

Barcelona, Spain

1992 HOSTED IN

Melbourne, Australia

1956 HOSTED IN

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PHOTO BY brian d lynch

land of rings: a photo essay

PHOTO BY Peter R

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land of rings: a photo essay

Mexico City, Mexico

1968 HOSTED IN

Moscow, Russia

1980 HOSTED IN

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PHOTO BY Pete stasewicz

land of rings: a photo essay

PHOTO BY vesa m

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land of rings: a photo essay

Helsinki, Finland

1952 HOSTED IN

PHOTO BY Gen Kanai

Tokyo, Japan

1964 HOSTED IN

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land of rings: a photo essay

PHOTO BY ulana holtz

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land of rings: a photo essay

Seoul, Korea

1988 HOSTED IN

Atlanta, United States

1996 HOSTED IN

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PHOTO BY J Amezqua

land of rings: a photo essay

By Jason Tiangco / Photos by Sharmarke Abdi

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jordan crazylight super.fly 5 boost 2016 performance review: the adidas

If performance reviews were determined simply by a bunch of checklists, the adidas Crazylight Boost Low 2016 would read something like this: check, check and check. Focused on changing the attitudes of the brand’s skeptics as a top on-court manufacturer; the Three Stripes have upped their game with the CrazyLight Boost line by taking their cushioning one step further, and revamping the entire silhouette, bringing protection, support and player control to the forefront in a lightweight package synonymous with this line. adidas boldly claims this is the best low top basketball shoe ever. Are they right?

Designer Nick Daiber brought together a dual density Continental™ Rubber outsole, a multi-directional traction pattern (looking more like the x-ray of a bird’s wing than chevron laced herringbone), and traction grooves that run up both the medial and lateral sides of the forefoot. This combination delivers quite possibly the best traction in a performance model around, and definitely the best traction in a shoe we’ve weartested this year. With the denser rubber located under the ball of the foot, the durable compound is designed to take a beating and provide great traction, even when playing on a dusty court surface while the softer, more pliable rubber that covers the heel and toe-off area provides traction like nobody’s business. adidas did it right when it came to the Crazylight 2016 by finding that balance of great traction and durability in an outsole suitable for all court surfaces. You want maximum traction on court? You most definitely got it in this model.

Traction: 9.5/10

The question that constantly came up in previous Crazylight Boost models was why would adidas equip one of its high-end performance models with only half of its premiere cushioning material? To all the fans of the Crazylight series, this is no longer a problem, as the 2016 model has full-length Boost cushioning. What does that mean? A firm, yet super solid cushioning platform, whose main focus is impact protection – that delivers! Additionally, the now uniform cushioning platform provides ultra-smooth transition through the gait cycle, a welcome change from previous models, which coupled Boost with EVA/Adiprene for cushioning.

Cushioning: 9/10

The upper utilizes a full Jacquard woven upper (think adidas D Lillard 2.0) providing a soft, comfortable, yet, durable feel. adidas also incorporated minimal synthetic overlays in high-wear areas such as the toe box and around the eyelets for increased durability.

The Crazylight Boost Low 2016 fits true to size, with a slightly narrow fit in the midfoot/forefoot area.

Nevertheless, with the exception of having wide feet (and if you do, consider going up half-a-size), the initial snugness slowly subsides after game play. Midfoot lockdown is on point in this model, and heel slippage non-existent as the external heel counter, well-padded collar and a newly introduced ankle hood, work together to keep the foot locked and loaded.

With zero break-in, solid midfoot and ankle containment, adidas goes all-in creating an upper that assures proper fit as well as support during gameplay.

The support and stability story for this model can be told from the ground up. 1. A surefooted outsole with lateral forefoot outrigger is equipped to minimize rollover. 2. A dense and stable cushioning platform is both protective as it is responsive. 3. A midfoot torsional bar provides torsional rigidity. 4. An external TPU heel counter enhanced by an ankle hood immobilizes the ankle (that’s a good thing), and 5.

A beefy lacing system with TPU structures on the top two eyelets keep that midfoot locked upon the footbed. The result is a low top that thinks it’s a high top, resulting in a shoe that’s more supportive than any other performance model out there.

Support & Stability: 9/10

Upper Materials & Fit: 9/10 Final Thoughts

The Crazylight Boost Low 2016 might as well be called the “Ultra Crazylight Boost 2016.” It’s a performance beast in all categories.

Sole Shift Final Logo Design Is it perfect? No, but if ever there was a basketball shoe (low top All Colour Variations or mid) that provided exactly what a player needed in terms of traction, impact protection, court feel, comfort, support & stability look no further than the Crazylight Boost Low 2016. Guard, wing, centre, small or big, whatever the position or style of play, this low top ranks amongst the best we’ve ever weartested.

Overall Score: 36.5 OF 40

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

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fall from grace: the rise and fall of usa basketball

The Rise, Fall and Rise of USA Basketball

By Colin Garraway / illustrations by craig white

It’s been said before that everything is hard, before it becomes easy, however with the United States Basketball program you could easily argue the opposite.

The 1992 Dream Team was the ultimate basketball team. Equipped with superior ability and teamwork, this squad revolutionized the game globally, while cruising to lopsided victories in tournaments all over the world. Their dominance would continue in the 1996 Olympics, despite fielding a slightly weaker squad than the inaugural Dream Team. Many will remember the 2000 Olympic tournament for Vince Carter’s “Le dunk de la mort” over Frederic Weis, but it was here that USA faced their first real adversity since NBA players were allowed to participate in

international competition. The Americans narrowly escaped a tough game vs. Lithuania, winning 85-83 and while they did go on to win another gold medal, they had been put on notice: The World was coming.

The world was here and they would quickly assert themselves, as Puerto Rico shocked Team USA in a 19-point rout to open the tournament. The U.S. would go on to lose to Lithuania and Argentina before leaving Athens with a bronze.

Despite this new challenge USA Basketball grew increasingly complacent, continuing to create teams around NBA star talent and forgetting how to build a team that fit and played well together. Their smugness manifested itself in the 2002 FIBA World Championships where Team USA lost to Spain,

Watching the medal ceremony, one thing was apparent - the Americans didn’t even want to be there, and why would they? A once proud program that had the ultimate team had been reduced to winning a consolation prize. Perhaps the only positive out of this

The 1992 Dream Team was the ultimate basketball team.

Equipped with superior ability and teamwork, this squad revolutionized the game globally Yugoslavia, and Argentina on their way to a humiliating 6th place finish. This was it though. This was never going to happen again, just an unlucky string of games. The next dozen NBA talents will avenge America in 2004.

The Red, White, and Blue will once again win gold and order will be restored. Right?

Wrong. Boy, were they wrong.

If the 2000 Olympics and 2002 FIBA World’s were intended to put USA Basketball on notice, then the 2004 Olympics in Greece served as the eviction.

IVERSON

BOOZER

debacle was the exposure that a young LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade got from the international game. This trio was the future and if USA Basketball were to regain its dominance once again, it would have to be done with these three young men.

In a way, the 2004 NBA Finals were a precursor to what happened in the Olympics months later. The Los Angeles Lakers boasted a star-studded team that were outworked and ultimately beaten by the well-oiled machine that was the Detroit Pistons. Simply due to

WADE

MARBURY

JEFFERSON

ANTHONY

JAMES

MARION

DUNCAN

E STOUD MIRE

OKAFOR

ODOM

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fall from grace: the rise and fall of usa basketball

the Pistons ability to play well together and as a team, paralleling what happened in Greece at the Olympics.

Whether it was the Lakers or Team USA one thing was becoming very clear: we’re not in the 90’s anymore – talent alone would not prevail.

Watching the medal ceremony, one thing was apparent - the Americans didn’t even want to be there, and why would they?

Subsequently, Jerry Colangelo was brought in as the Managing Director for USA Basketball. The goal was to build a program that demanded commitment from its players, helped them grow, and most importantly helped them play together. Colangelo built the program around the young nucleus of James, Anthony, and Wade and hired a staff of experienced NBA coaches to support Naismith Hall of Fame, Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

As Team USA was going through these changes, so was the NBA. The league will always be star-driven, but there were many franchises that enjoyed success by building their team to be a cohesive unit. USA Basketball served as the blueprint for much of this when they began building the Redeem Team for the 2008 Olympics. Colangelo would continue to tweak the roster by adding championship experience in gold medalist Jason Kidd and five-time NBA champion, Kobe Bryant. Sharpshooter Michael Redd was added to address the squad’s inability to stretch the floor and skilled big man Chris Bosh to match up with skilled international bigs. Adding these pieces paid off during round robin and playoff action and it was the experience of Bryant who carried USA to the gold vs.

Spain, with his epic performance in the closing minutes.

The gold medal earned in 2008 is proof enough that leadership made the right decisions.

The results have spoken for themselves – the Americans travel to Rio for the 2016 Olympics on a 44 game streak, winning by a margin of over 31

points per game. The continuity paid off and their dominance has been strongly re-established.

In many ways the transformation that USA Basketball went through mirrored what was happening in the NBA. Successful front offices in the modern NBA are more focused on fit than talent, and focused on ball movement, spacing and continuity – the three things that were viewed as deficient in the 2004 Olympics.

The transformation has been evident, but there is no coincidence that these happened together, especially with NBA talent and NBA decision makers being involved on both sides.

Team USA will look to put its 10-year winning streak on the line in Rio this summer against a group of teams who are chomping at the bit to bring them back down.

The question is: are the Americans ready?

What was once easy became hard, but now that it’s been hard will it remain easy? Stay tuned.

Game 1

V

Game 2

V

Game 3

V

Australia W 89–79

Game 4

V

Lithuania

L 90–94

Game 5

V

Angola

W 89–53

Game 6

V

Spain

Game 7

V

Argentina L 81–89

Game 8

V

Lithuania

Puerto Rico L 73–92 HELLAS

Greece

W 77–71

W 102–94

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

W 104–96

FINAL RECORD: 5-3 Result: Bronze

by Will "WAll $t" Strickland “Them rings and things you sing about bring 'em out... It's hard to yell when the bar-rel's in your mouth!” Well I’m not looking to channel my inner Shawn Corey Carter as a rap barbarian and owner of fine jewelry, but the rings I am thinking about are the Olympic rings.

For what exactly do they stand? They supposedly represent the union of the five continents: Africa, Eurasia, Australia, Antarctica and the Americas. Each ring has a color that coincides with the continent as blue reps Europe, Asia yellow, Africa black, Australia green and America red.

That year, the US Men’s National Basketball Team easily represented the greatest sporting talent ever assembled and changed the way we saw ‘amateur athletics’ forever.

These are the rings that bind us globally, at least in athletic competition, every four years.

My earliest recollections of the Summer Olympics are from 40 years ago, held in Montreal, when the-then Bruce Jenner won the gold medal in the men's decathlon and was dubbed "The Greatest Athlete In The World." Truth be told, I didn't even know in what event he won; I was just checking his kicks. They were adidas.

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Footwork: every four years York City. As the college radio rep for Def Jam, Garcia wanted to know if I was planning to play, add to my playlist and report this or that song to the trade.

There was nothing too extra about the calls: Simple.

Short. Purposeful.

Still, after watching the Olympics every four years after, be it the USA-boycotted 1980 Games in Moscow, the Russian-boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Games or the 1988 Seoul Games, the 1992 Games in Barcelona stood out most for me for one reason only - The Dream Team.

That year, the US Men’s National Basketball Team easily represented the greatest sporting talent ever assembled and changed the way we saw ‘amateur athletics’ forever.

That year, Michael Jeffrey Jordan was the world’s most visible athlete on the world’s most visible stage, rocking the world’s most visible footwear, the Air Jordan Olympic VI. But I didn’t really like them.

That year, I had my eye on those Barkley Nike Air Force 180 Olympics!

Flame. Broiled. Goodness.

Waiting another four years for the 1996 Atlanta Games felt like torture, let alone another four years to get to Sydney, (where Vincent Lamar Carter’s Nike Shox BB4’s sprang into action and over a 7’3” Frenchman’s head), or even the 2004 Athens Games, 2008 Beijing Games or the 2012 London Games, just to select my favourite kicks for my exceptional Olympic quiver.

Why did any of this matter, aside from my Olympic collection being a pet project of mine?

While I attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, aka “The Harvard of The South,” I started and hosted a fairly groundbreaking college radio show called “The Bass 9-1-7 Zone.” In 1989, I met a cat, Bobbito Garcia, whom I had only known via weekly calls from New

our society of extraordinarily tasteful kick connoisseurs had a home and an unshakable place in history And then I saw it.

“Confessions of a Sneakerhead,” was an article this Bobbito had written in 1990, for The Source Magazine, one that outlined his affinity for leather, rubber, foam and laces. Our next radio record call had so very little to do with music and everything to do with that feature. I recall going to my storage unit in H-Town, taking photos of my kicks, stacked and catalogued by year, make, and model, just so I could send Bob something in return to let him know I wanted to be a part of this sacred society.

He was the first to document this phenomenon.

Genesis. But who knew? I thought I was alone in the world with this addiction.

It all eventually lead to conversations about a book on sneaker culture in 1999, which then morphed into the real thing in 2003 with the release of The Bible on this movement called "Where'd You Get Those?: New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987."

As a contributor to this work, along with other fellow sneakerheads from near and far, our society of extraordinarily tasteful kick connoisseurs had a home and an unshakable place in history. Deadstock, customizations, exclusive releases, rare finds – we covered it all.

Collecting My Fresh over time became an obsession and though I don't have an addictive personality, when it came to sneakers, there was a bit of a problem. See, while doping in the Olympics will get you a ban, doping in the kicks game, chiefly by virtue of the social media age in which we now live, can get you fans and temporary celebrity stats. At the least, it’ll get you a quiet sense of achievement few can share when your quiver is top shelf, locally known, nationally recognized and internationally respected.

Thus I was dope! I was fresh!

Over time, I became even more deeply connected to a society of sneaker culturists through relationships.

I give ultimate love and respect to Bobbito; my peoples Kelly Woo, former rap editor of The Gavin Report, as well as Mr. #KickGameOfficial himself, DJ Clark Kent to the “Exclusives-In-Chief ” of this publication, Duane Watson, my man Duk-Ki Yu, owner of Washington DC's best sneaker boutique, Major and my brother Bernard 'Bun-B' Freeman, who, over a box of Dunkin’ Donuts and a song that contained the late Chad Butler exclaiming how a woman struck his posterior, I give ultimate love and respect. They, and so many others across the globe, whose keen eyes and taste for what was and is ‘dope’ and ‘fresh,’ helped me forge lifelong friendships while our mutual sneaker jones realized itself.

Still, my quest for the Ultimate Fresh has waned a bit over the years. I just don't possess the same energy and/or desire for the newest-latest and exclusives.

But with the 2016 Rio Games upon us soon, I’m realizing that the worth of my quiver, Olympic or otherwise, is measured not in the having, but in the have had: rocked with pride, shared, moved on to others and experienced. The worth of my quiver is measured by relationships forged through mutual admiration for leather, rubber, foam and laces with friends from around the globe, relationships that bind us to each other, just like those Olympic rings.

From every continent I’ve ever visited or hooped on, Sole Shift to every sneaker panel discussion I Final participated Logo Design in, to All Colour Variations every box wafting with ‘new sneaker smell’ I opened, I appreciate. From Hong Kong to Hoboken, Killeen to Cairns, Dubai to Detroit, Manhattan to Martinique, these episodes and so many other great ones, these are my gold medal moments.

These are my victories earned in the spirit of healthy competition, with the quiet and sometimes not-soquiet admiration of the depth and love for this culture in most every corner of the planet imaginable.

My Olympics.

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Doodles and dinosaurs

by duane watson / photo by rob ong Corbin Portillo is a product of his environment. At an early age, the Hamilton, Ontario native’s parents exposed him to, then encouraged, his two greatest passions, art and basketball. His mother taught painting classes and never discouraged the 7-year-old from doodling on the back of tithing cards during service at Living Hope Church. His father, on the other hand, put a basketball in his hands at the age of 8, and let him stay up past bedtime so they could root on Damon Stoudamire and a fledgling Toronto franchise. Portillo, in his own words, "grew up in the Raptors family."

The 27-year-old credits a computer graphic course in middle school for setting him on his path. “That’s when I pretty much knew that’s what I wanted to do,” the designer says. “Hands on art didn’t feel secure as a job.

But when it translated to a computer, you knew advertising and opportunities existed and that there would be a career behind it.”

Seemingly able to reconcile the balance between art and commerce at an early age with a narrow focus, he had a similar approach with creative influences, citing only Sam Flores, a California based painter as the inspiration behind his style. “I keep my inspirations pretty small so I am open with ideas, I don’t like to pigeon hole myself,” Portillo says.

Yet the graphic designer/artist admittedly recognizes that he has become “the basketball guy.” After TSN x BarDown shared some of his work, Portillo received a steady stream

of commissions by the site, including NBA All-Star creative for Kyle Lowry & DeMar DeRozan, uniform rebrands for both the Raptors and Canada Basketball, and Toronto Raptors Playoffs signage. “I have been on the basketball tip for the past year or two, the feedback has been good. I’m not complaining but I want to expand for sure,” Portillo says. “It’s hand-in-hand with the stuff I was already doing, so the best thing I can ask for is getting paid to do what I like.”

"Hands on art didn’t feel secure as a job. But when it translated to a computer, you knew advertising and opportunities existed."

Portillo goes by the handle BLKOUTLN, an alias he gave himself in college, a reference to graffiti style and an ode to standing out and crafting something unique. “In high school, our art teacher made us create everything in a "traditional" style,” he says.

“All the student work came out cookie-cutter, so I was persistent in doing my own thing and building on my own style, despite losing marks.” This artist’s mindset - whether it’s basketball, hip-hop, or design – is what drives him.

Remembering that kid who drew in the pews at Shift Living Hopes Church, Portillo yearns toSole return to his Final Logo Design Colour Variations roots. “I want to get back into painting All and hands on stuff,” he says. “These past three or four years have all been on the computer. I’m starting to lose my touch drawing, which is pretty bad.” He compares it to a player rounding out the facets of their game, equating an artist’s balance of digital and hands-on application, to a player who can equally as effectively shoot well and drive off the dribble. After all, this is the same balance he learned from his parents; one part his mother, one part his father, but all parts Corbin Portillo.

"I was persistent in doing my own thing and building on my own style, despite losing marks."

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Doodles and dinosaurs

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Doodles and dinosaurs

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Doodles and dinosaurs

By DERICK DEONARAIN / Photos by rob ong Location supplied by @silversnailto

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performance review: the jordan super.fly 5

Jordan Brand is back with the fifth model in their Super.Fly line and Lob City's finest, Blake Griffin, is once again their poster child for the shoes. If the 'out of this world' dunk that Griffin put on for Marvin the Martian in the Super.Fly 4 was any indication, then the Super.Fly 5 should be in another universe, right?

The Super.Fly 5 boasts featherweight flexibility, dynamic cushioning and a fit for the game. However, what Jordan Brand forgot to mention was one of the few standouts of this sneaker - its traction. Through several wear tests on both indoor and outdoor courts our Sole Shift athletes found the shoes to perform very well. There was little to no slip on indoor courts and very rarely did we have to wipe. The thick rubber outsole, which features various sizes of diamond shaped grooves from the forefoot to heel, held up well on outdoor courts. The split toe aesthetic, which takes its deign cues from the Nike Zoom Superfly and Zoom Mercurial soccer cleats, are a nice touch to the outsole in adding court feel as well. Overall, the traction isn't the best the Jumpman can offer but the Super.Fly 5 performed better than your average sneaker.

Traction: 7.5/10

While the traction performed well, the cushioning left a lot to be desired. Jordan incorporated a very small and thin Zoom Air unit in the forefoot but surrounded it by a harder foam material called phylon. As a result, the Zoom Air unit was almost unnoticeable and the shoes provided little impact protection. In the previous model, the Jordan Super.Fly 4 featured unlocked J-Zoom along with phylon, which ultimately made for a more responsive ride. However, the cushioning in the Jordan Super.Fly 5 feels more like these sneakers are on a zoom-diet than they are on some zoom air. If you're looking for a plush feel when it comes to cushioning the Super.Fly 5 is just not it.

Cushioning: 6/10

Although the cushioning was disappointing, the upper materials and fit are exactly as advertised - lightweight and flexible. Working our way up the shoe, the toe box features some fuse material, which is great in providing support for a high wear-and-tear area. The upper consists of a textile mesh with foam backing that breathes well and allows the foot to move relatively freely. The inner sleeve of the shoe features an internal boot and foam pods inside the ankle area that provide great comfort and fit. The only issue with the foam pods is that they may cause some chaffing on the back of the heel depending on the socks you wear. In addition, players should be mindful of the thin fuse tongue, which will bite into the ankle area if you wear low cut socks. Overall, the upper materials and fit provide a nice blend of comfort, flexibility and solid lockdown that fit true to size.

Upper Materials & Fit: 7/10

While part of the Super.Fly 5 support system relies on its minimal cushioning it also relies on dynamic lacing that provides solid support and stability. It may not appear like much but the top two lace holes go deep into the foot bed and ultimately do a great job of keeping your heel locked into place. The lacing system allows for a lower court feel and better overall ride when running the floor.

Support & Stability: 7/10 Final Thoughts All in all, the Jordan Super.Fly 5 is simply an okay shoe at best.

If you're a guard or wing player that is looking for good traction Sole Shift Final Logo Design with a decentAllfitColour andVariations some stability then this is the shoe for you.

However, at the price point of $190 VDN there are better options from Nike, adidas and Under Armour that offer more tech at a reasonable price.

Overall Score: 27.5 OF 40

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Special Game, same passion

By duane watson / Photos by dustin newhook It's a sweltering summer afternoon in Scarborough and the basketball court at McGregor Park looks more like a location set than a black top. The subject of the photo shoot, 20-year old Gohulan Rajalingam, is proudly wearing his red NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Game uniform, with his last name emblazoned on the back in white, just below the number 1. He's in full gear today, with a black NBA headband, wristbands, official NBA Stance socks, a pair of black adidas Crazylight Boost 2015 lows, and armed with a look of determination. Close by, a photographer adjusts his focus on a tripod, while a flashkit sits on a stand, ten feet away. The court is littered with markings as Sole Shift's Creative Director shows Gohulan the 10 different chalk etchings on the court indicating where he wants him to shoot from. As myself (partwriter/part-rebounder today) and Gohulan's sister Suppie look on, two local Scarborough men slowly stroll up to survey this scene.

One is walking a pitbull, the other smoking a cigarette. The heat is blazing down on all of us. After a few moments the men want to know what we're doing but before anyone can respond, Gohulan, without missing a beat, states matter-of-factly, "Playing basketball."

To him, the answer is obvious.

The photographer is working to capture the release of each shot from various spots on the court, while Gohulan is more concerned with making every shot. He approaches each attempt like it’s a game winner, even putting back his own miss before moving on to the next one. His focus is real, his Basketball Jones undeniable, having taken to the game early by balling at the tender age of six-years-old. “He went to a multi-sport program when he was little,” Suppie says. “The first thing he would pick up is a basketball, and he’s been hooked.”

For Gohulan, participating in the Special Olympics for Canada is undeniably important to him. He was also able to represent the maple leaf earlier this year as one of two players from Canada at the NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Game, in February at NBA All-Star Weekend. The game, a showcase where athletes with and without intellectual disability play on the same team, featured 12 Special Olympic athletes, alongside NBA Legends and WNBA players. “It was an amazing experience,” Gohulan says. “I met Special Olympians from around the world, I played defense and I scored.

We lost, but it was a close game.”

In the game, Gohulan displayed a quiet confidence on the court, as he scored the first basket of the game, on a three-pointer no less.

He caught a pass from the wing, pump-faked the defender off his feet and waited for him to sail by before calmly knocking down the shot from the top of the arc. He remembered the words of team coach, Hall of Famer, Yao Ming before they left the huddle, “He talked about good passing, and always be ready to receive a good pass if someone is open.”

His focus is real, his Basketball Jones undeniable, having taken to the game early by balling at the tender age of six-years-old.

However, Gohulan is as much a fan of the game as he is a student of it, noting with fervor that LeBron James is his favourite player, “He has great talents, he’s a good player with two MVP’s, and he’s a champion.“ The Toronto native’s favourite team? “The Toronto Raptors when they are playing, otherwise I’m Team LeBron,” he says with a straight face but a smile begins to form at his mouth at the idea of LeBron James playing on the Raptors. “The Raptors would be a beast to go to the NBA Finals. I could cheer for both of them at the same time!”

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But when tasked to describe whom his basketball game resembles Final Logo Design All Colour Variations in the NBA, he does manage to come up with a non-LeBron answer. “Tristan Thompson, because he does putback jams, he likes to rebound, move around the court and looks after the ball.”

However, the similarities between the two players doesn’t end there, as they both take pride in representing Canada, and both work hard at improving their respective games.

Most importantly, whether Tristan is in an arena in the Philippines, trying to qualify for the Olympics, or if Gohulan is at an outdoor court in Scarborough shooting hoops, they both have a joy and passion for the game and simply love, playing basketball.

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Special Game, same passion

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The international dream team

By Sean FranÇois / illustrations by craig white When it comes to the Olympics and basketball we seem to gravitate to America’s Dream Teams, but they aren’t the only players with some decorated hoops resumes.

Countries outside of North America have sent their squads to the games over the years with some of the best generational players suiting up. We composed our very own top ten players that would make up an ultimate collection of international stars, to take the floor against any Dream Team.

Pau Gasol - Spain Olympics: 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing - Silver, 2012 London - Silver When you think of Spain and Spanish basketball, Pau Gasol should come to mind. People may know him from his 16 seasons in the NBA but he has had an equally long and distinguished international career. In his fourteen years at the senior level (and counting) he has helped his country to 32 FIBA events including six European championships (three first place finishes), three World Championships (a first place finish in 2006) as well as three Olympic Games. Despite Spain’s seventh place finish, Gasol was the highest scoring player in the 2004 Athens Olympics averaging 22.4 points. He would help lead his country to two Silver medal finishes in 2004 and 2008 averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a block over both the Games.

Luis Scola - Argentina Olympics: 2004 Athens - Gold , 2008 Beijing - Bronze, 2012 London Luis Scola has been among the longest serving member of the Argentinian national basketball team. Between 2001 and 2015, he has participated in seven of the eight FIBA Americas Tournaments (Olympic Qualifier); with Argentina winning two Gold, three Silver and two Bronze being named FIBA Americas Championship MVP four times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2015). On the world stage, Scola helped lead Argentina to four FIBA World Championship (including a 2nd place finish in 2002) and three Olympic appearances. In 2004 at the Athens Olympics he was a part of the 89-81 upset of the heavily favored US team in the quarterfinals that paved the way for Argentina’s Gold. Scola would also help his country to a Bronze four years later.

Lauren Jackson - Australia Olympics: 2000 Sydney - Silver, 2004 Athens - Silver , 2008 Beijing - Silver , 2012 London - Bronze If there is a greatest international female basketball player ever debate Lauren Jackson has to be in that conversation. After making her Australian Senior National Team debut at 16 years old she has been the face of the program. Before her retirement this past year Jackson had participated in 32 FIBA events including four FIBA World Championships and four Olympics. In her Olympic debut in the 2000 Summer Olympics, she helped the Australia senior women's basketball team win the silver medal while averaging 15.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Jackson would help guide the Opals to two more Olympic Silver medals (2004, 2008) and Bronze (2012). Over her time as an Olympian she averaged 18 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks.

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Arvydas Sabonis - Lithuania Olympics: 1988 Seoul - Gold (Soviet Union), 1992 Barcelona - Bronze, 1996 Atlanta - Bronze Arvydas Sabonis is a basketball legend. He played the majority of his professional career in Europe but before he came to the NBA he was representing the Soviet Union before eventually playing under the Lithuanian flag. Starting his international career in 1982 at the FIBA World Cup championship, Sabonis would become a fixture for the Soviets beginning by leading them to a FIBA EuroBasket championship in 1985, being named MVP of the tournament.

He would lead the USSR to medal finishes at the ’86 World Championships (Silver) and ’88 Olympics (Gold) before eventually helping a newly independent Lithuania to a European Championship in 1995 and two Olympic Bronze medals in ’92 and ’96. Sabonis was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Yao Ming - China Olympics: 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing Yao Ming, simply put, is a living legend in China not only for his abilities on the basketball court, but for his philanthropic efforts as well. Yao was dominant in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) in his years immediately preceding his NBA career, which was cut short by injury. Internationally, Yao won the FIBA Asian Championship MVP three times; 2001, 2003, and 2005 and helped China reach two FIBA World Championships (2002, 2006) and three Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008). Despite China not finishing higher than eighth in any major international tournament, Ming’s individual dominance is undeniable – 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.3 blocks in two World Championships; 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 blocks in three Olympics.

Manu Ginobili - Argentina Olympics: 2004 Athens - Gold, 2008 Beijing - Bronze, 2012 London Manu Ginobili has been an impact player and star presence on the international stage for Argentina heading every call from his country. He began his international career in 1998 at the World Championships competing in 22 FIBA events. In 2001, Ginobili helped Argentina win the gold in the 2001 FIBA Americas Championship tournament being named the tournament's MVP. The following summer he helped to lead the team to a second place finish at the World Championships averaging 14.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He would help Argentina to two more top two finishes at the FIBA Americas Championship, as well as a fourth place finish at the 2006 World Championship but it would be the Olympics that he would really shine. In the 2004 Games, Ginobili averaged 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals helping his country to the Gold. He would also be a part of a Bronze medal team four years later. Over his three Olympics appearances, he’s averaged 18.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals.

Oscar Schmidt - Brazil Olympics: 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul,1 992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta Oscar Schmidt's legendary playing career spanned from 1974 to 2003, playing predominantly in Brazil, Italy, and Spain. The New Jersey Nets selected him in the 1984 NBA Draft, but he never played in the league, in order to maintain his amateur status to play for Brazil. Outside of playing in four World Championships (where he holds the FIBA record as the FIBA World Cup's all-time leader in points with 843 and a 24.1 points per game average), Schmidt participated in five Olympics, finishing as the top scorer in three of them, averaging 42.2 points per game in 1988, (including an Olympic record, 55 points in one game) game high 24.8 points per game in 1992 and 27.4 points per game in 1996. Schmidt holds the record for most points scored in an Olympic game, with a 55-point effort against Spain in a 118-110 loss in 1988. Unfortunately, none of his teams advanced past the quarterfinals in the Olympics but the Brazilian has the distinction of being the only player to score more than 1,000 points in the Summer Games. Schmidt was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991 and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2013.

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The international dream team

Andrei Kirilenko - Russia Olympics: 2000 Sydney, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London - Bronze Andrei Kirilenko has been a mainstay on the Russian National Team since 2000 helping lead the program to three Olympic appearances as well as one FIBA World Cup (2002) as well as five EuroBasket Championships (2001,2003, 2005, 2007, 2011). In 2012 Kirilenko helped Russia win its first men's basketball medal in Olympic competition upsetting Argentina in the bronze medal game during the 2012 London Olympics which is the highest finish for the Russian Federation.

Sarunas Marciulionis - Lithuania Olympics: 1988 Seoul - Gold (Soviet Union), 1992 Barcelona - Bronze, 1996 Atlanta - Bronze Sarunas Marciulionis was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991, and was also named MVP in the 1995 FIBA EuroBasket tournament. Marciulionis was instrumental in establishing the Lithuanian Senior Men's Basketball team as an instant world power after the country's gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Leading up to the 1992 Games in Barcelona, he handled all of the groundwork including player recruitment, uniform selection, negotiated the team's sneaker deal and also arranged team sponsorships. Marciulionis would average an incredible 23.4 points, 5 rebounds and 8.2 assists on the way to the Bronze medal. He would again help Lithuania to another Bronze finish in Atlanta four years later. Marciulionis played seven seasons in the NBA.

Vlade Divac - Serbia Olympics: 1988 Seoul - Silver (Yugoslavia), 1996 Atlanta - Silver (Yugoslavia) For most players, it’s about the numbers but Vlade Divac’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. Playing for Yugoslavia, he was a part of four European championship teams, two World Championship teams and helped pilot his country to two SilverSole medals Shift at the Final Logo Design Olympics Games. It should be noted that half of All these Colourwere Variations accomplished after the several countries had gained independence from the former Yugoslavia. In 1988 at the Seoul Games he averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.6 steals in just over 21 minutes as a key cog on a squad that included Croatians Drazen Petrovic and Dino Radja. Eight years later in Atlanta, after Croatia and other countries broke from the Federal Republic, he averaged 6.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 23 minutes per game. His last year playing for Yugoslavia in 2002 they would win the FIBA World Championship before the country would dissolve in 2006.

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kia: the chosen

By ray bala / photos by Charlie lindsay Kia Nurse is used to packing her suitcase.

In 2013, and just 16 years old, the Hamilton, Ontario native was asked to pack her suitcase to join the Senior Women’s National Basketball Team when they toured China. In 2014, she packed her suitcase when she accepted a scholarship with the storied University of Connecticut women’s program. And she also packed her suitcase for the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship (Mexico), netting silver, for the 2014 FIBA World Championship (Turkey), and for the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in Edmonton and the 2015 Pan Am Games In Toronto, bringing home the gold medal both times.

This summer, Nurse is packing her bags for her first Olympic journey to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and with the spotlight on her, this 20-year-old is very clear about what the team has set out to accomplish: bring home the hardware.

Since high school, Nurse has been the face of the young upcoming female basketball wave in Canada. Playing in provincial programs and national teams even then, Nurse excelled at every level, quickly becoming the player against whom everyone else was measured.

She had the rare “it” factor, her raw talent shining through to overcome age and inexperience.

This inexperience quickly dissipated when she joined the Senior Women’s team back in 2013 for since then, Nurse has had a pretty steady summer schedule: without fail, she packs her bags, gets on planes, and checks in wherever her team is. But splitting time between national team training camp and summer school, before any major tournament that Team Canada participates in, is all very much the norm for her. “I look at it like every summer I’m going to training camp, going overseas for a few exhibition games, and understanding that there will be two-a-days for a while,” Nurse says.

Before Nurse joined them, the Senior Women’s squad had been going through a rebuilding program since the mid 2000’s, after failing to qualify for the Sydney Olympics. Given the wide gap between established talent on the team, and the incoming new talent, changes needed to be made and Canada Basketball made a conscious effort to develop those young players who would fill the rosters for the coming years.

Those efforts have borne fruit over the last five years, for many of the players who made an impact at the university and high school level have now graduated to the senior team. As a result, Canada qualified for the London Olympics four years ago and, in no coincidence, steadily climbed up the FIBA rankings ever since. And, as the team began to count victories and medals, sitting front row for the program’s upswing was Nurse, waiting her turn.

Yet her youth hasn’t kept her from competing with the “big girls.” Growing up with her older sister Tamika, who earned a basketball scholarship to Oregon University before she was out of grade school, and older brother Darnell, who was an NHL Draft lottery pick with the Edmonton Oilers, she learned to keep up early. But with some of the team’s veterans getting to the stage of their careers where time begins to check in with them, Kia has become the link between where they have come from, and where they have yet to go.

“Because I’m so young and have been the baby (on the team), I’ve still been taking in experience and advice from older players the last three years,” Nurse says. “I know that this year for a lot of them might be their last (Olympics). I’m enjoying these moments, soaking up as much as I can from them. They’re teaching me how to step into that veteran role.”

Coming off some big performances over the last three summers, the team seems poised to take the next leap onto the podium adding another feather in their cap. “We’re building off of our momentum and the confidence from the last few summers,” Nurse says.

“We come in every four years with our goal being getting to the Olympics. We’re at the point of our goal to medal. ”

She had the rare “it” factor, her raw talent shining through to overcome age and inexperience.

When talking to Nurse, you can’t help but ask her about looking ahead because there is so much in store for her. Has she imagined the possibility of playing in more than one Olympics? The question makes her pause, and in those few seconds, her usual media savvy seems to give way to her true age.

“Sometimes it’s weird because I’ll be sitting down thinking I’m only 20 and this is the first one.” She Sole Shift pauses, then continues. “You get to experience Final Logo Designa lot Colour in Variations of different things (playing) and it’s aAllonce a lifetime opportunity. So if you get to experience it more than once it’s a blessing.”

“When I started with the national program, to see those women playing in London, I said that was a life dream for me (to play in the Olympics). But now I’m 20 and doing it,” she says. “It doesn’t resonate with me right now, but it’s definitely exciting.”

Here’s to feeling Olympic excitement for this and a few more in a red and white jersey.

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performance review: the nike hyperdunk 2016

By Jason Tiangco / Photos by rob ong

For eight solid years, the Hyperdunk, a shoe known to be a versatile performer at all skill levels, continues to be a mainstay in Nike’s performance offerings.

Once again, Leo Chang leads the design, but this time he’s changed the silhouette with the Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit. Given the drastic change from previous models, we have to ask: does the latest Hyperdunk live up to its predecessors?

The Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit is equipped with a rubber outsole that Nike describes as an advanced herringbone pattern. Its simple and multidirectional layout does a great job in the traction department: although it doesn’t provide the recognizable squeak that’s synonymous with super sticky outsoles, it firmly and consistently provides the grip needed on starts, stops, lateral movements and jumps. An added feature is the outsole that runs up the midsole’s forefoot medial side (think of a slightly less robust Kyrie 2), which provides extra traction needed when pushing off on those hard cuts. Durability shouldn’t be an issue, but the rubber outsole is more suited for indoor play than outdoor.

Traction: 8/10

Cushioning is one of the highlights of the Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit, with a full-length Zoom Air unit directly underfoot (to our delight), paired with a hollowedout Phylon midsole carrier. The result is a cushioning platform that mimics the characteristics of a trampoline, providing superb impact protection and immediate responsiveness, without sacrificing court feel. The “trampoline effect” won’t make you jump higher, but the sensation underfoot may be exactly what you need late in games.

Note: The standard Hyperdunk 2016 model utilizes segmented Zoom Air Units in the forefoot and heel compared to the full-length in the Flyknit model.

Cushioning: 8.5/10

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performance review: the nike hyperdunk 2016 flyknit

Only the midfoot and collar area of the shoe are comprised of Flyknit. In the midfoot area, the Flyknit is paired with Flywire cables to keep the athlete’s foot locked in, a combination which provides supplemental support needed for cuts, pivots, change of direction and lateral movements. The toe box in contrast, uses an upper reminiscent of the Kobe 9 Elite, backing the Flyknit material with glue to give it more structure. The toe box area’s construction doesn’t live up to the fit of the upper in the rest of the shoe, but during gameplay it’s hardly noticeable. Definitely move half-a-size down due to the bigger fit, however, when doing so, don’t worry about that snug feel: because the Flyknit material will comfortably conform and stretch to your foot where needed.

Although the collar is high, it won’t protect you more than any other high cut shoe. At best, it provides proprioceptive supportive benefits, and just feels good.

Note: Non-Flyknit Hyperdunk 2016 versions use Synthetic Hyperfuse and mesh, with the big tradeoff being comfort vs. durability.

When softer materials are incorporated into a performance model, support and stability usually become immediate concerns, but this is nothing to worry about in the Hyperdunk Flyknit. The wide base of support provides a solid foundation, while the rounded outsole, integrated heel counter and Flywire upper combine to keep you locked in and supported, while maintaining stability in a comfortable setup.

Upper Materials & Fit: 8/10 Support & Stability: 8/10 Final Thoughts The shoe looks dope, and despite some hits and misses with the upper materials and overall fit, the Hyperdunk 2016 continues to live up to its standard as a jack-of-all-trades for the Nike basketball line. Regardless of your position, or style of play, this is a sneaker that even in its woven packge accommodates you, providing the cushioning, traction, and support you’ll require, all in unmatched comfort.

Overall Score: 32.5 OF 40

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Air Jordan XXXI "Thanks to tech like FlightSpeed technology and full-length Zoom Air, the XXXI is a super responsive, super comfortable shoe that gives a nod to the Jordan I without being tacky. It's an acquired taste, but the natural temptation to cringe at the dual logos should be mitigated by the fact that it was MJ himself's idea. In my eyes, it's the best Jordan performance model since the XX8 SE." Abe Schwadron @abe_squad Senior Editor, SLAM Magazine "My initial feelings on the Jordan XXXI is one of relief - it's better than I thought it would be after the wear tester photos leaked. I think the "banned" inspiration point is a smart, albeit obvious choice. I appreciate that they redesigned the shoe, unlike the XX9 and XXX which were just upgrades on the XX8. This is the first technical Jordan shoe in awhile that you can wear with jeans casually, which I think will help sales.

From a design standpoint, I would have preferred the Jumpman on the back but I like the subtle wings logo.

The mix of leather and Flyweave is a nice combination of new technology and a nod to the Jordan Is and the full length Zoom Air will give Jordan a boost against the new adidas basketball designs."

Megan Ann Wilson @shegotgame Stylist & Brand Consultant

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First impressions: air jordan xxxi "I'll first start off by saying I'm excited for the XXXI. It has to be difficult to design the next Jordan signature.

With so many classic silhouettes, each new model is met with harsh criticism. The AJ1 is a classic ball silhouette, and I've been hoping they'd do a reset of sorts and bring it up to date. I love the tech they've included in this, air being my favorite platform to ball on. With 30 years in the books I'd love to see the Jordan 32-43 follow similar concepts. Next year take the Jordan 2 and update it with better materials and tech to make it more playable today, since those Jordan 1-13's are all pretty much classics."

Nathan Clark @crtsdsnkrs Owner of Courtside Sneakers "In general, I love the combination of performance, materials and the consistent reliance in recent years on Zoom Air, which is the industry's best cushioning platform for basketball. But, I hate the look. The halfSwoosh looks too cramped and busy alongside the Jumpman logo, and the upper design isn't industrydefining, aspirational or daring, which were each hallmark qualities of the Air Jordan line from its inception.

I'll be looking forward to playing in them, but I think the shoe falls short of the lofty bar set by the most iconic Air Jordan game shoes in year's past."

Nick DePaula @_ndp Writer, The Vertical, Creative Director, Nice Kicks

"I think the concept of them is really cool, unfortunately I haven't been able to try them out. But, if the comfort is on the same level as the 29, then that shoe would, for sure, be the one I would play in. The old school style, throwing it back to the Jordan 1, is a throwback approach that is relevant in street wear and in sneaker culture right now. I think the shoe overall is super clean.

I'm looking forward to seeing some new colourways."

Brady Heslip @heslip Professional Basketball Player with Pallacanestro CantĂš

"Initial thoughts are: I don't hate them. The Jumpman on the side makes them a difficult fashion wear off the court. If these were a nod to the Banned 1's, they didn't do it any justice in terms of stylistic longevity."

Bryan Espiritu @legendsleague Founder Legends League

Photos courtesy of FIBA On July 10th the Olympic dreams of the Canadian Men’s national team were shattered when they fell short in an 83-74 loss to France during the Final of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Melvin Ejim, a standout player for the red and white, had his best showing on the national team to date, averaging 12.5 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 53% from 3-point range. Despite that, he shares his perspective on his summer with the squad and the bitter pill the team had to swallow in the Philippines.

There was a good vibe going into training camp this summer. We all knew what needed to be done - we might not necessarily have the same team, but we had a lot of good guys that were going to step up. We knew we were going to have to play some of our best basketball, and were going to have to figure it out.

Coach Triano preached with consistency, telling us to “stay poised, be together, and make plays for each other.” His strategy for the four games in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament was to approach them like it’s basically four quarters, and that every game was a quarter that we had to win. We were priming ourselves for these four games, and everything before them was just to get ready and prepare ourselves.

When we landed in the Philippines, the hospitality was one of the best I have ever received from a country.

The people were awesome, and there were a lot of things to do there, but this was a business trip and we limited our activities, focusing on being 100% ready and 100% prepared for these games.

The narrative there and in Europe was that it was going to be Turkey and France (in the Final), but we really didn’t care. We wanted to beat every team anyways; we knew we would probably face France at one point. But once we started seeing how teams were playing, we really felt it was going to end up that way.

With some of the guys not playing this summer, Coach let me know that it was going to be important for me and some of the others to really step up and lead this team and be there when it counted. I just wanted to help the team win however I could, by bringing energy, toughness and trying to get our team going in the right direction and I think I was able to do that. At the same time, I showed I have gotten better and I could do some things offensively, but for me, I was just going out and doing the same thing I had been trying to do all the time since I have been with the national team.

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player's perspective: melvim ejim For those four games, we went in and three of them we played really well. I think we still played well in the fourth one - we just weren’t able to match some of the things France was doing and they made some really big plays. Like Venezuela, we were one game out, we’re looking back and thinking, “What could we have done differently?”

It was extremely tough not getting that win. We had a group of guys that were really dedicated, who performed and played hard. It Sole Shift staff, but the was definitely tough on us as a team and the coaching Final Logo Design All Colour Variations country, the basketball and the players are all moving in the right direction. There’s so much talent and the moment we get it, we are going to be running with it for a while. These are the type of games and situations that build character for the program, and character in people, so I think that ultimately, it’s just going to help us.

2020 is definitely on my radar. I’m hoping I’m still playing at a really high level by then, but I’m going to be a part of Canada’s program for as long as I can. We’ve got four years to prepare and the goal is definitely to make the Olympics and do well. I think that we're moving in the right direction.

Dom’s Bou

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dom's boutique

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By duane watson / Photos by jalani morgan You always remember your first - your first car, your first championship, or your first pair of kicks. For Dom’s Restorations, he clearly recalls his initial foray into customizing. Ten years ago, he set out with a pair of Jordan Classics, a wood engraver and a vision.

“I was doing elephant print around the toecap,” he says. “I remember I kept burning into the leather so much that it went into the shoe.” Acknowledging in retrospect they were pretty bad, the arrogance of his youth wouldn’t be denied. “I thought I was sick!” he says excitedly. “At the time I was telling my little brother “You see this man?” raising his voice a few octaves to replicate a 14-year-old Dom’s assuredness. Blowing the mind of his younger sibling was the co-sign that he was already good and would just keep going.

Despite that blind teenage confidence, the Torontonative is one of the most reserved, most humble and low-key people you will ever meet. So understated in fact, that “Dom” isn’t even his real name. “Not that I ever thought it would get to a point where it was a big thing,” he says. “But I didn’t really want to walk down the street or into a sneaker shop and people know who I am. I like being a regular person.” While Dom has everyday aspirations, he has all-world talent as the top customizer in the country and one of the best in the sneaker game.

Dom honed his craft by learning to paint, sew, stitch and restore through practice and trial and error. “I made a lot of mistakes, so many mistakes,” he says. “But I think making those mistakes and figuring out how to fix them taught me even more.” Google and YouTube were big aids, but he cites the support from others in the community that helped a lot, by asking questions and making friends with like-minded people. That community was NikeTalk, an online forum for sneakers and sneaker discussion, which Dom spent a lot of time

lurking on. “When I started posting my restorations or customs, I was posting stuff and answering people’s questions on how they could do it themselves,” he says.

“This forum was meant to share info in this community and I felt like I had received a lot from the site, so I was like ‘I can give back by doing this.’ I was more surprised that the feedback was good.”

"I didn’t really want to walk down the street or into a sneaker shop and people know who I am, I like being a regular person.”

The feedback continued and despite his efforts at flying under the radar, Dom’s work garnered a lot of public recognition. That affirmation kept coming when Kiara Morrison reached out to him to do a custom pair of the Kobe 9 Elite two years ago for her fiancée, NBA

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dom's boutique

All-Star and Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. “That may be the work I’m most proud of,” he says. “Not necessarily the fact that I did a pair for him, but the fact that I could turn on the TV and he wore them in a game. I remember telling my dad to flip on the game, -he doesn’t watch basketball- and told him ‘I made those’ and he was like ‘Oh wow.’ That was a good moment, making your dad proud.”

His process is thorough, meticulous and painstaking. Locking himself in a room that he describes as “the size of two jail cells,” he settles in with his tools and outlines the blueprint for each shoe before he deconstructs to rebuild again. Every stitch, every paint stroke is attentive with care and perfection - he is equal parts cobbler, customizer and artist.

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Final Logo Design These days, Dom rarely takes on new work. “I want to do one All Colour Variations project that I have been thinking about for a long time,” he says.

“But it’s hard to find the time now too, especially working full-time.”

Dom already has his eye on what’s next beyond sneakers and its clear he will continue to create. “I really would like to start learning and getting into auto body and painting cars. That really interests me.” Despite this change of canvas, Dom’s craftsmanship will likely continue to tell his story. And when the paint dries on that first car, although he may forget that 14-year-old, who customized that Jordan Classic, he won’t forget that moment creating anew, because you never forget your first.

We're fans of Dom's Restorations, one of the top customizers in the game, bar none. We wanted to collaborate with him on a project and with the Olympics upon us, it was only right to do something special for one of the captain's of the Men's Canadian Basketball team, Toronto's own, Cory Joseph.

So we armed Dom with the guard's sneaker of choice, the Kyrie 2, and he allowed us a rare glimpse into his creative process on the creation of this special shoe. Click below to watch.

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@doms.restorations

dom's boutique

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Sole Shift paid a visit to In Vintage We Trust in downtown Toronto, where we spoke with co-owner Josh Roter, who gave us their top five vintage basketball items all authentic, all game worn. You can See more of their stock @invtgwetrust.

Videos by Alysha Galbreath

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Sacramento Kings alternate jersey

Year: 1996-'97

Significance: A truly rare piece, that was worn only a handful of times during the season.

Click here to watch the full story.

Glenn Robinson Schick Rookie Challenge jersey

Year: 1994-'95

Significance: This piece is 1 of 1. The NBA made home and away jersey's for this game, and Robinson played on the White Team.

Click here to watch the full story.

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SOLE SHIFT

top 5 with in vintage we trust

Bill Bradley USA World University Games jersey

Year: 1965

Significance: Valued at $25,000.

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University of Southern Louisiana jersey

Year: 1972-'73

Significance: The last uniform for USL before the NCAA imposed the "Death Penalty."

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Hank Gathers Loyola Marymount warm-up jacket

Year: 1989-'90

Significance: Gathers wore this jacket in his last season, it was purchased from Hank's mother.

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The Nike

oom KD9

By Jason Tiangco / Photos by rob ong

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performance review: the nike zoom kd9

The evolution of Kevin Durant’s game demands the perfect basketball shoe. Since his style of play warrants the shoe to be as fluid on the court as he is, Durant once again left the task to trusted footwear designer Leo Chang, who has crafted every KD signature shoe since the KD 1. This time, however, the pairing has truly paid off: the inclusion of a true Flyknit upper on the KD 9 combined with an unparalleled cushioning platform, have righted the wrongs of the previous model, and quite possibly have taken the KD 9 to championship footwear status.

On first look, the outsole’s unique traction inspired more doubt than confidence, but we quickly learned that the KD 9 gripped the court deceptively well.

The solid rubber outsole with a honeycomb-like design pattern resulted in super-tacky traction scores on both clean and dusty courts. A contributing factor to the high praise is the distinct forefoot flex groove that segments the outsole, allowing for consistent ground contact and greater traction throughout various movements. It was a reminder to never judge a shoe by its sole: the non-traditional design, of the KD 9 proved us wrong by deftly handling any stop-ona-dime demands of gameplay.

Traction: 8.5/10

Nike is not messing around when it comes to cushioning in the KD 9. We are talking full-length articulated Max Zoom (16mm in the heel, 10mm in the forefoot). Yes, you read that correctly. From superb impact protection, smooth heel-to-toe transition, great court feel and a responsive platform, the KD 9 delivers in all cushioning aspects. Right out the box you’ll feel protected from impact, experience the bounce upon toe off, and still have complete mobility through the gait cycle, due to the articulated air units and outsole design. Where the KD 8 fell short in the cushioning department, the KD 9 comes as advertised, providing some of the best cushioning experienced to date.

Cushioning: 9.5/10

Fit is key in the KD 9. With a true Flyknit upper in the forefoot and midfoot areas, the shoe is soft and supportive, much like the KOBE XI, requiring little to no break-in period. The KD 9 delivers a 1-to-1 fit absent of hotspots due to the characteristics of the soft woven material. Couple that with minimal nylon throughout for additional structure, and you get a shoe that locks you in regardless of your style and speed of play - all within a flexible package. The back end of the upper is comprised of textile mesh, Hyperfuse and foam materials to maintain the structural integrity of the shoe.

The KD 9 generally fits true-to-size, but sizing is somewhat inconsistent between pairs. Therefore, we strongly advise that you try them on first to determine what feels right. Much like previous KD models, the KD 9 fits snugly since the model is built upon a narrow last (wider feet beware). Lastly, due to the characteristics of the Flyknit’s woven upper, long-term durability issues may be something to consider.

We can’t stress enough the importance of correct sizing and fit, as the overall support of the shoe should follow accordingly. The compressive upper material and active top lace loop firmly secure the midfoot on the footbed, working with an anatomically correct base and an internal TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) heel counter, to limit ankle movement. The result is a low-cut shoe that provides solid support and stability, without sacrificing mobility and overall weight in the process.

Support & Stability: 8/10

Upper Materials & Fit: 8/10 Final Thoughts Kevin Durant wanted innovation to be the motivating force for his latest signature Sole Shift sneaker. With the KD 9, Chang created a Final Logo Design lightweight and comfortable All Colour Variations shoe that feels like an extension of the athlete’s foot, and succeeded in creating a responsive yet protective cushioning experience from an articulated Max Zoom Air unit. So if you’re a player that is quick on their feet, and demands comfort without having to sacrifice support and protection, give the KD 9 a serious look when adding to your rotation.

Overall Score: 34 OF 40

Sole Shift Final Logo Design All Colour Variations

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5 second call: samuel Smallidge

Second Call By the sole shift staff / photo by rob ong Sole Shift recently sat down for a chat with Converse Archivist, Samuel Smallidge. Despite being responsible for over 4,500 pieces in the Converse archive, he doesn’t prefer one particular item over another, but definitely favours a certain period.

For me I don’t have a favourite shoe, but I have a favourite era, which is probably, 1980-’85, across the brand, court to running, to all of it.”

You look at the shoe that for us, kind of defined the 80’s in the end - the Weapon. Thanks to Bird, Magic and those guys, that’s what most people think of. One of the neatest things I recently got in, was Magic’s custom made Weapon that he played in the ‘80’s. What’s interesting is that he actually used the previous generation’s tooling on the outsole. A lot of pro athletes did that because that’s what they grew up playing on.

Sole Shift

Final Logo Design I’ve heard stories that Larry Bird would have played in All Colour Variations canvas shoes for his entire career if he could have. So Converse was trying to adapt these players like ‘Can you play in the Pro Canvas, which looks like the canvas version of the Pro Leather?’

If you look at these pro players’ shoes - and its not just Bird and Magic, its Isiah Thomas, its Dr. J, all of them – and what they would have liked. They say, ‘Whatever I grew up playing in, these very simple shoes, that gave me no support. Its great that you’re giving it to me now, but I don’t really need it to be me.’ But yeah little things like that are really cool.

The pre-season Issue drops October 2016.

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