Complex magazine in collaboration with Peter Sim and George Kiel from Nicekicks.com have curated a list of the 50 greatest basketball sneakers of all time. The list is based on performance, style, and each shoe’s overall effect on sneaker culture. the countdown includes on-court sneakers of the past and present, classic silhouettes, and recent tech-friendly models that have been game-changers.
You know Nike-Jordan will top this list. I know you know that.
My favorites in the list are…
1. Chuck Taylor
I have 3 pairs of casual-comfort Chucks but moved to other brands this past 2 years. My oldest pair is I think 2006-buy but still looks good. Never goes out of style, much like Levi’s jeans.
The Converse Chuck Taylor became the first mass-produced basketball shoe in North America in 1917. Since then, over 750 million pairs have been sold in 144 countries. Although the Chucks are worn as a casual, fashion sneaker today, it first started as a basketball sneaker when Chuck Taylor himself rocked them 93 years ago. No shit-talking—this is one of the biggest basketball shoes of all time.
2. Nike Hyperdunk
Im kinda retired from playing active hoops when this Kobe-endorsed Nike shoes came out so as much as I want to buy a Kobe shoe, it’s not worth storing in the closet. By the way, I used to be able to dunk the ball in my younger days. Ok, “tap the fuckin ring” it was. Not a dunk per se.
The Nike Hyperdunk is the predecessor to most of Nike’s current basketball lineup. It launched in time for Kobe to rock it at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and this extremely lightweight sneaker was the first sneaker to feature Nike’s current darling, Flywire technology. The Nike Hyperdunk was labeled the future of basketball footwear and is still worn by many players in the NBA today.
3. Air Jordan IV
I wore this shoe during one summer half court league when I was still supot. I effin averaged measly 4.5 points per game in a race to 30 points game. I blame the non-cemented playing court! Daim, I was wearing what perhaps the greatest shoe of the time and I was running on pure lupa & alikabok! If it was concrete court, easily my average could have been 15 ppg, 5 assts and 5 rebounds. Yeah, kinda what Ray Allen does for the Boston Celtics now.
Released in 1989, the Air Jordan IV is definitely in many Jordan fiends’ top three of all time. The classic silhouette features a leather upper, mesh panels, TPU lace and heel tabs, and the signature Jumpman-Flight tongue patch. Not only is the IV a great shoe, it brings back memories like MJ’s game-winning shot against the Cavs in the playoffs and the classic scene with Buggin’ Out in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.
4. Puma & Adidas Superstar
I had a PUMA back in college. Price of Puma back in the mid-to-late 90s was student friendly. A must-buy to get the Eraserheads look (that’s why we began to love the chucks too!), a Puma sneaker and an Adidas low-cut. Looked good then and still looks cool today. Only, there are lots of option in the market now for casual sneakers. Puma shown below is the old-school Puma Cycle sneakers. Just wear em shades, tapos manonood kami ng underground concerts, kahit hindi underground basta maingay at tsaka grunge, tapos hindi ako magdadrugs dapat walang amats ‘di ba?
NBA legend Walt Frazier became the first player in basketball history with a signature sneaker when PUMA laced him up with the legendary Clyde. Created in 1973, this shoe is easily one of the most recognizable shoes in sneaker history.
Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabaar backed this low-top sneaker during the 1970s. Within its first few years of existence, it was worn by more than half of the NBA players.
5. Nike Air Shake Ndestrukt (Rodman)
I didn’t own this particular Rodman shoe but I was duped into buying (or trading for) “RODMAN” signature shoes. I can’t remember if I paid some bucks to get it or I traded shoes for it. Later I found out that the “Rodman” I had is a replica bought from Cartimar Shoe Exchange. Its claim for fame or it’s most memorable hoops action was when I played in Sta. Mesa manila wearing this rodman shoe, cut jeans shorts, a t-shirt, a sando on top! What the?! By the way, I fired 12 fade-aways in that game and nailed only 1. This time, I am blaming the maong shorts. The jeans-short was far from aero-dynamic and it’s so heavy. It affected my so-called lift.
The Air Shake Ndestrukt was Dennis Rodman’s signature shoe, and built on a visible Air-Sole unit onto a unique upper.
Some other kickass-kicks in terms of form:
Nike Air Foamposite One
Nike Air Force 1
Nike Air Maestro
Nike Flightposite
Nike Air Jordan XX3
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