{"id":151830,"date":"2011-03-13T22:22:29","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T03:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicekicks.com\/?p=151830"},"modified":"2018-05-07T14:03:52","modified_gmt":"2018-05-07T18:03:52","slug":"fab-fives-10-best-kicks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/fab-fives-10-best-kicks\/","title":{"rendered":"Fab Five’s 10 Best Shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Sunday, ?The Fab Five,? an ESPN Films Production, will air at 9PM ET. The highly-anticipated documentary will give viewers an in-depth look at the 1991 University of Michigan ?Fab Five? freshmen. Although the Fab Five took the basketball world by storm in the early 90s, they are credited for much more that putting the ball in the hoop. The quintet wore long, baggy shorts, rocked black socks and, most of all, laced up a wide array of some of the best sneakers on the market at the time. To coincide with the upcoming documentary, our staff compiled some of the best, memorable sneaker moments from the Fab Five’s tenure at Michigan. Take a look at the Fab Five’s 10 Best Kicks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose calling a play in the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose looking for a teammate in the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Chris Webber dunking in the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Chris Webber dunking in the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Juwan Howard passing the ball in the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Juwan Howard wearing the Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Nike Air Flight Huarache<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Worn: 1991-1992<\/strong><\/p>\n

From long, baggy shorts to black socks, everything was innovative and ‘cool’ about Michigan’s Fab Five. Therefore, their sneakers had to be just as otherworldly as their style on the court. During the 1991-92 season, the Fab Five laced up the Tinker Hatfield-designed Nike Air Flight Huarache, a shoe inspired by a Mayan sandal. This shoe was not a hot seller when it first debuted on the shelves; however, this quintet undoubtedly made it cool to rock Huaraches.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Force Max<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Fab Five wearing the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Chris Webber doing a reverse layup in the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Chris Webber celebrating in the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Jalen Rose in the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King defending in the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose wearing the Nike Air Force Max<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1992-1993<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the Nike Air Flight Huarache and the Nike Air Unlimited were memorable sneakers for the Fab Five, it was the Nike Air Force Max that every basketball fan remembered them wearing. The Nike Air Force Max was sort of like a team basketball sneaker considering everybody on the team (not just the Fab Five) wore this shoe during the 1992-93 NCAA season. This Charles Barkley-endorsed sneaker was considered one of the most durable sneakers on the market at the time, and it coincided perfectly with the tough-minded, tenacious appeal of the Fab Five.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Maestro<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Maestro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King defending in the Nike Air Maestro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King handling the rock in the Nike Air Maestro <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1992-93<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s sequel of the same name gets more fame, but the original Maestro saw the Fab Five orchestrating fury on the court. The black and white version was far less flashy than the bright red Pippen follow up the next year but it proved just as loud and made even more of an impact.<\/p>\n

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Air Jordan 9 White\/Black-Red<\/h3>\n
Air Jordan 9 White\/Black-Varsity Red<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose wearing the Air Jordan 9 White\/Black-Varsity Red<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1992-1993<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure, the Fab Five laced up some of the better Nike Basketball sneakers at the time; yet, the point guard, Jalen Rose, was know to slide his feet in a pair of Air Jordans from time to time. Specifically, he rocked the original Air Jordan 9 colorway during the 1992-93 NCAA season.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Unlimited<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Unlimited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Chris Webber wearing the Nike Air Unlimited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Ray Jackson defending in the Nike Air Unlimited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Nike Air Unlimited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Nike Air Unlimited<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1993-94<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many may remember the Nike Air Unlimited as the shoe David Robinson wore while scoring 71 points in a game; however, a couple of Fab Five members hit the hardwood in a blue\/black version of this unique sneaker. It featured a dual cross strap design over the midfoot, along with an ankle and heel strap. Yes people, four straps. If it had one more strap, this could have been the official sneaker for the Fab Five. Can you imagine the marketing schemes? Five players, five straps.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Dynamic Flight<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Dynamic Flight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose looking for the outlet pass in the Nike Air Dynamic Flight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King shooting in the Nike Air Dynamic Flight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Fab Five wearing the Nike Air Dynamic Flight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1993-94<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jalen and the boys excelled in Flight School wearing this model made popular by Scottie Pippen. The follow up to the Flight Lite saw finesse players once again getting a high top cut that was smooth and lightweight.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Force Mid<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Force Mid <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose wearing the Nike Air Force Mid <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jalen Rose in the Nike Air Force Mid <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1993-94<\/strong><\/p>\n

With straps similar to the Air Jordan 8 and Nike Air Raid, the Air Force Mid embodied raw 90s basketball sneaker transition from the blacktop to the hardwood. Black nubuck made room for white branding atop of visible Air cushioning.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Strong<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Strong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King in the Nike Air Strong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1993-94<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Webber’s early exit for the NBA left him off of the court for his Michigan running mates. Gone but not forgotten, King rocked the same colorway of the Air Strong that C-Webb endorsed as a member of the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Maestro II<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Meastro II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Juwan Howard sitting during a timeout while wearing the Nike Air Meastro II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1993-94<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no argument in regards to who wore the best Nike Air Maestro II (Scottie Pippen’s All-Star colorway for those of you who didn’t know). Yet, as we stated earlier, the Fab Five was known for black socks and black shoes. By this time, Chris Webber had exited to the NBA, but Juwan, Jalen, Jimmy and Ray still showed their colors (or lack thereof) with the second version of the iconic Nike Air Maestro.<\/p>\n

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Nike Air Max 2 Uptempo<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Max 2 Uptempo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Jimmy King defending in the Nike Air Max 2 Uptempo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released: 1994-95<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jimmy King held it down when his classmates dipped in one of the most popular college basketball shoes ever. While the Dukies get most of the glory for this colorway, King gets remember for rocking them as well.<\/p>\n

Now that you have seen our Fab Five’s 10 Best Kicks<\/strong>, let us know your favorite selection in the voting poll below.<\/p>\n