{"id":203337,"date":"2012-02-22T23:22:44","date_gmt":"2012-02-23T05:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicekicks.com\/?p=203337"},"modified":"2022-09-16T04:26:19","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T09:26:19","slug":"name-dropping-the-best-signatures-by-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/name-dropping-the-best-signatures-by-association\/","title":{"rendered":"Name-Dropping: The Best “Signature” Sneakers By Association"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, a sneaker carries signature weight without official tagging. Case in point, this weekend?s Nike Air Flight One<\/strong> retro. The Penny Hardaway endorsed sneakers preceded his signature line but are still referred to as ?Pennys? in the street. They?re not the only ones though as kicks worn by Kobe Bryant, Sir Charles, Scottie Pippen, and many others picked up name recognition without box branding. We look back at the best basketball kicks that should?ve been signatures and the players they are forever tied to.<\/p>\n

Tim Duncan<\/h2>\n

Tim Duncan might not have put the ?fun? in fundamental, but he did put on for the Foamposite franchise. Prior to getting signatures from the Swoosh and later adidas, Timmy laced up the Nike Total Air Foamposite Max<\/strong>. The long name was shortened by consumers to the ?Duncans?, and the name has since stuck.<\/p>\n

Nike Total Air Foamposite Max<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Gary Payton<\/h2>\n

The Nike Air Hawk Flight<\/strong> was endorsed by two players, but who would be remembered for them? If you said Jesus Shuttlesworth<\/a>, nice try, but this shoe belongs to GP. Gary?s green pair would prove more important than Terrell Brandon?s blue makeup and eventually pave the way for The Glove line.<\/p>\n

Nike Air Hawk Flight<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Patrick Ewing<\/h2>\n

What happens when you don?t put Patrick Ewing?s name on a sneaker? He starts his own brand. Adidas dressed the big man in the Big Apple with two almost-signatures during his stay with the Stripes. These both go by the ?Ewings? today.<\/p>\n

adidas Conductor<\/h3>\n

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adidas Attitude<\/h3>\n

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<\/p>\n

Tracy McGrady<\/h2>\n

The adidas Mad Handles<\/strong> were the ?T-Macs? before the T-Mac line. While McGrady sported a few other models from adidas before getting the signature nod, this was the first pair he took ownership of, sporting on court and in ads.<\/p>\n

adidas Mad Handle<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

Steve Nash<\/h2>\n

It took two MVP trophies for Steve Nash to get his own signature, but all along, he has been the man for low top Nike Basketball models. The Jet Flight<\/strong>, Zoom Drive<\/strong> and Cradle Rock<\/strong> still carry a cult following with much credit going to Nash.<\/p>\n

Nike Air Jet Flight<\/h3>\n

Nike Zoom Drive<\/h3>\n

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Nike Cradle Rock<\/h3>\n

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<\/p>\n

Julius Erving<\/h2>\n

While another guy you may have heard of goes down in history for this shoe, the Pro Leather<\/strong> is undoubtedly Dr. J?s sneaker. We?d say he didn?t get his name on these because he came before the signature era, but the Chuck Taylor pretty much dispels that.<\/p>\n

Converse Pro Leather<\/h3>\n

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<\/p>\n

Kevin Garnett<\/h2>\n

You would think after getting signature lines from four different brands, there would be no need to call any other model the ?Garnetts?. Not quite. Both, the Air Max Uptempo 3.0<\/strong> and Air Flightposite<\/strong>, dropped during his signature stint with Nike and got heavy rotation from KG.<\/p>\n

Nike Air Max Uptempo 3.0<\/h3>\n

Nike Air Flightposite<\/h3>\n