{"id":256212,"date":"2012-12-18T23:43:27","date_gmt":"2012-12-19T05:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nicekicks.com\/?p=256212"},"modified":"2022-09-16T10:29:06","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T15:29:06","slug":"20under20-the-20-best-signature-athletes-of-the-last-twenty-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/20under20-the-20-best-signature-athletes-of-the-last-twenty-years\/","title":{"rendered":"#20Under20: The 20 Biggest Signature Athletes From 1992 to 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
It takes a lot to make a great signature shoe. Between belief in an athlete, daring design, awesome advertising, and strong performance, a lot has to go right. To be a successful signature athlete, a lot has to go right for a long time. Considering everything from sale of sneakers to impact on sport, pop culture, and the world, we continue our #20Under20<\/em> series with twenty of the biggest signature athletes to start lines between ’92 and ’12 (that means no Jordan or Bo). Read the picks and give us your take in the comment section.<\/p>\n An influencer in his own arena, Eric Koston stands as a favorite among fans and peers alike. Following a long signature line with ?S footwear and shoes with Lakai<\/a>, Koston made the move to Nike SB. The Nike SB Koston One helped bring Lunarlon to skate shoes and introduced other footwear fans to his personality.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Comic relief has been a winning recipe in sneaker commercials since MJ and Mars, but rarely has the athlete ever been the main ingredient. Larry Johnson and Converse changed all that with the Grandmama campaign. LJ’s serious game, unbounded athleticism, and fierce on-court personality paired perfectly with the light-hearted granny. The shoes were a success and a new beginning for Converse basketball.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Entering the league as teenage lottery pick, Kevin Garnett was an instant favorite thanks to his youthful energy and dynamic playing style. The fact that his game transcended height helped to better sell shoes to a wider market, with players of all skill sets identifying with KG’s game. Early days wearing JB quickly led to a string of signature shoes with the Swoosh, while later moves to AND1, adidas, and Anta proved KG was worthy of a signature shoe throughout his entire career.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though it’s easy to give Fred Durst or Lil Wayne the props on DC popularity, Rob Drydek was with the brand from the beginning. Leaving school to pursue his dreams, Dyrdek signed with Droors Clothing as a teenager. This move helped propel his entrepreneurial spirit and also launch a long line of signature shoes<\/a>. Like others on this list, his ability to do great things outside of sports kept him and his kicks current.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Big men might not sell shoes, but Shaq still changed the game<\/a>. His early endorsement with Reebok saw by far his best designs, with young fans of the Diesel running to get his sneakers. A departure to start Dunk.net was revolutionary in its own right, though not successful, focusing on an online format and gaining major distribution through Eastbay. The Dunkman logo would later don Starter sneakers at Payless and Li-Ning models in China, offering big man star power to new markets. Regardless of how they sold, they still sold because they were Shaq’s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tennis shoes are not part of popular culture like they once were, but Serena Williams presence as a dominant and likable female athlete have sold more than just sneakers. Serena serves as a face for Nike tennis as well as Nike training, selling apparel and footwear alike. Her presence as a positive public figure and winning athlete make her a strong spokesperson.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prime Time goes down as one of the most incredible athletes of all-time. Like Bo Jackson before him, his two-sport pedigree was inspiring, exciting, and engaging. His exuberant personality made him a fan favorite and easy ink for Nike. The Diamond Turf series was synonymous with Sanders and still gains retro glory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By becoming the first signature athlete with Nike SB, Paul Rodriguez Jr. helped introduce functional skateboarding shoes to the greater sneakerhead world. Shoes like the J-Rods garnered top interest from collectors, while the evolution of the line has seen skate shoes adapt to basketball technology in motion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From a young man with adidas to a storied veteran with Nike, Kobe Bryant sold shoes for two brands with skilled play and gifted athleticism. His first line of shoes with adidas proved too progressive for some, but oddly enough, it was his low top shoes with Nike that changed the game. Balancing equal parts performance, innovation, and flash have made the Kobe line a success.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After announcing he wasn’t a role model, Nike gave Charles Barkley a signature line of his own. His brash personality and aggressive style of play came across in his shoes, while his honest opinion and All-Star accolades made him a fan favorite. Due in part to nostalgia and his continued presence in the game, Sir Charles’ signatures still move today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n David Beckham is one of the few stars bright enough on this list to sell sneakers that were never even meant to play sports in. His pop icon status spans both hemispheres, even affecting markets that aren’t stuck on soccer. Signature cleats, lifestyle sneakers, and Hollywood status put Beckham and adidas in the top ten.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes called the ‘female Michael Jordan’, Sheryl Swoopes had a bigger impact on women’s basketball footwear than any hooper before or since. Her signature line with Nike outlasted many other athletes of her era, thanks to consistent play and dope designs. Swoopes had guys wanting to rock her sneakers because they respected her game and her style.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though not a popular choice at the moment, Lance Armstrong and his LIVESTRONG line made a bigger difference than any other endorsed footwear or apparel by a signature athlete. The brand has become a symbol of hope, raising over $400 million in the fight against cancer. Even though Armstrong is no longer with the brand, the movement moves on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Similar to Steve Caballero, Chad Muska’s diverse array of talents and ability to blend them led to an inspiring career as a skateboarder and a designer. Following signature shoes with ?S footwear and Circa, Muska joined then upstart Supra. Since signing with Supra, Muska has designed the first three Skytops and the brand has picked up the likes of Terry Kennedy and Lil Wayne.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hakeem Olajuwon paved the way for Shaquille O’Neal and Kevin Durant by selling signature shoes at an affordable price. After hearing the complaints of a mother who couldn’t afford expensive basketball shoes, Olajuwon signed with Spalding and put out his own signature for less. Olajuwon’s endorsement opened up the game for a wider audience to play.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Baseball fans remember Ken Griffey Jr. always coming to work with a smile on his face. Junior thrilled and engaged fans with his effortless swing and fearless fielding. His footwear captivated and inspired sneakerheads with the Griffey line lasting through all editions of Air and even Shox. His shoes now demand release dates and take on hybrid form.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Allen Iverson turned Reebok into RBK. His passionate play, charismatic personality, undeniable attitude made him one of a kind. While signature shoe sales were slumping in the post-Jordan NBA era, the Answer line was strong and long; spanning to off court apparel and early retro release. Signature athletes thrive off of style, personality, and uniqueness, and AI had all three.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tiger Woods was unlike any golfer the world had ever seen. Young, multi-cultural, athletic in every sense, and simply better than the competition, Tiger became a fan favorite and Nike spokesmen. From footwear to apparel, almost anything and everything Nike makes has worn the Woods logo. The golfer and the sponsor have stood together during tough times on and off the course, with his shoes, game, and gear continuing to innovate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite enormous pressure and great expectations, LeBron James has not only brought home the hardware, but also endorsed the most popular performance basketball line on the market. While few questioned the bidding war that went on prior to his $90 million signing, the deal has more than paid off for both parties.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anfernee Hardaway’s diverse skill set and exciting style made a wide range of fans relate to and enjoy his game. His on-court excellence and humble personality paired perfectly with Lil’ Penny’s sense of humor and Eric Avar’s innovative designs on the famed Nike Air Penny line. Progressive then and obsessive now, Penny’s playing days live on through his footwear and gifts to the game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It takes a lot to make a great signature shoe. Between belief in an athlete, daring design, awesome advertising, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2415,"featured_media":256368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n20. Eric Koston<\/h2>\n image via Grind TV<\/a>\n
19. Larry Johnson<\/h2>\n
18. Kevin Garnett<\/h2>\n
17. Rob Dyrdek<\/h2>\n image via Visionary Artistry Mag<\/a>\n
16. Shaquille O’Neal<\/h2>\n
15. Serena Williams<\/h2>\n
14. Deion Sanders<\/h2>\n image via sandersfan_2007<\/a>\n
13. Paul Rodriguez<\/h2>\n Paul Rodriguez (screenshot via The Berrics<\/a>)\n
12. Kobe Bryant<\/h2>\n
11. Charles Barkley<\/h2>\n image via nbacardDOTnet\n
10. David Beckham<\/h2>\n
9. Sheryl Swoopes<\/h2>\n
8. Lance Armstrong<\/h2>\n image via Outside Online<\/a>\n
7. Chad Muska<\/h2>\n image via Hypebeast<\/a>\n
6. Hakeem Olajuwon<\/h2>\n
5. Ken Griffey Jr.<\/h2>\n image via Mears Online Auctions\n
4. Allen Iverson<\/h2>\n
3. Tiger Woods<\/h2>\n
2. LeBron James<\/h2>\n
1. Penny Hardaway<\/h2>\n