Is this just a San Antonio Spurs thing?<\/p>\n
In last night’s game between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs, guard Manu Ginobili<\/strong> flat out ripped through his shoe during a defensive play in the first half of the game. While guarding Rodney Stuckey at the top of the key, Ginobili planted before his foot instantly burst out of the shoe.<\/p>\n According to San Antonio Spurs Equipment Manager Travis Wade, Ginobili has been wearing this shoe – the Nike Air Max Closer IV –<\/strong>\u00a0since 2009. Now, Ginobili, a player who is most comfortable wearing the exact same pair of shoes night in and night out, will be forced to switch to a more current performance shoe. “I’ll be switching to the LeBron 11 now,” said Ginobili, while examining his blown out sneaker at his locker. “I have a few NIKEiDs on the way.”<\/p>\n Ginobili, who spent most of last season’s games in the Nike LeBron X, says he’s a big fan of LeBron’s shoes because they are durable, sturdy and “hold up great on the court.”<\/p>\n “Manu is so hard on a pair of shoes,” said Wade. “Hopefully the LeBron 11s hold up for him and last as long he plans on playing.”<\/p>\n RELATED<\/strong>: Sole Access: Inside the San Antonio Spurs’ Locker Rooms<\/p>\n