{"id":470744,"date":"2015-11-05T12:05:57","date_gmt":"2015-11-05T17:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=470744"},"modified":"2019-01-23T00:52:08","modified_gmt":"2019-01-23T05:52:08","slug":"koc25-the-25-most-important-nba-players-from-a-sneaker-standpoint-15-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/koc25-the-25-most-important-nba-players-from-a-sneaker-standpoint-15-11\/","title":{"rendered":"#KOC25 \/\/ The 25 Most Important NBA Players From a Sneaker Standpoint (15-11)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Basketball is back, but who has been making waves in Kicks On Court<\/strong> since way, way back? Much like last year, we’re counting down the 25 most important NBA players ever from a sneaker standpoint. Retooled, re-listed and remastered, check out our picks below and look for the countdown to continue with five more players each day.<\/p>\n When a great player creates an unforgettable moment in a particular shoe, the legacy of that piece of footwear is undeniably heightened. Such was the case with Michael Jordan taking his “last shot” in the Air Jordan 14, Dee Brown’s promotion of the Reebok Pump Omni Lite in the ’91 Slam Dunk Contest and Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game in the Nike Zoom Kobe I. These moments are cherished forever, and everything about them are remembered, including the shoes that were worn. Yet, Vince Carter<\/strong>‘s feat in the Nike Shox BB4<\/strong> might be the greatest example of how one athlete’s moment can greatly impact the trajectory of a particular shoe’s success.<\/p>\n During the 2000 Olympics, the 6\u20196 Vince Carter, wearing the Nike Shox BB4, drove to the basket, took flight, and dunked With his freakish athleticism, Carter became the rightful poster boy for Nike Shox technology. The commercial and critical success of Vince Carter’s backing of the Shox BB4 eventually led to the birth of Carter\u2019s signature line, which lasted for five seasons.<\/p>\n There’s no doubt that Nike’s Shox technology itself changed the footwear game forever. In 2000, the shock absorbing and energy returning system was futuristic in terms of Nike cushioning technology for the new millennium. The Shox “springs” gave the shoe an innovative look and designer Eric Avar, who was inspired by space suits for the upper, helped create an irrefutable iconic silhouette. But it was Vince Carter’s dunk that elevated the Shox BB4’s importance.<\/p>\n -George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n photo via Legendary Auctions<\/em><\/p>\n Bob Cousy<\/strong> changed the game of basketball with his flashed-up fundamentals and innovative play. His fancy passes and precision ball handling captivated fans, all while paving the way for the likes of Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and Jason Williams. \u201cThe Houdini of the Hardwood,” Cousy ran the point for the Boston Celtics through out the ’50s and into the ’60s. His prestigious resume includes 6 NBA Championship Rings, 13 All-Star Games, and 12 All-NBA selections. For his efforts, Cousy was named to the 50 Greatest Players of All Time list.<\/p>\n While Cousy\u2019s game had showtime written all over it, the mass marketing of athletes and shoe contracts were still years away during his playing days. Nevertheless and so much the more, Cousy would spearhead such sales tactics by becoming one of the first basketball players to endorse products and appear in commercials. As a Celtic, he endorsed PF Flyers<\/strong> and in many ways birthed basketball’s concept of the signature shoe decades before it became the norm.<\/p>\n These days, the likes of Forbes and ESPN run features based on the current athletes with the highest grossing endorsement deals. Just the same, NBA stars continue to cash in on shoe deals whether active or retired. Looking back, let’s not forget that Bob Cousy took some of the first footsteps for a business that’s still booming today and a culture that supports it.<\/p>\n -Ian Stonebrook<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n all photos by Getty Images via Zimbio<\/em><\/p>\n Simply put, Kevin Durant<\/strong> represents everything good. I mean, with the exception of Lil’ B, who doesn’t like Kevin Durant?\u00a0The perennial All-Star has a good heart and a great effect on numerous people, and it is clearly evident through the popularity of his footwear.<\/p>\n First off,\u00a0before signing with Nike in 2007, he let it be known that he wanted a\u00a0mid-range priced shoe in hopes of being more affordable for everyone. He sighted the main reason for this was the fact that he came from\u00a0a place where none of his friends could afford to spend big money on a pair of shoes. Shocking from a then-19-year-old rookie, right?<\/p>\n Additionally, brands have become great at storytelling through sneakers and what KD represents can been seen throughout his shoe series.\u00a0There’s the “Aunt Pearl” sequence, which pays tribute to his aunt of the same name that passed away from lung cancer in 2000. In regards to the ongoing series, Durant said, “I made a promise to myself to always honor my Aunt Pearl for the example she set, and the encouragement she gave me to follow my dreams.\u201d Then, there’s the collaboration with Nike on an N7<\/strong> version of his signature shoe, which positively connected Durant to the Native American community in Oklahoma City and across North America.<\/p>\n Let’s be honest; every silhouette in Durant’s signature line is not great but his character being attached\u00a0to them makes them more likable by the masses.\u00a0There are now more Nike KDs<\/strong> seen on NBA courts than any other Nike Basketball shoe at the moment, and you see more Nike KDs at your local gym than any other shoe from any brand. Sure, a lot of that has to do with the price point, but the fact that everyone loves KD should not be underestimated.<\/p>\n -George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n photo via Celtic-Nation<\/em><\/p>\n Brands want eyeballs on their endorsers’ feet and that ad space doesn’t get much bigger than being the big man in the Big Apple. For 15 seasons, Patrick Ewing<\/strong> was exactly that. As a center for the New York Knicks, the 7-footer laced up everything from adidas to Nike over the course of his career. His early days with The Three Stripes would be associated with bulky high tops like the adidas Attitude<\/strong> and adidas Conductor<\/strong>. These models sported the colors of the city’s celebrated hoop squad, seeing casual crossover on the streets over the course of the ’80s and years later in retro life.<\/p>\n While #33 was a superstar with adidas, he proved a boss in his next deal. Shelving the Stripes, Pat teamed up with Next Sports to launch Ewing Athletics<\/strong>. The big man took the concept of a signature shoe to new heights by birthing his own brand, releasing and wearing the shoes of his namesake from 1991 to 1996. As originals, the Ewings would be sold in Eastbay all while appearing as a very forward-thinking branding move by Pat. As retros, the shoes have proven popular on the lifestyle market, gaining major traffic in off-court wear.<\/p>\n Of all the hardwood legends, Patrick Ewing may be the only player that’s been relevant from a footwear standpoint before, during and after his pro career. From his Nike Terminator<\/strong> touting days at Georgetown to the retro resurgence of Ewing Athletics, Patrick’s proven to be a fixture in the KOC culture.<\/p>\n -Ian Stonebrook<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n all photos by Getty Images via Zimbio<\/em><\/p>\n Nate Robinson<\/strong>\u00a0has and always will be the wild card of sneakers. Since the beginnings of our Kicks On Court column and the commencement of identifying a Kicks On Court Champion at the end of each season, Robinson has been consistent, well-documented and always pushing the envelope in regards to doing the unthinkable on court when it comes to sneakers. Robinson was deemed our first ever Kicks On Court Champion, as he wore sneakers such as the “Birthday Bundle” Nike Zoom LeBron IV<\/strong>, the “Kryptonate” Nike Foamposite Lite<\/strong> in the Slam Dunk Contest and the “St. Vincent-St. Mary’s” Nike Zoom LeBron V<\/strong> during the 2009-2010 NBA season, in which he played for both the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. But if we were to name each and every shoe he has worn during his career, it would takes days that we don’t have. His impact, however, stretches further than any one shoe he’s worn. It is more so his willingness to do the outlandish things on court that makes him effectual to this day.<\/p>\n The 2012-2013 NBA season bulges out as one of the most watched campaigns, both playing-wise and from a sneaker standpoint, for Nate. It was during his lone season with the Chicago Bulls – one of the best statistical years of his career – that he demanded the basketball world’s attention through shoes more so than his performance at times. There was the moment he wore the favorable “Miro” Air Jordan 7<\/strong> in a triple overtime thriller during the playoffs, another game in which he wore a different shoe in each quarter of a regular season matchup, a night in which he wore the “Concord” Air Jordan 11<\/strong> with the Bulls’ pinstripe jerseys as a nod to Michael Jordan during the 1995-1996 NBA season, and overall lacing up 22 different Jordans over the course of the 2012-2013 NBA season. The only non-Jordan he wore that year? The\u00a0Nike Air Yeezy 2<\/strong> Black\/Solar Red against the Spurs in a regular season game during the month of March. Also, while not credited for being the first player to wear custom sneakers on court, he unofficially reignited the custom craze by sporting a few during the Bulls’ first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n Although Robinson has bounced around from team to team during his 10-year NBA career, he will be looked at, years from now, as one of the leaders of the league’s shift to wearing any and everything on court.<\/p>\n -George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n Tune in tomorrow for players 10-6!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Basketball is back, but who has been making waves in Kicks On Court since way, way back? Much like last…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3328,"featured_media":470782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[835],"tags":[1226214,1225587,1225551],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n15. Vince Carter<\/h2>\n
on<\/del> over Frederic Weis in what may be the most memorable Olympic basketball moment ever. The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal that year, and the \u201cle dunk de la mort\u201d would go on to be the most talked-about moment during that Olympic basketball run.<\/p>\n14. Bob Cousy<\/h2>\n
13. Kevin Durant<\/h2>\n
12. Patrick Ewing<\/h2>\n
11. Nate Robinson<\/h2>\n