{"id":471087,"date":"2015-11-06T13:31:24","date_gmt":"2015-11-06T18:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=471087"},"modified":"2022-09-17T14:34:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-17T19:34:17","slug":"koc25-the-25-most-important-nba-players-from-a-sneaker-standpoint-10-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/koc25-the-25-most-important-nba-players-from-a-sneaker-standpoint-10-6\/","title":{"rendered":"#KOC25 \/\/ The 25 Most Important NBA Players from a Sneaker Standpoint (10-6)"},"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

10. Ray Allen<\/h2>\n

Maybe at some point, it will be up for discussion. Right now, though, it\u2019s not a debate. There is no question about who has the best Air Jordan player exclusives. It’s Ray Allen<\/strong> by a landslide, and it has been for years.<\/p>\n

Maybe Russell Westbrook will be given a ton of PEs over the course of his career, as he already has some amazing sneakers exclusive to him. Or maybe Jabari Parker will surpass Ray Allen one day seeing that he has been gifted a pretty nice pair as a rookie, but until Westbrook, Parker or anyone else for that matter gets to that level, Ray Allen is the king of Air Jordan PEs<\/strong>, hands down. Always accomplished and recently retired, there should be no confusion as to why he received special treatment and privileges. I mean, he is the longest-tenured Jordan Brand athlete in all of sports, and for that reason he is Jordan Brand’s most important athlete not named Michael Jordan.<\/p>\n

-George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

9. Charles Barkley<\/h2>\n

Charles Barkley may have said he’s “not a role model,” but isn’t he though? In today’s technical landscape where anyone can say anything to everyone with the click of a button, we’re all quick to bite our tongue and we often admires those that aren’t. Sir Charles? Royally rude, potently profound and just play silly, the Round Mound of Rebound has always been brash and bold. His shoes and game were just the same.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the league, Charles Barkley would find a home in Philadelphia and a home in the Force camp. Much like David Robinson to Tim Duncan, Moses Malone would mentor Chuck on the court and Nike would hand down his high tops. Much unlike David Robinson or Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley would prove to have a radiant personality that Nike would have to market much differently with aggressive designs and ad campaigns. After years of quietly juicing the Nike Air Alpha Force<\/strong> and other high profile Force camp kicks on court, the Swoosh would make Charles the face of the Nike Air Force 180<\/strong> and Nike Air Force Max<\/strong>. Michael Jordan’s retirement in 1993 would help pave the way for a Sir Charles signature line to take flight, with the Nike Air Max CB ’94<\/strong> still standing as one of the most prolific player-backed designs ever.<\/p>\n

More known for his commentary than his on court accolades today, it’s easy to forget that Charles Barkley won an MVP award during Michael Jordan’s prime and perfected the power forward position at only six feet and six inches of height. In retro life, Nike Sportswear has continued to keep Chuck’s kicks relevant, reliving the most ‘come at me bro’ basketball shoes of all time.<\/p>\n

-Ian Stonebrook<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

8. Walt Frazier<\/h2>\n

photo via ProHoopsHistory<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Walt Frazier<\/strong> is the NBA\u2019s original fashion icon. Long before NBA Style was a thing, Frazier was a style icon both on court and off court. Fittingly, the PUMA Clyde<\/strong> was accepted on and off court, not because it was a revolutionary shoe but because Frazier wore it. After attaching Frazier’s name to the Clyde, the shoe became an undeniable big hit. As far as popularity, the Clyde was as popular as Air Jordans are today. As one of the first players ever to literally have his name attached to a shoe, Frazier broke ground and is one of the most important sneaker stars in the history of the NBA.<\/p>\n

For one of the first ads Frazier did for PUMA, he was dressed in a mink coat, a wide-brim hat and PUMA Clydes. Ironically, that\u2019s how the athletes dress today \u2013 a dressed-up look with sneakers.<\/p>\n

The Clyde is fashion, and fashion is the Clyde.<\/p>\n

-George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

7. Allen Iverson<\/h2>\n

There’s never the ‘next’ anyone because the ‘first’ was always just that — the first of their kind. Michael Jordan was exactly that type of icon, and by the mid-’90s everyone was looking for MJ 2.0. Sorry, not gonna happen. While rising stars across both conferences would garner similarities to his Airness thanks to swingman build, uncanny athleticism and even the same haircut, they were all just following his footsteps. Someone had to break the mold just like MJ did when he came in the league, but just the same, not like MJ at all. That someone was Allen Iverson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The braids, the tats, the kicks, the moves — this may sound like “Who We Be” by DMX but it’s not. Still, the story line brings just as much bark as Allen Iverson’s aggressive style and controversial image changed the game forever. A once in a lifetime talent, a once in existence icon, Pound for Pound had influence that couldn’t be measured by any modern day social tracking tools, changing the dress code amongst not just his fans but also his peers — a seismic shift that would eventually force the league to change the rules to retaliate. In general, AI was a classic case of coming up and making his culture mass culture. His culture was the streets and he embodied all of that with both his game and his image. Rather than be on some PC BS, Reebok fully embraced all that was Allen Iverson and sold it just the same. The Reebok Question<\/strong> proved an instant classic, rising above its golden era contemporaries and still standing as more meaningful than any model ever endorsed by his draft classmates. For the remainder of his career, the Reebok Answer<\/strong> series sold in bunches and competed with any and every signature line, relying on AI’s exceptional play, Reebok’s strong design and a money marketing campaign.<\/p>\n

In today’s internet era where gossip gets more clicks than good news, it’s possible Allen Iverson will be remembered more for soundbites than highlights. He shouldn’t be. Bubba Chuck was one of the greatest players to ever play the game, giving it 110% every time he touched the floor. Even if media meddles, his shoes will continue to tell the story of the sub-6′ footer that all the big guys wanted to be like.<\/p>\n

-Ian Stonebrook<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

6. Gilbert Arenas<\/h2>\n

all photos by Getty Images via Zimbio<\/em><\/p>\n

Believe it or not, Gilbert Arenas<\/strong> had a hand in creating the erratic NBA on-court footwear behavior we see today. And he impacted the NBA this way in just one season. The former Arizona Wildcat took the NBA by storm, sneaker-wise, during the 2010-2011 NBA season in which he wore a whopping 39 pairs of shoes through the first half of the season and over 60 sneakers throughout the year. Shoes we rarely see on court, such as the Air Jordan 8 Low White\/Metallic Silver<\/strong>, the FILA Grant Hill<\/strong> and the “Bin 23” Air Jordan 9<\/strong>, were worn by the Mr. Arenas during that year. He even had the audacity to bring out a $395 Dolce & Gabbana<\/strong> shoe on the hardwood in a Wizards vs. Lakers game in Los Angeles. Gilbert Arenas birthed this type of behavior, and you can clearly see his effect on the game today.<\/p>\n

-George Kiel III<\/em><\/p>\n

Tune in Monday for the final five players!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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