{"id":510371,"date":"2016-09-22T19:04:40","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T23:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=510371"},"modified":"2016-09-22T19:21:02","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T23:21:02","slug":"throwback-thursday-kevin-garnett-nike-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/throwback-thursday-kevin-garnett-nike-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Throwback Thursday \/\/ Kevin Garnett “The Nike Years”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week, reports began to surface that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett<\/strong> were in talks of a buyout, a contractual settlement that would effectively end his second stint with the team that drafted him fifth overall in the 1995 NBA Draft. This, of course, would likely retire the 21-year veteran, bringing to a close one of the most dominant individual careers in modern NBA history.<\/p>\n

Garnett spent much of his professional life in Minnesota, yet it was his time in Boston alongside Paul Pierce and Ray Allen that he obtained his one and only NBA championship in 2008. Immediately after, he fiercely bellowed “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE” for all the world to hear. That cry of optimism defines KG’s career; a Greenville, South Carolina native with big dreams and even bigger game – a game adorned by Nike<\/strong>. After nabbing Garnett at the start of his NBA career, they laced the 6-foot-11 power forward in generation defining footwear.<\/p>\n

In today’s edition of Throwback Thursday<\/em> we pay homage to a legend, and the Nike Basketball<\/strong> footwear that accompanied “Da Kid” through a Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n

The Early Years<\/h2>\n

Kevin Garnett was a prodigy. Most knew this right away when he gained respect from local hoops street legend Baron Franks, more commonly referred to as “Bear,” at the tender age of 14. He then marveled onlookers during his high school years at Mauldin in Springfield Park, a small city just outside of Greenville. Eventually, he’d transfer before his senior year to Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois. Nike took immediate interest in Garnett even before he finished high school.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin
Kevin Garnett in the Nike Air Way Up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He attended their All-American Basketball Festival in 1993, a gathering of the nation’s top 125 players in Indianapolis. But when KG entered the league in 1995, he quickly signed an endorsement deal with Nike and took flight in a slew of Nike Uptempo gems. KG also famously laced up the Air Way Up, Jumpman Pro and Air Jordan 11.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin
Kevin Garnett in the Nike Air Max Uptempo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kevin
Kevin Garnett in the Air Jordan 11 “Concord”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

A\u00a0Signature Beginning \/\/ Nike Air Garnett<\/h2>\n

After proving his dominance with a virtuosity the league hadn’t seen since Charles Barkley, Garnett was granted his own signature shoe. He helped fill the void Michael Jordan left after retirement, and allowed Nike Basketball to thrive in markets where their influence wasn’t nearly as prominent. The Nike Air Garnett was instrumental in not only setting the tone for consumer awareness, but expanding Nike’s roster to up and coming stars. Nike also introduced new television ads with “The Big Ticket” as a head interrogator of the Fun Police. It was an instant hit.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin
Kevin Garnett in the Nike Air Garnett<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The shoe originally released in 1998 with a premium tumbled leather upper, KG’s name scripted across the heel tab and encapsulated Swoosh branding at the rear paneling. It was also this season when Garnett signed his six-year, $127 million extension with Minnesota.<\/p>\n