Did you know the US basketball sneaker market is expected to be worth over $66.3 million by 2027? The market is ever-increasing, but that doesn’t mean the greats have changed much in the last 30 years.
Thankfully, nobody appreciates a good throwback like a basketball shoe fanatic. Luckily, we’re here today to give you just that.
Read on to learn about eight of the best basketball sneakers of all time.
1. Nike Air Jordan 1
This is where the craze started back in 1985. Sure, basketball shoes were already a thing, but Nike Air Jordan 1’s were the ones that changed the scene for the better. They weren’t that popular with the League when they were first created, though.
Michael Jordan was fined $5,000 every time he stepped out on the court in them. They didn’t follow the League rule of mostly white shoes that coordinated with your team’s colors, but a freshly-signed Jordan didn’t mind at all.
The originals didn’t feature the Jumpman logo, though. That came with the release of Air Jordan 3s in 1988 and has been the brand’s easily identifiable logo ever since.
2. Adidas KB8
The Adidas KB8 was Kobe’s first shoe collaboration with any brand (pre-Mamba days). The name has since changed to Crazy 8s due to Kobe leaving the brand for Nike after the release of his second collab, which didn’t do as well as the originals.
The bold lines and technology that claimed to capture the natural motion of the shoe are what set this shoe apart from the crowd, and marked the start of Kobe’s all-star career. The wrap around the outsoles was big and “bulgy,” meaning they provided solid ankle support for running and moving side to side.
3. Pro Leather Converse
While the original canvas shoe released in 1917 isn’t worn on the court anymore, you can still find Pro Leather Converse during the game. This shoe was released in 1976 and quickly rose through the ranks of the basketball shoe market.
Today, you can find plenty of styles to rock casually or on the court.
4. Reebok Kamikaze
Originally released in 1995, the Kamikaze was Shawn Kemp’s first shoe release as he rose to superstardom as the Seattle SuperSonics’ power forward. The original design came from Ricardo Vestuti, who didn’t know much about Kemp at the time.
Instead, he drew inspiration from a Venezuelan visual artist named Anita Pantin to create the monochromatic shoe released at a time where brightly-colored geometric patterns were all the rage.
It’s easy to see what set Kemp’s collab apart from the competition at that time.
5. Nike Dunks
Nike Dunks come with a pretty simple design, but extreme versatility with its shape and style. It was originally released in 1985 and was originally marketed for college athletes. It drew inspiration from Air Force 1’s but was ultimately a mish-mash of different shoes, which was a popular concept for the brand in the ’80s.
Upon its release, the colors were inspired by different college teams (hence the marketing towards college students), but the style has since created hundreds of designs and colorways. The style’s low-profile midsole has also been adopted by skaters, and both styles are worn casually today.
6. Air Zoom Generations
The Air Zoom was LeBron’s first shoe, released in 2003 right after the superstar signed a $90 million contract with Nike before even stepping foot on the court. The shoe’s design was inspired by LeBron’s Hummer H2, and only five colorways were released to the public on the day of his first home game with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Nike pulled out all the stops with this shoe, too. It featured molded mesh in the heel and midfoot, along with large air ducts in the midfoot that allowed for ventilation and a lightweight shoe. The shoe also boasted heavy cushioning, and an external heel counter and composite plate.
7. Puma Clydes
Puma Clydes and Walt Frazier were two names almost synonymous with one another after this shoe release in the 1970s.
They were the first signature low-top basketball shoes ever to arrive on the scene, and they matched the unique style that Frazier took on and off the court (he was known for his choice of fur coats, dress shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, a cane, and, of course, his Rolls Royce).
Clydes were among the first shoes to cross over from sports to streetwear, and they’re well-loved by skaters today as well. The shoes remain one of the brand’s best-sellers today, and they still release collaborations and special editions.
8. The Question
The Question was Allen Iverson’s first shoe deal with Reebok. He signed with the brand right out of college, and he was met with a custom-made shoe to go along with it.
He signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 as a first-round draft pick, and he stayed with the team throughout his entire 14-year tenure.
The original Question debuted in 1996 with a “Red Toe” colorway, featuring a bright red suede toe cap, red heel counter, red Hexalite cushioning, and a blue outsole to match the 76ers signature color.
Will You Get Your Hands on Some of the Best Basketball Sneakers?
Now that we’ve gone over eight of the best basketball sneakers out there, it’s time for you to decide whether you want to get your hands on them or simply appreciate them from a distance. Some are discontinued, but you can still get them on collector’s sites. Others are in still stores but come with an updated look and design.
No matter what you decide to rock, you have to admit, these shoes still have style.
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