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Throwback Thursday: Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT JuiceAfter the era of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson ended in 1992, Converse looked to their roster of NBA players and selected the young, powerful, and promising 1992 Rookie of the Year Larry Johnson for a premier signature line.

The first shoe of two signatures LJ wore for Converse was the Converse Aero Jam. Thanks in large part to the advertising campaign that promoted the shoes, LJ and his shoes quickly earned the nickname “Grandmama.” LJ even took this a step further when he appeared on the family sitcom Family Matters as “Grandmama.”

The Converse Aero Jam featured the cushioning and support system REACT juice in the heel and around the back of the ankle providing just what the 6’7″ 240lbs. Power Forward needed on court.  Besides the tech, the shoes featured some attractive details such as a fading splattered midsole, textured heel midsole, and fading colors on the removable cover.  Featuring LJ’s jersey number on the front of the shoe as well as the Hornets colors there was no mistaking these shoes to be anything but the “Grandmama’s”.

The Converse Aero Jam was retroed before in 2003 celebrating its 10th anniversary, but this all took place before Nike acquired the suffering brand.  The shoes returned in three colorways, but none matched any of the originals as well as no REACT juice.  Converse, now that you are with the master of retros, please have this shoe return!

Get a better look at these kicks after the jump as well as a sz 14.5 development sample we came across in our sneaker hunts.  I wonder who that was made for? :-)

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

Converse Aero Jam Grandmama REACT Juice
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”

  • bootlegcraig

    damn, yall got a sample of these? They look like those shoes that light up when you walk. lol. Ugly shoe, but props to whoever owns these.

  • JKINGOFMOCITY

    I remember seeing these at my local Weiner’s store back in the day for $10!!

  • Soleman23

    GOD DANG~~~
    I remember these when I was young..
    These are still fresh…
    There are no more characters like back in the days.
    Nowadays young kids only know about Nike…
    CHeck out Larry Johnson(Gramma) Converse shoe commercial.
    Still hilarious!!

  • bootlegcraig

    hehe..you said weiner

  • B LoVe

    i wuld LOVE for dese to come back out!!…sick…

  • $keet$

    I remember these joints from back in the day. These are still ill faded to this day. I had the black joints and if thosed were retroed, i’d be the first in line to cop!

  • looser Kid

    MY FAVORITE PAIR OF KICKS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!

    I got 3 pairs on ice from the retro couple years back… these are the shoes that got me into sneakers.. (well these and the grant hill 4′s”

    BEST THROWBACK THURSDAY

  • d2j

    they did re-release them like 2 years ago… and i got a pair of all blacks and white/navy these are ever so rightous

  • street steez

    hardest Throwback Thursday to date. much props Nice Kicks!

  • Jedi_23

    didnt they retro these already….i thought i saw them in the eastbay….(i think)

  • d2j

    yeah they did… that is what i just said in comment 8

  • sneakFREAK

    Jedi_23,

    Matt already said they came back, but it was a while ago when Converse wasn’t owned by Nike. I passed on them back then because they weren’t done right. Wack colorways and no react cushioning = pass.

    Props for pulling this one out, but seriously, where in the world did you get LJ’s size?!?!?!

  • Jason

    A M A Z I N G

    Converse, Nike, get together and do this thing right!

  • swanson

    MAN I REMEMBER THESE JOINTS THEY BRING BACK GOOD MEMORIES! IT WAS THE SUMMER WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE 7TH GRADE AND I HAD THE FINEST GIRL IN TOWN ON MY JOCK CAUSE OF THESE KICKS DAMN THOSE WHERE THE DAYS! LARRY JOHNSON WAS THAT DUDE

  • A. Morrison

    I love these. I just picked up a pair of retros from my local Dunhams for $30.00 last week.

  • Jedi_23

    COOLNESS…wish i wouldnt have passed

  • http://my.nicekicks.com/user/nikeindabutt.html nikeindabutt

    Great pair of kicks! I miss the days when players and companies were doing fun things…the marketing campaigns were so creative and the characters/slogans, etc. were all unique…the lack of interesting & likeable characters/players has really hurt the NBA.

  • 23wins

    FRESH!!

  • Stoj23

    Good job Nicekicks, I had these back in the day with my Rex Chapman jersey(charlotte).

  • BIG FRED

    ohhhhhhh shnap! i had the black joints when i was a junior in high school in ’93!! i wore these joints everywhere!!

  • Jon Blaze

    i remember when they retroed them and they just sat on shelves….shoulda picked up them up cuz they were cheap as hell

  • yung albino

    before i read the name or took a really close look at the shoes i thought they were really hardbody old school Nikes but converse did come correct on these what has happened to convrese since these?

  • Heat Tha 916er

    Yea these were dope but just like the Patrick Ewings and select few of Nikes in those early 90′s the side of the sole turns an ugly yellow no matter what care giving. Hopefully they will bring em back with better material.

  • cman

    i saw some ugly pictures of these on google. It’s like the toe of the sneaker was pushed up.

  • 99ers

    muggsy bogues conquers all

  • rauls054

    NICE SHOES GRANDMAMA

  • Pheen

    Can you even find a pair of these still? These bring me back. They kind of resemble the Aqua VIII’s.

  • Kevo Grand

    Oh, the memories! React juice, ftmfw!

  • jhov259

    bring em back… only if lj’s back would have held up, he was a hell of a player

  • greenmaker24

    these r just amazing

  • King

    w aquas wea u at?

  • JaRdon

    CleaNesT ConVeRses i have ever seen

  • http://www.nicekicks.com Dee-Nice

    PROBABLY THE ONLY CONVERSES THAT I’VE SEEN BFORE THAT I LIKE THESE ARE FRESH

  • BxBomber

    these bring back mad memories….
    seeing the poster at the v.i.m. on fordham rd while shoppin for some skool kicks……

  • http://nicekicks hertz

    theze r nice… they look like nike air raid

  • Flatsole

    Very nice shoe, I remember wantin these BAD back in the day

  • Simba

    “Told You Before How I Bring the Drama, Slam Larry Johnson and His Grandmama WHAT YOU WANT N***A!” classic Notorious B.I.G line

  • cuzo904

    These take me back. Tha 90′s was great! Great post Nicekicks.

  • solesaved

    I remember when LJ was in the slam dunk contest that was classic. I know these was retroed not to long ago i THINK you can still pick up a pair at pickyourshoes.com

  • aj

    had these back in the day.
    this was a dope time to be a kid!

  • Eddy

    I remember these I had a chance of getting them back in 7th grade But I ended up getting the Jordan 8′s But I loved these shoes Brings back memories and Wow I remember how cool they looked on L.J

  • gonzo

    There was a problem with the react juice leaking! I was working at footlocker and had to send them all back to converse. Same with the KJs.

  • mike

    dont bich about this but they have some parts that remind of the jordan 8

  • FIREPOWER23

    WOW! these are dope! I only vaguely remember these, but I didn’t know the were retroed!!!
    Gonna have to add to my grail list!!
    So did the retros have the same tech with the juice?

  • http://www.myspace.com/sirecommunications J.King

    I was expecting the TARMAX but Matt…

    You exceded my expectation on this one!

  • g1phone

    *correction.. the first signature shoe was the aero glide and the cover wasnt removable. This was his second signature shoe.. Props for the post just get you info correct

  • g1phone

    *these came out in 93 to btw the aero glide’s were released in 92.

  • J.D.
  • http://www.myspace.com/porn0graffiK Darneezy

    I wish I could get a pair of these.
    Never got them and wanted ‘em BAD AS HELL!

    I think I had gotten all the shoes moms was gonna by me for that school year.
    LOL!
    :(

  • g1phone

    looked em up n they got em for $85 here http://www.converse.com/index.aspx?mode=pd&sku=1Q596#productdetail
    Comment by J.D. — December 7, 2008 @ 8:05 pm

    No Sizes!

  • Suwoop

    fresh n they looklike air raids if only there was a black and red colorway

  • PeteMadrid

    I like the first Aero-Glides that came out these are like the second version a lot uglier than the first…anyone know where you can by the first versions?? I had the Black and Purple ones…

  • Buggin’ Out

    Anybody calling these ugly probably don’t remember these selling out back in the day. I remember getting these in white for X-mas but really wanting the black, teal and purple. It’s ironic that the Hornets were the most popular NBA team at that time and that Jordan played off that and released the Aqua Eight’s.

  • Michael

    anybody have a pair in good condition that they want to sell?

  • Max

    I got a red white color aero jam, they are great but I really want to get the navy white one.
    They are the best converse shoes ever in history.

  • shoehead313

    anybody who has this same colorway hit me up at hazzeylyrical@yahoo.com I need a size 8.5 or something close

    I have a pair of size 9 retroed black and red ones I found some if the guy who wants some to buy I have them I never wore em but they didn’t have a a box because they were on a clearance racks

  • Javo

    Hi! I have size 7 US (25 cms MX)?
    What is the price with send Mexico, DF zip code 09900?
    Thanks!

  • steven

    Hello do you know where I can find these in size 11 11 1/2 or 12. I had these when I was growing up and would love to have another pair. Either in this color or the black/teal color combo. Thanks

  • Casey

    I have a pair for sale that I purchased in 2005 from PickYourShoes.com, size 12 if anybody is interested? Worn only 2 times outside but I’ve cleaned them up so well you can’t even tell, they’re THAT clean. Contact me via email – Kojiro64@comcast.net :)

  • LauraO

    i’m selling a pair! size 12 black never been worn original box. they’ve got the react gel and original tags, too. i can send pics to whoever wants them. they’re from the reissue a few years ago. so rare. lemme know if you want ‘em.

    • BBALLERREDD

      STILL HAVE THOSE CONVERSE AERO JAMS FOR SALE

  • Steven

    LauraO I’m interested in them. How much you asking? You can send pics to Boostf3d@vzw.blackberry.net. Thanks.

  • T

    I will take them if the price is reasonable. Size 12 is perfect. Black or white will do.

  • http://www.mbtshop.jp/ mbt

    hi,
    everybody, take your time and a little bit.

  • http://www.mbtshop.jp/ mbt

    hi,
    everybody, take your time and a little bit.

  • Piff2Gedd@Me

    DAMNNN, LOVE THESEEEE JOINT WASS FLAVAFUL .. WISH THEY WOULD RE-RELEASE EXCLUISVE LIMITED PAIRS :)

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