Although football season is running the sports stations currently, basketball season is right around the corner seeing that NBA Training Camp began this week. With that said, one of your favorite columns, Kicks On Court, will revive itself shortly. However, until then, our Nice Kicks staff has designed an ongoing feature that will spotlight the timeless signature sneaker lines of three memorable players: one from the distant past, another from the recent past and one that currently plays. Today, we start at the point guard position; therefore, check out the signature sneaker lines of point guards Magic Johnson, Gary Payton and Chris Paul here. |
In addition to being one of the most versatile players to ever do battle under the bright lights of the NBA stage, Magic helped bring Converse to the forefront of the basketball footwear conversation. At the time of his signing, Magic’s 25 year, $25 million contract was the highest in NBA history. What may seem like NBA pocket change now was record setting in 1982. Johnson could, and did, play all 5 positions on the floor and, standing 6 feet 9 inches, he possessed the handles of a 5 ft. 9 inch point guard. With the versatility of a modern day King James, Magic was a nightmare check for defenders throughout the nearly 2-decade span of his career. Many sneaker fans and basketball junkies who watched television in the 80’s will remember the Magic Johnson and Larry Legend Converse Choose Your Weapon campaign. Both players donned team colors of their respective Converse Weapon’s. Magic sported the White/Gold/Purple Laker’s Cons for the majority of his career and turned them into a staple for ballplayers spanning from L.A. County to NYC. Another model of Cons were also fabricated for Magic called the MX Thrillin, though he never wore them during his career. After a falling out with converse stemming from contract negotiation issues, Magic started his own company called Magic 32. Similar to the modern day Starbury’s, Magic’s affordable basketball shoes were a hit among parents and kids not looking to drop more than $40 on shoes.
| Converse Weapon ’86 1986-87
| Converse MX Thrillin
| Magic 32
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