Throwback Thursday: Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
 After 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”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
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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.
Comment by bootlegcraig — December 4, 2008 @ 11:58 am
I remember seeing these at my local Weiner’s store back in the day for $10!!
Comment by JKINGOFMOCITY — December 4, 2008 @ 11:58 am
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!!
Comment by Soleman23 — December 4, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
hehe..you said weiner
Comment by bootlegcraig — December 4, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
i wuld LOVE for dese to come back out!!…sick…
Comment by B LoVe — December 4, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
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!
Comment by $keet$ — December 4, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
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
Comment by looser Kid — December 4, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
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
Comment by d2j — December 4, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
hardest Throwback Thursday to date. much props Nice Kicks!
Comment by street steez — December 4, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
didnt they retro these already….i thought i saw them in the eastbay….(i think)
Comment by Jedi_23 — December 4, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
yeah they did… that is what i just said in comment 8
Comment by d2j — December 4, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
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?!?!?!
Comment by sneakFREAK — December 4, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
A M A Z I N G
Converse, Nike, get together and do this thing right!
Comment by Jason — December 4, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
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
Comment by swanson — December 4, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
I love these. I just picked up a pair of retros from my local Dunhams for $30.00 last week.
Comment by A. Morrison — December 4, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
COOLNESS…wish i wouldnt have passed
Comment by Jedi_23 — December 4, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
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.
Comment by nikeindabutt — December 4, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
FRESH!!
Comment by 23wins — December 4, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Good job Nicekicks, I had these back in the day with my Rex Chapman jersey(charlotte).
Comment by Stoj23 — December 4, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
ohhhhhhh shnap! i had the black joints when i was a junior in high school in ‘93!! i wore these joints everywhere!!
Comment by BIG FRED — December 4, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
i remember when they retroed them and they just sat on shelves….shoulda picked up them up cuz they were cheap as hell
Comment by Jon Blaze — December 4, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
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?
Comment by yung albino — December 4, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
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.
Comment by Heat Tha 916er — December 4, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
i saw some ugly pictures of these on google. It’s like the toe of the sneaker was pushed up.
Comment by cman — December 4, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
muggsy bogues conquers all
Comment by 99ers — December 4, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
NICE SHOES GRANDMAMA
Comment by rauls054 — December 4, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Can you even find a pair of these still? These bring me back. They kind of resemble the Aqua VIII’s.
Comment by Pheen — December 4, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Oh, the memories! React juice, ftmfw!
Comment by Kevo Grand — December 4, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
bring em back… only if lj’s back would have held up, he was a hell of a player
Comment by jhov259 — December 4, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
these r just amazing
Comment by greenmaker24 — December 4, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
w aquas wea u at?
Comment by King — December 4, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
CleaNesT ConVeRses i have ever seen
Comment by JaRdon — December 4, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
PROBABLY THE ONLY CONVERSES THAT I’VE SEEN BFORE THAT I LIKE THESE ARE FRESH
Comment by Dee-Nice — December 4, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
these bring back mad memories….
seeing the poster at the v.i.m. on fordham rd while shoppin for some skool kicks……
Comment by BxBomber — December 4, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
theze r nice… they look like nike air raid
Comment by hertz — December 4, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Very nice shoe, I remember wantin these BAD back in the day
Comment by Flatsole — December 4, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
“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
Comment by Simba — December 4, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
These take me back. Tha 90’s was great! Great post Nicekicks.
Comment by cuzo904 — December 4, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
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
Comment by solesaved — December 4, 2008 @ 10:00 pm
had these back in the day.
this was a dope time to be a kid!
Comment by aj — December 4, 2008 @ 10:17 pm
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
Comment by Eddy — December 5, 2008 @ 1:12 am
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.
Comment by gonzo — December 5, 2008 @ 1:15 am
dont bich about this but they have some parts that remind of the jordan 8
Comment by mike — December 5, 2008 @ 6:43 am
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?
Comment by FIREPOWER23 — December 5, 2008 @ 7:05 am
I was expecting the TARMAX but Matt…
You exceded my expectation on this one!
Comment by J.King — December 5, 2008 @ 11:46 am
*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
Comment by g1phone — December 7, 2008 @ 10:03 am
*these came out in 93 to btw the aero glide’s were released in 92.
Comment by g1phone — December 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I 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
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!
Comment by Darneezy — December 8, 2008 @ 2:52 am
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!
Comment by g1phone — December 9, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
fresh n they looklike air raids if only there was a black and red colorway
Comment by Suwoop — December 10, 2008 @ 9:00 am
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…
Comment by PeteMadrid — December 11, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
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.
Comment by Buggin' Out — December 12, 2008 @ 10:41 am
anybody have a pair in good condition that they want to sell?
Comment by Michael — December 27, 2008 @ 2:50 pm