9. Who do you think is the top dark horse candidate to win the 2014 Kicks On Court Champion award this season?
Schwadron: Outside of the more obvious selections, some names that come to mind include Terrence Ross, DeMarcus Cousins and the Morris Twins. But if you’re looking for a real dark-horse candidate? Give me Quincy Miller of the Denver Nuggets. He’s still finding his footing as a player, only playing a handful of minutes per game in his second season, but he’s quietly one of the L’s best when it comes to kicks. He mixes in new stuff, like the HyperRev or Flightposites, with retros like Jordan IIs, IIIs, Xs, XIs, and the Melo 1.5s in Nuggets colors. I think as he continues to improve as a player, he’ll start to get even more shine as a sneaker freak.
Holdahl: I’ll do for my fellow Portlander and say Terrence Ross. He switches between Kobe VIIIs, LeBron XIs and various retro Jordans on a game-to-game basis and he gets extra points from me for wearing the Doernbecher 10s, which have an added significance to those of in Rip City where the children’s hospital is located. There’s a balance between staying fresh and trying too hard, and I think T.Ross straddles that line well.
Kiel: Quincy Miller is on pace to really contend for the Champion award at the end of the season. He switches it up constantly and has brought out some shoes we rarely see in the NBA, such as the “Silver Anniversary” Air Jordan 2 and the “CDP” Air Jordan XX. All we need is for Coach Shaw to give him some more playing time.
Cason: Watch out for Matt Bonner in San Antonio, now that he’s signed with adidas. I’m expecting big things between the three stripes and the Red Mamba. I’m actually going to go with DeMarcus Cousins for my dark-house candidate as big men don’t get much love and I can only think of Andre Drummond as the only other big who adds some variety in what they wear. It also goes without saying that finding some of the kicks Demarcus does in such a big size is work in itself.
DePaula: The guy that needs to get more love is Isaiah Thomas. He’s got some sleeper PEs of both Kamikazes that are amazing! Otherwise I might have to go with PJ Tucker, Draymond Green or Tony Wroten. They all have a nice rotation so far this season, and I think Draymond does an amazing job with the colorblocks on his Nike iDs. He might have a future as a Product Line Manager when he’s done hoopin’.
