As teams begin to find their rhythm or realize it’s time to start tanking, the 2018-2019 NBA season has been a thriller. A rollercoaster of emotions, the fast-paced games and nail-biting finishes have impressed, but one thing in the NBA that has been hot since the first tip-off of the season is, per usual, the sneakers.
In this week’s installment of Kicks On Court, we take a look at the 10 best shoes the league had to offer. Disclaimer: it wasn’t easy narrowing it down.
Take a look at the list below as number one might surprise you. Keep it locked in with Nice Kicks for Kicks On Court and so much more this basketball season.
10. Nike Kyrie 1 “Dream”
+ The “Dream” was the first pair of Kyries to ever hit the market
+ Uncle Drew dropped 37 points over the Knicks at MSG in his first signature sneaker
9. Nike Kobe 10 Elite “What The”
+ The Nike Kobe 10’s upper is constructed through Flyknit technology
+ De’Aaron Fox dropped 20 points and 4 dimes in these gems against the Toronto Raptors
8. Levi’s x Air Jordan 4 “Black Denim”
+ Tinker Hatfield’s second creation with Jordan Brand as he integrated nubuck and a ventilated upper panel
+ Marks the second collaboration between the two prominent style brands Levi’s Jeans and Jordan Brand
7. Nike LeBron 11 “What The”
Allonzo Trier in the Nike LeBron 11 “What The” (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)+ The LeBron 11 featured Lunarlon cushioning and a Hyperposite upper during The King’s days with the Miami Heat
+ Iso Zo dropped 21 points against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden
6. Air Jordan 21 “Red Suede”
+ The Air Jordan 21 was designed by D’Wayne Edwards and was inspired by the Bentley Continental GT
+ Tyreke Evans dropped 17 points as the Indiana Pacers stunned the Boston Celtics
5. Nike Kobe 5 “China”
PJ Tucker in the Nike Zoom Kobe 5 “China” (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)+ This colorway pays homage to Kobe’s deep fan base that extends to Asia, specifically China
+ Tucker ranked the Kobe V amongst his favorite performance shoes when we spoke to him this summer
4. Nike Air More Uptempo “Doernbecher”
+ The Nike Air More Uptempo was worn by Scottie Pippen during his run with the Chicago Bulls
+ For the past 15 years, OHSU Doernbecher Freestyle Program gives kids the creativity and freedom to redesign iconic Nike silhouettes as the proceeds go to hospitals they’re patients of
3. Nike Kobe 4 “Prelude”
Kelly Oubre Jr. in the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “Prelude” (Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)+ The Nike Zoom Kobe 4 revolutionized basketball sneakers by taking the Black Mamba’s line to a low-top form
+ The Nike Zoom 4 “Prelude” is a member of the “Prelude Pack” that dropped the first eight Nike Kobe silhouettes in celebratory colorways
2. Nike Air Fear of God 1
+ Amongst the first players, including PJ Tucker, to rock the unreleased pair on the hardwood
+ First collab between LA-based designer Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear Of God label and Nike
1. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack” Friends & Family Edition
PJ Tucker in the F&F Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack”‘ (Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)+ The purple suede iteration of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack” is a grail for many but a casual hoop shoe for reigning Kicks On Court champ PJ Tucker
+ The Purple Suede is the third member of the Air Jordan 4 “Cactus Jack” collection
+ Tucker debuted the Blue “Cactus Jack” 4s last season in the NBA Playoffs
