In recent years, we’ve seen Nike Basketball cut back on quirky colorways tied to holidays or childhood stories for a greater focus on the concepts of Equality and Winning. The latter — or rather the road to it — proved the inspiration for this spring’s “Champions Think 16” Collection.
Playing to the playoffs and the road to winning it all, the collection of kicks paid homage to some of the greatest hoopers to lace up sneakers from the Nike, Inc. umbrella, touching on winning and losing moments alike. This has culminated in an array of unlikely retros more grounded to the hardwood and less about getting ‘fits off. In a roundabout way, the lack of crossover intent only adds to its appeal for those of us obsessed with hoops.
Thinking ahead, we’ve compiled a wish list of the 14 shoes (number 15 will be a 2019 lifestyle model while number 16 rewards the 2019 winner) we’d like to see in next year’s collection and our reasons why. Let us know your picks by sharing with us on social.
Nike
Nike Zoom Kobe IV
His first title with Nike and his first title without Shaq, the Nike Zoom Kobe IV signified a change in design direction for the Black Mamba and the endcap to a wild run.
Coming off a year that saw a Finals loss at the hand of the Celtics followed by a summer winning his first Gold Medal with the Redeem Team, Kobe wouldn’t get much rest heading into the 2008-09 season but it wouldn’t matter as he’d leave victorious. Rocking the Nike Zoom Kobe IV in a glorious run, the shoe still stands as a fan favorite and hooper adored model.
Nike Blazer Dennis Johnson PE
Nike was growing in the ’80s and booming by the ’90s, but in the ’70s they were still a West Coast upstart.
Getting local love from Dennis Johnson on the Seattle Supersonics, DJ donned the Nike Blazer while winning the 1979 NBA Finals, becoming the first Nike-endorsed athlete to win Finals MVP.
Nike Air Hyperflight Jason Williams PE
We’re not gonna front like the first run of retro Hyperflights didn’t flop. Well, so did ’94 Jordans.
One of the reasons Hyperflights might not have flew the second time around was the lack of OG colorways. Well, if we’re gonna celebrate iconic playoff shoes why not purple Jason Williams PEs? Getting tons of TV time and very literal shine during his sophomore season playoff playing time, this would be a great way to get the flashy fan favorite back into the sneaker world.
Nike Kyrie 2 Finals PE
Kyrie Irving proved Captain Clutch as he sunk the Golden State Warriors with a vicious jumper to help give the Cleveland Cavaliers their first NBA Championship. While the moment made him the man, his shoes remain memorable for sneakerheads. His Black/Gold Nike Kyrie 2 PEs were one of many ill makeups he wore over the course of his historic postseason.
Nike Shox BB4
A gentleman and a scholar, Vince Carter proved the latter in 2001 as he attended his college graduation ceremony the same day as Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. A controversial decision at the time, the Raptors lost to the eventual Eastern Conference champs. However, Vince made a strong statement by caring about his cap and gown just as much or more than his Nike Shox BB4s.
Nike Zoom LeBron 7 PS
LeBron may not have won a ring in this shoe, but Think 16 is about the journey, not just the result.
Revolutionizing what many consider to be the best signature in his line for postseason play, the Nike Zoom LeBron 7 PS introduced the idea of shedding weight for a playoff run. The result was just as swaggy as it was sharp.
Converse
Converse Wade 1
Yes, Dwyane Wade is still under contract with Li-Ning, and no, this probably won’t happen. But it never hurts to ask, right?
Well, these are a worthy ask. Worn by Flash as he led the Heat to an improbable comeback win against the Mavericks, these went hard then and still go hard now.
Converse Weapon
The Converse Weapon was the go-to hoop shoe for many of the best ballers to hit the hardwood in the 1980s. Few did more in the shoe than Larry Legend.
Worn in a Game 6 Finals performance that saw the man with jersey number double-triple drop a triple-double himself, Larry put out the Rockets in his Weapon of choice while taking home the title and Finals MVP honors.
Converse All-Star 91
Political reasons will likely never let a Rodman shoe see the light of day in official fashion. That’s a shame, but here’s to hoping Think 16 could change that.
The Converse All-Star 91 was as tough and wild as The Worm himself, worn by the chairman of the boards when he was going at it with Karl Malone on a basketball court and not a wrestling ring.
Converse Pro Leather
Filling in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the five spot, Magic Johnson led the Lakers to their first title since his arrival in the Converse Pro Leather.
It didn’t take long either as Magic was only a rookie when he pulled out his best sky hook to down Dr. J and the Sixers. The shoe synomous with Mike’s game winner at UNC also has deep winning ways in the pro game.
Jordan
Air Jordan 4 “The Shot”
Celebrating the 30 Year Anniversary of The Shot, what better time to bring back the Air Jordan Black/Red with Nike Air on the back?
A lifestyle favorite in modern times, it’s easy to forget just how technologically advanced of a basketball shoe the Air Jordan 4 was when it launched in 1989. Quieting critics in Cleveland, Mike’s clutch shot is still the thing of legends almost three decades after it happened.
Air Jordan 2 Melo PE
*** Local Caption *** Carmelo Anthony
It’s easy to forget, but the Air Jordan 2 Melo PE was a playoff shoe.
Worn by a young Carmelo Anthony still new to the league and postseason, #15 took on KG and the favorited TWolves in a PE pair that still registers as coveted today.
Air Jordan XV Reggie Miller PE
Foe turned friend, Reggie Miller became an ambassador of the Jumpman once Mike hung up his Airs in Chicago. Rocking an Air Jordan XV PE, the Pacers star would reach the first and only NBA Finals of his career, losing to Shaq, Kobe and Lakers but carrying his team to the tune of 24 points a night over the course of the 2000 Playoffs.
Air Jordan 11 Maya Moore PE
The running talk has always been guys get more love with sweet colorways in their size run. Historically, this is true. Lately though, Jordan Brand has been doing an A1 job of dropping heat catered to the ladies.
Adding to that emphasis, how awesome would it be if the first Air Jordan 11 PE to release was that of Maya Moore’s mid tops? A tough colorway that rewards winning, these would turn heads and celebrate one of the greatest players in modern basketball.
