The multi-month sport of basketball has come to an end. Here is a handful of the twenty pairs of shoes I have worn throughout the season and my review
1. Jordan Lift Off
The Jordan Lift Off is a takedown model of the Air Jordan 6. These are a Jordan Brand shoes that I found in a Nike Outlet in Petaluma, California, for around $100. They resemble similarities to the Jordan 6 with a white leather upper and clear outsole. The tech specs in the shoes are the exposed air unit in the heel creating a cushioned landing. There is minimal cushioning in the forefoot and a stiff shank in the arch of the shoe. The shoe is very stiff and not as cushioned as newer shoes. It looks great but on the court it was average. The traction was fine, but I wanted more. Overall, the shoe is a 6/10.
2. And1 Tai Chi
These shoes are best known for being worn by Vince Carter when he won the infamous 2000s dunk contest with a 360-windmill dunk. The white leather and red suede upper hugs your foot. There is thick ankle padding in the ankle collar making it a comfortable fit. The cushioning on the shoe is lacking especially in the forefoot, but the upside to less cushioning is more court feel. It is a shifty shoe that can withstand quick cuts and mid-range jumpers. Overall, I rate it a 7/10.
3. Air Jordan 1
The Air Jordan 1 is the first signature shoe under the Air Jordan name. He debuted the shoe in November of 1984. However, I do not understand how Michael Jordan was able to play a whole entire season in this shoe. The upper is classic and fits nicely, but if a player wants to wear this shoe safely and comfortably, they need to wear thick padded socks. The cushioning is terrible. The only thing between the foot and the ground is a little bit of rubber and a thin Air unit in the heel. The grip on this shoe is absolutely amazing. The outsole tread stays relevant even after fourty years. I recommend keeping these shoes on the streets. Overall, the Air Jordan 1 is 5/10.
4. New Balance TWO WXY V3
This shoe has a lot of colors. A bright light blue upper with neon green and red hits. It is very bright on the court, the cushioning is comfortable, the grip on the shoe is amazing, and I was not worried about slipping at all. One thing I did not like about the shoe is the how the New Balance logo goes onto the tongue of the shoe. When I wore these shoes, they were not a huge problem, but I can see it being annoying if tied too tight. Overall, I would rate these an 8/10. It could have been better.
5. Nike KD Trey 5
The Kevin Durant Trey 5 is a shoe that is more affordable compared to the main Kevin Durant shoe line. It does not have as nice of material and technology. The most significant part of the shoe is the Air unit in the forefoot. It has a lot of bounce that is helpful for rebounding and jump shots. The traction is good but not the best. The shiftiness of the shoe can also be its downfall. When I was getting shifty, it was rubbing against my forefoot and after a while it started to hurt and irritate my foot. The style of the shoe was not my favorite. Even though it is white, I just don’t like how it looks sometimes. It plays nicely, one of the bounciest shoes I own. Overall, the KD Trey 5 deserves a 6.5/10
6. Nike KD 17
The Nike Kevin Durant 17 is the second newest signature model from Kevin Durant. The upper of the shoe is inspired by the Nike Air Max TN 2000. It has a mesh upper that is breathable and light. The cushioning is one of the best with an Air Strobel unit in the heel on top of soft foam. The traction is really good, even on a dusty court. I find these shoes very reliable and awesome. I give them 9/10.
7. Nike Freak 5
The Nike Freak 5 is the NBA’s two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo fifth signature shoe. It is named after his nickname “The Greek Freak”. The massive swoosh on the side of the shoe is its most notable feature. There is a lot of cushioning in the heel for shock absorption when the user jumps. The shoes are a lot heavier than expected. They have a good amount of bounce from the Air Zoom in the forefoot but that makes it a little bit heavier. The traction was above average. I did not slip very much when playing. Overall, these shoes are an 8/10. I would use them again.
The design and materials are perfect. This is a 10/10.
8. Nike KD 17 “Aunt Pearl”
The Kevin Durant “Aunt Pearl” is designed to commemorate Kevin Durant's Aunt Pearl’s death. She passed away due to lung cancer. The theme with all KD “Aunt Pearl” colorways is they are all pink. The KD 17 “Aunt Pearl” is made with upgraded material better than the main KD 17 model. The pink suede upper makes the shoe stand out above the rest. It has the same technology as the KD 17. This is one of my favorite shoes. The design and materials are perfect. This is a 10/10.
9. Adidas AE 1
NBA superstar Anthony Edwards got his first signature shoe in late 2023. It was eye catching to say the least. I was lucky enough to find my hands on some on the Adidas app for a retail price of $110 not including taxes. I got the red and black AE 1 to match with Cascade colors and it was the only one in my size. The red rubber outsole runs from the bottom to the middle part of the shoe, so it hugs your foot. These shoes feel snug and comfy but that also make them feel heavy. Adidas put boost foam in the midsole for bounce and cushion. The worst part of the shoe is the lacing system. The laces are not good. I give these an 8/10.
10. Air Jordan 2 Low
The Air Jordan 2 is the second signature shoe of the Jordan line. It is a slight step up from the Jordan 1, because it has a little bit more cushion in the midsole, but the grip is a slight downgrade from the first model. The idea for the Jordan 2 was to make it high end in Italy with Italian leather. Now they don’t use Italian, but they use synthetic leather. The shoe is very narrow and has a nicely padded tongue. The low top version of the 2s has thicker padding in the ankle collar compared to the high-top counterpart. I wish I had the opportunity to try the Jordan 2 high, because they cover more of the ankle and look more comfortable. A major issue I had with the shoe is it made my foot bleed. It irritated the outside of my foot the entire game which made it hard to run in the fourth quarter. On the upside, they are surprisingly quick. They are light on my feet. This shoe deserves a 5/10.
11. Jordan Air Ship
This was Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe with Nike. Many think the Jordan 1 was the first but in 1984, Jordan’s rookie year with the Chicago Bulls, he played with the Nike Air Ships until he debuted the Jordan 1 on November 17, 1984. The Nike Air Ship was banned by the NBA in 1984 in the black and red “bred” colorway, because it did not fit the league’s uniform policy. This led to Nike’s banned add campaign for the Jordan 1.
This shoe has a classic retro vibe to it. The white leather upper is nice and is a simple design. The grip is amazing. Like the Jordan 1, they can stop on a dime and move easily. The worst part of the shoe was its cushioning. It has no cushioning other than a small air unit and some foam in the heel. My feet started to hurt in the second half after playing the whole game. Overall, I rate these 5/10. I recommend wearing them on the streets, not on the courts.
12. Reebok Shaq Attaq
The Reebok Shaq Attaq is Shaquille O’Neal’s most popular signature shoe. Shaq signed with Reebok in 1992 before his rookie year with the Orlando Magic. They were the first shoes to use a carbon fiber shank to help with stability and bounce. Another tech spec on the shoe was the “Pump”. It is a system where the player pumps the tongue of the shoe to fill it with air. It is my favorite part of the shoe. However, they are chunky, bulky, and specifically designed for big basketball players. The leather uppers of the shoes retained a lot of heat, making my feet sweat. The cushioning was not bad but could have been better. The grip was the middle of the line. It did not slip but it is not a shoe built for speed. After I wore these in a game, my foot was bleeding and was sore. Overall, I like the design and looks but it was just bulky and not very comfortable when playing an entire basketball game. I give these a 7/10.
13. Nike Lebron 21
The Nike Lebron 21 is one of Lebron James’ many signature shoes. The All-star is the oldest player in the NBA and is still averaging twenty-four points a game. When Lebron and the Nike team designed this shoe, they were cooking. This is sleek and comfortable shoe built for any kind of game play. The traction is just above average however, it picks up dust easily. It has a lot of traction when dusty but it is not as effective. The tongue of the shoe has holes in the foam creating a tongue that will fit to the user's foot very nicely. Overall, the Lebron 21s are a 9/10.
Game 14. Nike Kobe 4 Protro
I was lucky enough to win these on the Nike SNKRS app in December of 2023 for a retail price of $190. They are rare and not common to see, especially on a high school basketball court. The Kobe 4s have an aggressive traction pattern that is very helpful for playing defense against quick guards and strong post players. An Air Zoom unit is placed in the heel for cushion. The black leather upper is more premium material compared to other models of shoes. Its black suede scales on the swoosh and on the toe box represent Kobe’s mamba mentality. A rubber clip flange on the outside of the forefoot provides a stable base. A carbon fiber shank, located in the middle of the shoe, where the arch of the foot would be, provides a stiff support for shock absorption and will help while jumping. I love everything about the shoe, however, I think there should be an air unit in the forefoot for more cushioning and comfort. Overall, the shoe is a 9/10.
15. Air Jordan 38
This might surprise most, but the Jordan Brand has released thirty-nine signature Air Jordan models, and they continue to make them every year. Jordan brand will be releasing their 40th signature Air Jordan model this year. I was able to get my hands on the Air Jordan 38s in the “Aqua” colorway for my seventeenth birthday. The shoes reference the Air Jordan 8s with the same fuzzy Air Jordan logo on the padded tongue of the shoe. There is mesh located on the sides of the shoe allowing for breathability as well as some ankle padding with intricate designs. The translucent outsole is made up of a herringbone design for good traction. The midsole has a plastic cage that runs under the outsole to create stability for the foot. Jordan Brand likes to put in full length air units in the midsole of their shoes giving the shoe a light and bouncy feel. A complaint I have with the shoe is that the rubber on the outsole wears off really easily when I get shifty. It did not affect my play, but it was noticeable. If you lace the shoes all the way up, it can create irritation in the ankle when it rubs against the ankle padding. I recommend lacing up by leaving an eyelet open. I really liked the design and style of the shoe as it was. The Blue and yellow pop well with the black. Overall, this shoe was an 8/10.
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