With Lamelo Ball’s signature shoe, the Puma MB.01, set to drop next month, a local sneakerhead ranks the 5 GOATs


Fifteen games into the NBA season and Lamelo Ball continues to impress. He leads the Charlotte Hornets in assists, rebounds and steals, and he ranks second in points per game.

What has gotten less attention is his potential impact on sneaker culture.

According to the Undefeated, in the league’s 75-year history, fewer than 85 players have earned the distinction of having a signature sneaker. Ball, last year’s Rookie of the Year, joined that elite group when he opened the 2021 season sporting his new signature shoe — the bright orange-red Puma MB.01.

The shoe is set to drop next month with an official retail price of $125, according to Puma. (Some online sites are asking far more.)

But will the MB.01 ever earn a spot among the best signature kicks of all times?

We put that question to Darryl Hines, a local sneakerhead.

Darryl Hines, owner of Velocity Boutique. Photo by Jalon Hill

Hines has witnessed the evolution of sneaker culture since his days growing up in the 1980s. He now owns Velocity Boutique, a former sneaker store in the University area that switched to selling clothing.

Hines said that while he likes the MB.01, he believes that Ball, a 6-foot-7 point guard, must improve as a player before his shoe can reach the Pantheon of sneaker greatness.

“If Melo comes in with a more all-around complete game, stardom is there,” he said.

Here are Hines’ picks for the top 5 signature sneakers of all time:

  1. Michael Jordan – “Chicago” Air Jordan 1
“Chicago” Air Jordan 1. (Photo Courtesy of StockX)

Believe it or not, the North Carolina guard was once a fan of Adidas and almost didn’t sign with Nike. But after Adidas failed to match Nike’s offer… well, the rest is history.

What makes the Air Jordan so special? In a league where black-and-white shoes were the norm, the Air Jordan featured red, one of the Chicago Bulls’ primary team colors.

“We embrace it because it was weird, and that’s what the streets do — we embrace different,” Hines said.

Now 18 years after Jordan played his last NBA game, his Air Jordan brand has become synonymous with sneaker culture — the greatest of all times.

2. Lebron James – Nike Air Zoom Generation

Lebron James’ first shoes, Nike Air Zoom Generation (Photo Courtesy of Hoopstar)

Lebron James has been heralded as “The Chosen One” since high school, when many saw him as Jordan’s heir apparent.

Nike saw James’ potential in 2003 and signed him to a seven-year, $90 million contract, the richest NBA rookie sneaker deal.  He would get the Nike Air Zoom Generation, his first signature shoe, before playing in his first game.

Now after 19 seasons (and counting), James has lived up to the hype, and so has his shoe.

Hines, not the biggest Lebron fan, recalled that his own son, now 27, idolized the four-time MVP and wore the Nike Air Zoom Generation to school as a kid.

“His shoe was versatile and had a dual-threat [appearance],” Hines said. 

3. Penny Hardaway – Nike Air Foamposite 1

Nike Air Foamposite One (Photo courtesy of eBay)

Unlike his peers on this list, Penny Hardaway didn’t get a signature shoe until after he had spent a few years sporting other Nikes.

The 6-foot-7 point guard’s shoe had multiple variations, but the Foamposite quickly became a best seller. The royal blue colorway, released in 1997, cost at least $200 — $80 more than an average pair of Jordans at the time.

Hines said that while Hardaway’s performance on the court was a factor in sales, the look and comfort of the shoe made it a must-have cop.

“He was a transcending player with a shoe that also transcended from the court to the streets,” Hines said.

Hardaway’s shoe re-gained popularity in 2012 –some five years after he retired.

4. Allen IversonReebok Question 1

Reebok Question 1 (Photo courtesy of StockX)

Allen Iverson brought hip-hop Culture to center stage in the NBA. While other players wore suits and blazers pre-game, Iverson wore baggy clothes, durags and jewelry, while also sporting his signature cornrows and tattoos.

Despite being challenged by the NBA commissioner and media about his appearance, the 6-foot point guard’s gritty style of play and rebellious attitude made him beloved by fans, leading to more sales to his signature shoe — the Reebok Question 1.

Hines said he and other fans supported Iverson’s shoe because of his underdog status and the way he carried himself on and off the court.

“Impactful player to the court and to the culture, and the shoe did the same thing,” Hines said.

5. Grant HillFila Grant Hill 1

Fila Grant Hill 1 (Photo Courtesy of eBay)

Fila wasn’t as popular as Nike and Reebok, but the signing of Grant Hill in 1994 boosted sales and brought the brand back to sneaker relevance. 

While a series of injuries cut Hill’s career short, his impact to sneaker culture remained strong in the late 1990s.

People wanted to wear his shoe — the Grant Hill 1 — because they looked good on and off the court, said Hines, who recalled being unable get a pair despite traveling to numerous stores throughout Maryland.

“When you have that type of sellout, that type of energy for people to try to look for the shoe, you can’t question what that shoe was,” he said.





Source link

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

13 + seven =