One can only imagine what cool signature sneakers he could have had in Hornets teal and purple colorways when looking at this less-than impressive boot-like signature shoe. Chalk it up to just another one of those weird and amazing things that could only happen in the ‘90s.Īlthough Alonzo Mourning had been with Nike ever since he entered the NBA as the star center for the beloved Charlotte Hornets, he never received a signature shoe until 1997 after signing with the Miami Heat. John Wallace wasn’t even a star player, and nobody was expecting urban fashion label Karl Kani to make a performance hoops shoe. The result was one of the most random and obscure signature hoops shoes ever.įrom Glen Rice’s Nautica’s to another unlikely signature basketball shoe, we now take a look at New York Knick John Wallace’s Karl Kani signatures from 1997. Yep, that’s right, even “preppie” brand Nautica go into the basketball sneaker market in the ‘90’s, inking a deal with sharpshooter Glen Rice who quickly received his own signature model. Actually one of the more popular And1 sneakers ever, the Marbury 1 is set for a retro release later this year. Starbury’s most prominent years in the NBA were during the late ‘90s and early 2000’s, but you can go all the way back to 1996 to find his first signature model, the And1 Stephon Marbury. As for ITZ, we’re not sure if anybody knows exactly where they came from or when they eventually faded away, but suffice it to say, these are about as obscure as a signature basketball shoe can get. Unfortunately, Hurley suffered a serious car accident early in his career, and although he bounced back, never returned to the skill level he was at before the tragic accident. Short-lived brand ITZ (In the Zone) signed a deal with a young Bobby Hurley fresh into the NBA after his successful college career at Duke, and promptly hooked him up with a signature shoe. If there’s only one sneaker-or even sneaker brand, for that matter-that you’ve never heard of on this list, we’re betting it’s this one. But before all that happened, he was awarded his own signature shoe from Converse, the REACT Juice equipped Sky Rider. All in all, they make for a nice little obscure piece of sneaker history.Ī budding superstar and slam dunk contest champ early in his career, Isaiah “J.R.” Rider never realized his full potential due to on-court attitude and off-court behavioral problems. Not exactly the most technologically advanced sneaker even by 1992’s standards, the Air Force 1-like X-Pro was still pretty cool, featuring big X’s and a strapped high cut. NBA tough guy “X-Man” Xavier McDaniel and a sneaker company whose name began with the letter X were obviously a match made in heaven, and indeed they produced signature shoes together, beginning with the X-Pro. The Mailman would go even more obscure after LA Gear, signing on with APEX for more signature sneakers later in his career. So if you play once a week for an hour, you should be replacing your shoes at least once a year.įor more on the latest gear and tennis technology, visit sneaker brand LA Gear was a major player in the early ‘90s when they even scored all-time great power forward Karl Malone as an endorser for their new Catapult technology sneaker line. If your shoes don’t squeak anymore on a hard court if they’re no longer providing the traction to which you’ve become accustomed, or you’re feeling more foot and ankle soreness than usual after playing, those are all tell-tale signs that your shoes have seen better days.īut even if you don’t notice those signs, the general rule of thumb is about 45-60 hours before the midsole is worn out. In short, how often or aggressively you play can determine whether you need a new pair every few months or as infrequently as once a year. ADVERTISEMENT For instance, a serious baseliner hitting the hard courts several days a week will obviously do more damage to his or her shoes than a casual doubles clay-courter. Bigger players will wear out shows more quickly, and the frequency and style of play – as well as the court surface on which you’re most frequently playing – also plays a role. Lightweight shoes sometimes are not as supportive or padded and tend to wear out more quickly, while heavier, more stable, more cushioned shoes are often sturdier and provide longer wear.īut there are other considerations as well. And different models have different lifespans. Unlike a car needing an oil change, shoes don’t obey odometers. There’s no exact science to determining the life span of your tennis shoes. If your traction is compromised, or after playing you feel more soreness in your ankles, knees or lower back than usual, your kicks have likely already passed their expiration date. Well, the same idea applies to tennis shoes. You’ve probably heard that if you wait until you’re thirsty to have a drink, it’s too late – you’re already dehydrated.
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