FIND OUT WHAT THE MOST POPULAR SNEAKERS WERE FROM WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT UNTIL 2000!
1917- First ever basketball shoe was the chuck taylor all stars. It paved the way for other shoe company's to make sport specific sneakers. The first time the shoe hit the floor was in 1921 and has gone to be the best selling sneaker ever.
1972- Nike introduced the first basketball shoe with a swoosh on the side; the Nike Blazer. The shoe was made famous by NBA player, George Gervin. Since then Nike would go on to dominate the basketball courts.
Mid 1970's- Puma made there way into the market when Clyde Frasier was the first to sport his own line of signature low tops. However Pumas impact in basketball culture was short and sweet.
Late 1970's- Converse brought a new look into their shoes and ended up being teamed up with Dr. J. Later Magic Johnson and Larry Bird started to wear these sneakers and really made them popular for basketball players around the world.
1983- Nike Air Force 1 created the first basketball shoe with an air sole unit in it. This increased the cushion of the sneaker. Ever since Nike came out with these air units the shoe game was changed forever.
1984- This is the year that the shoe game changed forever both on the court and off the court. When Jordan stepped on the floor for the first time sneaker nerds were born all over the world. Jordan gave different brands a name in the basketball industry, starting with the "too colorful" signature warm ups that wound up banned on the court.
Late 1980's- Adidas became a mainstay on the court when Patrick Ewing started his own line called the "Ewings."
1989- Reebok produces "The Pump" and tries to one up Nike by allowing the consumer to "pump" air into the shoe by repeatedly pressing a basketball on the tongue of
the shoe. Nike then tried to produce their own version of the Pump by
creating the "Air Pressure", unfortunately they did not have the luck
that Reebok did.
1994-1999- Jordan retired and Nike was forced to push signature lines for other NBA players. (Barkley,
Pippen, Penny, and Reggie) The Barkley's were most popular since Jordan
retired, they surpassed Jordan's not only in price, but in functionality,
design, technology and popularity. Reebok also found their player in
Iverson and created their own line for him.
2000- After year of research and development Nike finally came out with Shox technology. Their main guy to popularize these sneakers was the high flying Vince Carter.