Name, Performance or Style: What Do You Want in a Basketball Shoe?
When I was in college, I used to tell myself that with my first paycheck from my first full-time job, I was going out and buying a pair of the newest Jordans. After growing up in a position where I could never afford J’s or any other shoe that flirted with triple-digits on the price tag, that would be my gift to myself for making it through school and starting my career. And I didn’t care how ugly or uncomfortable that season’s Jordans might have been; it was all about the name for me.
It took me back to when I was a kid and my favorite players were Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Reggie Miller. If I’d had the money, I would have bought whatever signature shoes those guys released, no how they looked or how they felt. As I got older and started making my own money, cost was the most important thing (that’s when I understood where my Dad was coming from), and I also leaned toward comfort over style, since I knew I would maybe get only a couple pairs of shoes per year. Today, at 26 and playing more basketball now than I ever really did before, performance/comfort is important, style trumps it just a bit on the priority list, and in some cases the name still matters (i.e., the last Georgetown-edition Jordans.)
When you’re looking for kicks, what matters most to you: performance, style, or the name attached to the shoes? Will you resolve to get the new Garnetts before you’ve even seen them? Would you grab a pair of no-names if they gave your game a boost? Would you play in shoes that hurt your feet if you knew they’d be he hottest sneaks on the court?
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July 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
jz_smoove says:
how they look ofcourse, and it better be signature.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
daQuesT?On says:
at first it was the name, i always wanted a pair of iversons but we could not afford it so i worked hard to get one, i dont regret it though but now i buy them for performance, when my shoes are wore down i work and i save my money so that i could go to the outlet and buy me one, btw ive never had a jordan in my life
July 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
AG says:
I just wait for the annual Dime spring giveaways when I need new shoes.
And honestly, having the hottest shoes on the court lasts for like a day. At the end of it you’re stuck with a triple digit price tag and blisters on your foot. Comfort over style any day of the week.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
JHov says:
I guess I went thru phases first the Nike phase(GP’s Zoom Nikes were the pride of my collection back then..couldn’t afford the Penny’s )When I started making a little bank went to Adidas and bought up about every pair of bball shoes they release(T-Mac’s Orlando kix were my favorites) But now I only rock Jordans/Nikes(loving those CP’s the most comfortable basketball show I’ve ever owned)..can’t wait til Saturday so I can go cop my olympic addition hyperdunks!!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
iain. says:
When i was little it was about the cheapest pair. My mum didnt really understand, I got my first job now though and i aint even looking at that price tag. Every Jordan they retro over here (UK) i got them, plus like 15-20 pairs of AF1s, Blazers, Air Force and waiting for my personalized Air Zoom Flight 5′s (the old J-kidd signatures). If you all about the Dollars and Pounds then the shoe game aint really for you. And you best beleive im squeezin’ in to 2 sizes too small if thats all they got!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
rob stewart says:
When it comes to actually hooping performance and style are about equal. If I’m just going to wear the shoe around town then the name becomes alot more important (Like a pair of Jordan XI’s or the Questions)
July 24th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
iain. says:
Just remembered: @Hov you talking bout those Penny Zoom’s.. on my eleventh birthday my dad gave me £40 (like around 80 bucks), sent me to the “mall” and there was this discount shoe joint and right at the back they had those Penny’s for like £30, i didn’t find out who he was til i went to Orlando like a year later. but damn the feelin you get when you find a pair of kicks you love, you sneakerheads know what im sayin.. aaah memories
wish i kept those joints!
July 24th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
I used to be all about the Js and just the name/how they look….now I dont care how they look. I only wear hoop shoes when I ball now so its all about how they feel and perform.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
hahns says:
price was always the main factor for me. i feel guilty, even now, even though i work, buying 100$ shoes. so i go for the shoes that are cheap and look the nicest in that price range.
if i really like a players shoes, ill just wait a year after, until the price drops to get them. like i did w/ the gil0′s i have now
July 24th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
tommy the cat says:
I usually go for the lightest shoes I can find, because I’ve got no hops and I need all the help I can get.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
I want originality.
I like a kick that doesn’t appear to copy the design, theme, or basic idea of another kick.
What do you think about originality Austin?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Luigi says:
id like a shoe with hightops and alot of cushion between my ankles. n alot of protection at my feet. n it has to be lightweight. n it feels good to run in.
oh yeeah style wud be sweet. im thinkn like any time of Nike AF1′s. Dunks. or anything like thats style but different designs of it.
July 24th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
the_baconator says:
top of the list is either style or comfort. in eighth grade i got a pair of black nikes; i don’t even remember the name. they were the most comfortable shoes i ever owned. sadly the tread’s shot on them and there’s holes throughout, but i still love ‘em.
name is def last. kobe 3′s anyone?
July 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
yoda says:
for playing, comfort and ankle support. i really hate these modern mid cut sneakers, not really low cut for walking, not real bbal shoes. as for all around kicks, comfort and looks all the way. never liked signature shoes, most of them are ugly as hell. (of all jordan’s i saw, i liked only few)
July 24th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
CCB says:
Your comments are intriguing but hard to believe. Rarely will ball players go beyond what their friends think is hot. So while New Balance easily makes the best and most comfortable hoops kick out, cats buy Nike cause of the branding and marketing. So while the majority of you are saying that comfort is the key, the numbers say that the brand is the key and NIKE is king.
Or is it that New Balance does not make an appealing shoe? Does Nike sell because they just have more shoes that are better looking or is it because of comfort?
How will k1x entering the Foot Locker realm change the shoe game? Can a new sneaker company make it simply by selling online? I have great interest in your responses.
Chris B
ARC
July 24th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
kobeef says:
I had a pair of AJ 6′s when the came out and they were the best fitting shoe I ever had. I am sure it was the stupidity of being a kid but at the time I felt like I played better with them on.
Ultimately it is about the fit but it is hard to ignore an ugly shoe…so style counts.
The KD Shoe and the ZK3 are both Fugly shoes…especially the KD3 which looks like something you get at Walmart for $8. From what I read the ZK3 is a really nice shoe to wear.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
daQuesT?On says:
new balance sucks i had one of those and theyy suck, i messed up my ankle with one of those
July 24th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Vance says:
If im ballin gotta be hightop, gotta be nike. Almost always dunks, but I will rock the white on gum Converse Weapons from time to time. Nike high tops are where its at for hoopin though.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Gerard says:
The fact is that the New Balances remain untested. We have no testimonials from others telling us how great they are; until you mentioned them I would never have even imagined getting a pair. Almost any product requires the proper marketing to get it past fledgling-mode, and the NBs simply haven’t had that push.
On another level, when you see someone at the courts rocking New Balances, I think the first thing you think is that this guy might be the one you want guarding you, if you know what I mean. Whereas if someone comes in and is willing to put >$150 on their feet, you know there’s a greater chance that they take the game seriously and are more committed. I mean it’s not necessarily a correct viewpoint, but it goes to show how far Nike’s advertising and product placement has come. They are synonymous with basketball at this point, and I don’t remember excitement for a new basketball shoe like that which we’re seeing for the Hyperdunks in a long time. And I worked at Finish Line, I remember when the new LeBron’s came out, etc., etc.
As for me, I agree, ankle support and comfort are key, but I’m still not going to be caught in something that looks terrible. I am a big fan of the Air Zoom Generation IIs (LeBron’s second shoe) for hooping. It gives great support, looks decent on my feet, and performs better than any other shoe.
However, I’ve been caught up in the hype and purchased way too many bad shoes. The VCIIIs, the LeBron IIIs and so many more have just been let downs. I did want those Orlando T-Mac IIs, still looking for a pair that’ll fit me.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
JHov says:
@ Iain (post #7)..yeah I know exactly what you mean! I found those Penny Zooms like 2 months ago at a Nike outlet store and just stopped and stared at them..and thought wow now I can afford them..they didn’t have my size!! Guess its just not meant to be!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
daQuesT?On says:
@ gerard u are right on point
July 24th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Jim says:
I ran with some New Balance shoes for a month or so in college. I knew their running shoes were high quality so I figured they would know what they were doing, and they were like $80 so I tried them. Honestly they looked good and weren’t what everyone else had, so that’s nice. Also, they felt fine. However, they fell apart really really fast. I have never had shoes last me less than a few months at least. These shoes just fell apart. That did it for me, back to adidas/Nike
July 25th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Jeffco says:
well me since i have messed up my ankles too many times
i definitely have to get the ones that feel the best
i need comfort on my feet because im scared of hurting them again
its basically comfort and performance for me
July 25th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Bruce says:
Go to Niketalk for these type of discussions. As for me, I only wear Jordans/Nikes.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am
rob stewart says:
I actually hooped in a pair of Dada’s and they were O.K. They got a C+ in every shoe category (traction, comfort, cushion, etc) Any other Dada testimonials?
July 25th, 2008 at 1:56 am
analord says:
for me it’s always always and always performance over anything else when it comes to b ball kicks.
there’s nothing better than knowing the shoe you play with is right for you. I had those moments when i played in my (now retired) lebron III, 2k4, and Ultraposite.
once I left the US and returned home to Asia, duarability becomes another key factor as indoor courts aren’t so common where i live.
i wouldn’t play in shoes that hurt my foot even if it’s the hottest joint out there..with the exception of the nike foamposite series…
July 25th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Lee says:
When I was in high school I got the Fila Grant Hill shoe. It wrecked my ankles. Had problems with nike / addias / Reebok, always got sprained ankles. Switched to And 1s about 5 years ago and haven’t had a bad sprain since. I’ll go for the And 1s because they’re my lucky brand .. does anyone else do this !!
July 25th, 2008 at 2:42 am
sans says:
i rock New Balances when I ref, but they only last a year before I turn them into work shoes. Of course, in that year I’ll ref 100 games, play 80 games, and run in between, so they last. My biggest problem with Nike’s is all the superfluous shhh on the outside that breaks off on me when some big dude steps on my foot in games.
I’ve been buying my own shoes since I was 13; my moms would give me the $20 she was willing to spend and I’d get what I could get. Played all of high school in Chuck Taylors–they were so light no one could stay in front of me. I bought a pair of Stackhouses, way back when, and the Fila’s were bricks on my feet in comparison to the straight Converse’s.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:16 am
ILL FIL says:
There are certain kicks that are an automatic cop for me – i.e. Penny’s. Any signature shoe for Penny Hardaway I bought. If I didn’t like them from the start I talked myself into liking them design-wise. In general the top priority is the design. If a nice pair of kicks doesn’t look good I won’t try them on anyways so I can’t really judge upon if I wore an ugly shoe only for the comfort because it won’t touch my feet in the first place. Most of the times if you need a pair to play ball in you can find a compromise and get a shoe that looks decent, fits you well and is affordable.
These days I’m looking for quality a lot also. All of those CDP’s Brand Jordan released sucked in terms of quality. Though I like the kicks I haven’t copped any of those packs because the quality is miserable and the price therefore is way too steep.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:02 am
shake&bake says:
I only wear Nike, so I know they’ll have close to the same feel all the time, so then I can go for style.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:39 am
len-e says:
kicks of course got to glisten in performance and style, signature might be ok, but i would never wear “digglers”, even if they are top notch performers. sersiously, just jesterday i balled in some ’97 nike kicks and sucky shoes really take from your game. i would never sacrifice performance for anything tho except (a little) style, as mentioned.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Smitty313 says:
I only wear nikes. I never hoop in Jordans unless I had them for a few years. Mostly Kobe’s and Lebron’s.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
cee gutta says:
No Question, the best kicks to ball in are the ’93 Air Max Barkleys.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Imperial-Mel says:
I had always been on a team that was sponserd by Jordan but, they werent alwasy the most comfortable pairs. I loved the style but i would ache bc of my high ass arches. i found tht coincidebtally KG’s addidas. the best pair ever
July 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
chrisGO says:
im all about the comfort in a show nowadays…its gotta be lightweight and not too high on the ankle
July 25th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Logan Light says:
I play just about everyday now so I need shoes that are durable and fit nice… but I will never buy something that looks hideous. I won’t even try it on.
I’ve owned one pair of J’s in my life and they were a gift so I can’t say that I’m that type of sneaker dude… but I love ‘em. I look at them all the time and dream about having money outside of my responsibilities to cop some.
So with that said, I look, I like, I try on, then I buy. The look might be nice, but if they’re not comfy, they’re not coming home.
LL
July 25th, 2008 at 11:17 am
that's whats up says:
I go for style first. But when I try them on, if they don’t feel right they have to move on. I don’t care how good they look they have to perform, just like my women
July 25th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
doc says:
I get the Mikes regardless what they look like.And after that I get any sneak depending how they look.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
ill Da grouch says:
I used to go for signature but now its comfort. Wade 1.3 are the only pairs i wear now. im at my fourth pair.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Barack Obama says:
if they;re not Air Force 1′s, i dont wear them.
soon, ill be FLYING in airforce 1… after i put a basketball court in the cargo deck!!!
July 26th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Mark says:
For hooping, I’m all about Nike (not Jordan), since they make some pretty foolish moves in marketing sometimes and ultimately slash prices on overproduced kicks. Case in point: Nike Air Zoom Kobe I ($100 discount, anyone?).
Sooo… price, or rather the perception of a deal, is MY number 1 priority. But as long as the shoe has good heel-toe transition, I’m really down for anything.