Quick Collectibles | Vintage Basketball

Who wouldn’t love the game? Everything makes you feel alive: the peak of adrenaline whenever your favorite athlete is about to dunk, the shouts and screams of supporters when you watch the finals, the heat and the perspiration when you play, and above all– the feel of rubber friction with the hard court every time you or your favorite athletes run to and fro the court. Basketball is a sport loved by many, and you know you are one of those. If you could also feel the same things mentioned above, there is no doubt that you also have a great fascination on basketball shoes. Have a trip down to memory lane, while you recount the evolution of basketball shoes.

The years of 1920-1960s were the years for The Original Chuck Taylors. For over 40 years, Chuck Taylors were seen everywhere in the basketball scene. You may remember also that on those years, the leather-made basketball sneakers were also released. Not far from the same year as well, Puma launched the first ever signature shoe with Clyde Frasier’s low tops.  By the year 1983, Nike launched Air Force 1 with its air technology that caused a great buzz. Thanks to this debut, you and a lot of basketball (and basketball shoes0 fanatics were born. Without this debut, the basketball shoe scenario would be really a dull and lifeless thing.

After Nike’s launch of Air technology basketball shoes, came the bread and butter of it all: The Nike’s Air Jordan Shoes. If you do not know, it was in 1984 when Michael Jordan showed up in the basketball scene. Michael started the basketball shoes era with a bang – he even had a Nike commercial where there was an X mark on his shoes with the word BANNED on it. In spite of his relationship with Nike, do you know that Michael almost got out of Nike and start his own brand? But it did not happen as Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan III. After seeing the wonderful design, Michael decided to stay with Nike. Erwing had a different story though, as he took off from Adidas and started his own brand of shoes.

After that, then came the pumps. Reebok had a swaggering upward move to the shoes consumer market when they introduced the ever first Original Pump. Those were the days that almost everyone from the male population wanted one. Do you remember those days? Aside from a pair of Jordan air you might even have one Reebok pump on your shoe rack.

On to the more recent times: Iverson became the face of Adidas. But the evolution of Basketballs shoes is now questioned as superstar athletes endorse one brand after another, and new shoes can’t seem to make a big buzz. Aside from that, remakes were made to the Air Jordan shoes and are now considered as vintage and are preferred by many.

In conclusion, basketball shoes are now comparable to big boy toys like automobiles and motorcycles. Having a vintage basketball shoes makes you feel strong, energetic and manly. Especially for die-hard fans of the game, nothing compares to the feel of owning a nice pair.

There is no need to argue: Nike is one of the most popular rubber shoes brands of all time. But do you know that Nike wasn’t as popular as it is now? Yes, Nike had a taste of struggle, like any product in the consumer market. In fact, your favorite rubber shoes have a very interesting history. If you don’t know anything about the rubber shoes that most of your favorite athletes had worn, it is time for you to know it. Whether you weren’t born yet, or not yet interested with the basketball game at that time, whatever reason you have for not knowing– you really had missed a lot of action. You may not know it, but basketball and Nike was almost synonymous during the late 80s and early 90s. Let this article enlighten you about the story of Nike and Michael Jordan.

In the beginning, Nike was not big in the shoe market. During the early months of 1984, the brand had struggled to rise on the consumer market. But there came the hero of the basketball industry that saved the not so positive trend of Nike’s sale: Michael Jordan. Yes, the basketball legend is not just the king of the hard court— he was also the savior of Nike.

That year of 1984, Michael Jordan was just a rookie. Your favorite player of all time was hesitant to partner with Nike at first. Good thing Michael’s agent David Falk grabbed the chance. Little did Michael Jordan expect it – but, his partnership with Nike paved way to your desired line of soles, thus the birth of Air Jordans. The coolest thing that happened during those years was when Michael wore the Air Jordan I even during his game. Michael was reprimanded and was fined a whopping $5000 per game. But it gave more popularity to the Air Jordan brand so Nike was more than willing to pay the fines themselves.

Regarding the Nike jump man logo you are familiarized today, it wasn’t until 1987 that Nike started using it. Ten years later, Nike decided to make Jordan Air a sub-brand of Nike. Because of this, then came other Jordan Air sports items.

As of the moment, Jordan Air still releases new designs. It is still evident that a lot of the male population adore the shoe design, as more and more Jordan Air collectors emerge. Every time a new design is out, there are a lot of basketball fanatics like you and me who would do anything to get a pair. Some even ventured in to collecting vintage Jordan Air basketball shoes. The best about it is that designers actually get their inspiration from Michael himself. They ask Michael’s opinion and also get inspiration from Michael’s hobbies and movements.

Truly, if you are a hard core basketball fan, you would understand how Jordan Air shoes heighten your adrenaline. Your knowledge about Nike and Michael Jordan would definitely come in handy. It could be your source of inspiration; it could be your source of strength. Now that you know the whole story, I bet you would start collecting now.