Nothing gives one a wicked nostalgia overdrive more than vintage basketball shoes, that is, if you’re a basketball fan. In any sports shoes, nothing got more frequent overhauls or has evolved more rapidly than basketball shoes. The designs vary a lot from era to era, and even modern basketball shoes today still adapt some designing elements from the ones that came before.
As you will notice, the Nike brand has dominated the market (thanks in large part to Michael Jordan and the edgy advertisements). But there was a time when Nike was scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to basketball shoe sales competition. Let’s discuss the vintage basketball shoes that used to dominate the market one by one.
1. Converse Chuck Taylors
The Chuck Taylors are simply the quintessential vintage basketball shoes, or if you prefer, sneakers. If you haven’t seen one of these, then you need to go out once in a while. In fact, the Chuck Taylors are now being used for casual wear. They vary in colors and designs, and they go well with jeans.
The Chuck Taylors were made specifically for the game of basketball way back in 1917. What made the brand more popular is the variety of colors, and players are often inclined to buy the pair that matches well with their respective team uniforms.
2. Reebok Pump Omni-Lite
Ah, the Reebok Pumps. Now that’s nostalgia for you. The Reebok Pump Omni-Lite was the byword among basketball shoe aficionados in the late 80′s. It got even more exposure when the brand signed Shaquille O’Neal during the height of his popularity, and even more so when he wore the kicks in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
The Pumps got additional exposure during the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, when Dee Brown playfully pumped up his Reeboks before going for a vicious no-look slamma-jamma.
3. Nike Air Jordan 1-VII
Michael Jordan, who got drafted by the Bulls in the 80′s, took the basketball world by storm with his amazing athleticism and high-flying acts on the hard court. Nike, a brand that nobody cared about during that time, signed him for an endorsement deal. Since then, the Nike brand has dominated the market.
The Air Jordans were the most sought out basketball shoes from the late 80′s and even today. They were so popular that a lot of students got themselves in trouble and even got killed trying to steal a pair.
4. Converse Weapon
The Converse Weapon can’t possibly get a better endorser during the 80′s when Magic and Bird each wore a pair on the basketball court for several years. The design isn’t entirely striking, but the wide variety of colorways made it a byword among purists. The popularity of the shoes waned when the Air Jordans took the shoe market by storm, but collectors still look for these when adding up to their collection of vintage basketball shoes.
5. Adidas Superstar
The Adidas Superstar is now considered a retro, rightly so since it was the most popular shoe for most of the 70′s. It was worn by one of the greatest Centers of all time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The shoe has dipped into the slipstream of the market’s consciousness until it was popularized again by Run DMC, a rap group who even made a song called My Adidas to pay homage to the once popular shoe.
If you’re collecting vintage basketball shoes, then you can start with the shoes mentioned in this list. Of course, there are other historic basketball shoes that can spruce up your collection, so don’t forget to always be on the lookout.
