NBA All-Star Weekend’s Most Iconic Sneakers of All Time
The NBA All-Star Game has never been known for its exciting on-court action. Long maligned for its lack of defense, the annual midseason event is more of a superstar showcase than it is a competitive contest. What the weekend does promise is high-flying slam dunks, three-point prowess and an early glimpse at the top players of tomorrow. And for the footwear-focused viewers out there, All-Star Weekend has also been one of the biggest stages for sneakers. From shoe debuts to unforgettable moments that solidified stars, these are NBA All-Star Weekend’s Most Iconic Sneakers of All Time.
The first truly iconic All-Star Weekend sneaker moment came in 1985, when a rookie Michael Jordan competed in the Slam Dunk Contest against other stars such as Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins and Clyde Drexler. With gold chains dangling from his neck, Jordan wore his first signature sneaker, the Air Jordan 1, in its infamous black-and-red “Banned” colorway. Jordan would ultimately fall to Wilkins in the final round, but the moment is on record as one of the only times the Chicago Bulls legend actually wore the black-and-red Air Jordan 1 on an NBA court — despite how Nike has managed to market the sneaker in the decades since.
While Jordan’s sneaker moments alone could make up much of this list, his other most pivotal pair came in 1988, again in the Slam Dunk Contest. Once again facing off against Wilkins in the final round, Jordan pulled off one of the most impressive feats of acrobatics in his entire career, soaring from the free throw line to the rim in his “White Cement” Air Jordan 3 sneakers. And for the All-Star Game itself, Jordan wore the equally iconic “Black Cement” version of the sneaker, but it was his free throw line dunk that lives on in the memories of most fans.
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It’s not only Air Jordans that have stolen the show. In 1991, Boston Celtics point guard Dee Brown won the Slam Dunk Contest with a no-look maneuver after preparing by pumping up his Reebok Pump Omni Zone 2 sneakers. And in 1997, a rookie Kobe Bryant made a name for himself by winning the Slam Dunk Contest in the Adidas EQT Elevation (now known as the Crazy 97). A few years later, in 2000, another brand was in the spotlight when a young Vince Carter took flight to win the contest in the And1 Tai Chi.
To date, one of the biggest years in All-Star Weekend sneaker history took place in 2012. This was during a time when signature basketball sneakers were at peak popularity and Nike’s cult-favorite Foamposite line was about to become bigger than ever. The brand rolled out a space-themed collection complete with signature sneakers for LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Bryant along with the “Galaxy” Air Foamposite One. The astronomical “Galaxy” Foamposite pattern drove sneaker obsessives into a frenzy with massive lines at just the handful of stores that stocked the shoes. One hopeful buyer even posted a Craigslist ad offering to trade his car in exchange for the coveted sneaker.
Like the All-Star action itself, the weekend’s shoe releases have had their ups and downs. Not every year is an instant lay-up for sneaker brands. But with new energy created from signature lines belonging to exciting young players like Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant and (if things go according to plan) Victor Wembanyama, the future of athletic footwear at All-Star Weekend is in good hands.
