NBA All-Star Gear - Footwear

by Craig Kwasniewski

Time now for the first edition of the ever popular: Guide to the NBA All-Star Gear. The first part we'll focus on the kicks (or shoes for the AARP).

Every year in February, the signature NBA shoes have a special All-Star edition. Usually they are more flamboyant (translation: not Spurs like) and come in limited release. Here's the rundown:

Air Jordan Melo 5.5: ($125.00) These shoes are great for watching the All-Star game at home... just like Carmelo. Seriously, nothing is funnier than the "All-Star Edition" for a non-All-Star. Can we follow this notion for other things in life? Like issuing the Oscar Edition DVD for Last Holiday. FYI - You would think that Nike learned from last year's Melo All-Star Edition as he didn't make the team either.

Nike Air Zoom Kobe I: ($129.99) Mamba's Nike signature shoe... very conservative look for an All-Star edition... and that's the problem I have with them. Remember when he had the Adidas kicks for the All-Star game? Now that was true flamboyance!

Adidas T-MAC 5: ($124.99) If you have a bad back and like Houston-style hoops (slug-it-out and score under 80 points a game), these shoes are for you. Actually, back in the Orlando Magic days, the T-Mac's were good basketball shoes for a good price ($100). Then Adidas raised the price and gave the shoes more bells and whistles (like having an autographed floorboard in the shoe). Who needs that stuff?

Adidas Men's Garnett 3: ($149.99) Now this shoe is all about All-Star panache... not in a good way. It's kicks like these that kill any reputation Adidas had regarding basketball shoes. These have to be the ugliest shoes since the Kobetwo's (which led to Kobe ending his contract with Adidas). Also, if you're sporting The Garnett 3's playing hoops, you'll find yourself missing all clutch shots and inexplicably calling people mutherfucker all day.

(One more thing, can't Adidas come up with a cooler name than "The Garnett 3?" What about the Garnett TLB? (TLB - twelve letter bomb) Come on Adidas, let's put the the marketing department to work.)

Reebok The Answer IX Pump: ($124.99) I'll be honest with you, I don't know much about the Iverson edition shoes. So I'll play the role of bad columnist and cover up my lack of knowledge with some numbers. This is the 9th edition of his shoe, Iverson averages 33.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists a game this season. (smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors, smoke...)

Converse Wade All Star® Edition 2 Pack: ($175.00) When I first saw these shoes I thought, "what a rip-off! You pay extra for All-Star shoes and some shitty converse retreads!" Then I read Sole Collector's review of the shoe and I changed my mind. Basically this set commemorates Wade's past and present with the Converse shoe in the Marquette colors and the Wade's sporting the All-Star colors. According to Sole Collector, each set "contains both the Converse WADE and Pro Leather Ox wrapped in custom printed tissue paper celebrating Wade’s Chi-town roots. A small poster is also included in the deal." Both shoes are stylish and not crazy-obnoxious. And the bells and whistles somehow caught my eye. I may have to give an extra pint of blood this week to get a pair, but they may be worth it.

Comments

[Brett]

I actually like the TLBs (non all-star edition, all black with blue sole), but will never buy them becaue KG is an overrated beyatch.

[Brett]

One more, I may buy those D-Wades and then sell the high tops, those old school lows are pretty fresh yo.

[KAREN ONEILL]

I AM LOOKING FOR ADIDIAS T-MAC3 SIZE 12 IN RED. I HAVE 16 YEAR OLD AND THESE ARE ALL HE WEARS. HE HAS BEEN THROUGH THE RED, BLUE (2), WHITE AND NOW IS BACK TO WANTING RED. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT 2-3 PAIRS OF EACH YEARS AGO. WHO'DA THUNK? CAN YOU HELP?

[Craig]

Try searching ebay for them. I've seen several pairs of the T-MAC 3's there and at good prices.

[ATM]

Yo I love The Melo 5.5 only in Blue. I those in a size 11 1/2 ya' digg?!

[farhad.jojolevesque]

Adidas T-MAC 5

[nike shose]

Do you take donations via paypal?

[nike sb]

Do you know what is the meaning for ?

[Brad Miller]

I had such bad diarehhea in my pants last night...dude