Kicks That Changed the Game

1917: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

Without this classic, we might not even be here. Originally released by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in 1917, the shoe’s namesake started wearing it in 1921, and it only grew from there. Nearly 100 years later, it’s popular with just about everyone.

1969: adidas Superstar

Worn proudly by legends like as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, “Pistol” Pete Maravich and Jerry West, the adidas Superstars made their real mark on ballers of the hip-hop variety. “Walk this Way...” “My adidas...” Run-DMC forever, you heard?

1973: Puma Clyde

Mesmerizing on and off the court as one of the game’s first big guards—and first fashion plates—Walt “Clyde” Frazier had the shoe to match his look in this classic suede kick that seemed to predict the rise of lifestyle-ready hoops shoes.

1982: Nike Air Force 1

A high-quality hoop shoe that achieved on-court cred thanks to the phalanx of NBA stars who rocked it in the ’80s—and Rasheed a generation later—Air Force 1s became cultural landmarks when they started appearing “Uptown,” and in every part of town. Three-plus decades later, more a low-top lifestyle shoe than a hi-top hoop shoe, AF1s are as popular as ever.

1986: Converse Weapon

The shoe of choice for a gang of NBA All-Stars, the Weapon boasted an aggressive, big look that might have seemed out of place on Michael Jordan but was perfect for its high-profile endorsers like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kevin McHale and Isiah Thomas.

1996: Air Jordan XI

Winner of the “Best Shoe of the SLAM Era” honors when we polled readers for SLAM 100, this is the gorgeous shoe that brought Mike back from retirement No. 1. Off the court, it’s the one that took retro insanity to a whole new level.

2012: Nike LeBron X

NBA MVP, NBA Championship, NBA Finals MVP and Olympic Gold all in one year? It’s the type of year only a king in royal shoes could pull off. LeBron James rocking full-length visible Nike Zoom with Flywire and Hyperfuse construction did the trick.

(from slamonline.com)