Words Angela Robinson
It was in the early- to mid-'70s when signature basketball shoes broke out into the market. But in the '80s, one figure dominated the courts. And everybody wanted to be in his shoes - literally. Michael Jordan went on to win six straight championships for the Chicago Bulls and was crowned MVP five times - and in all those times he had his trusty Air Jordans on his feet. 'Til today, even with Michael off the court, Air Jordans are still being produced and are selling like hotcakes, with the Air Jordan XXI expected out early this year. When Jordan retired after the 1998 season, sporting companies began looking for new stars in fresh rookies, and these came in the form of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.
Today, a brand name doesn't guarantee that a shoe will sell; consumers want to play like the player whose name is on the footwear, and that means designing kick-ass shoes that react to the moves of the wearer. Check out these great-looking high-performance shoes, and before you know it, you might be heading to the stores then to the court with ball in hand.
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