Image via Complex Original
Nothing lasts forever, except Jordan's signature series and Madden football (Madden 2056 will happen) and in business sometimes a fresh start is the best scenario for player's to revitalize their careers—whether it's with a new team or a new sneaker. With the news about D. Wade bolting from Jordan Brand to be the face of Li-Ning we decided to look back at some of the biggest sneaker moves in sports history. From the hardwood to the halfpipe, we break down the 10 Sneaker Endorsement Switches that Made The Biggest Impact. Hit us in the comments and let us know who made the best moves and who really messed up.
Jason Kidd
10. Jason Kidd
Brand move: Nike to PEAK
Jason Kidd was killin' it in Cali rocking Nike Maestros and his transition into the league went smooth with The Swoosh offering him a shot to be one of the primary faces of Nike Basketball. The bug-eye Zoom Flight 95s became an instant classic, but it was his Zoom Flight Fives that helped carry his sneaker legacy (he still rocks them on the court 15 years later). In 2008 Kidd left Nike (he was actually wearing Jordan at the time) to sign with PEAK shortly after taking gold in Beijing. It's hard to argue that the move was anything other than money-oriented since the Chinese brand was throwing millions (and signature shoes) at NBA players at the time. He did win a title rocking PEAK but unfortunately no one was paying much attention to them in the States and Kidd returned back where he started—rocking his Zoom Flight Fives.
Grant Hill
9. Grant Hill
Brand move: Fila to adidas to Nike
A couple years after jumping into the NBA with Jamal Mashburn, Fila signed Grant Hill to an $80 million deal in 1997 (only $10 mil less than Bron-Bron's Nike deal six years later.) During his time with Fila, Hill only played 249 games in nine seasons due to injuries—that's 27 games a season. Hill averaged more games at Duke. Hill spent a few years in Orlando with adidas dealing with more injury issues before landing in Phoenix and signing with Nike and playing a major role for the team in his late 30s—but 30 is the new 20, right Jay? Hill's foot and ankle issues, while not necessarily related, unfortunately brought Fila as much bad PR as their initially signing him brought good.
Kevin Garnett
8. Kevin Garnett
Brand move: Nike to AND1 to adidas to Anta
For as much as KG speaks on loyalty, the guy has been the ultimate sneaker journeyman. We don't blame him for the move from Minnesota to Boston to get his much-deserved ring, but Nike to AND1 to adidas to Anta? Each move lessens your overall impact, a lesson that KG may have learned the hard way. [Editor's note: I have two pairs of AND1 KG PEs where his name is spelled "Kevin Garmett" on the boxes. Long as they cash the checks, I guess.]
Andre Agassi
7. Andre Agassi
Brand move: Nike to adidas
In the 1990s, Andre Agassi had as many classic sneakers as anyone else on Team Swoosh—the Air Tech Challenge II will forever look dope on foot. No other athlete is more identified with Nike other than Michael Jordan, but in 2005 Agassi made the jump to adidas at the age of 35 due to issues with support for his foundation. Even with his career nearing the end (and his signature mullet and acidwash long gone), Agassi's switch to the Three Stripes was a shocker.
Dwyane Wade
6. Dwyane Wade
Brand move: Converse to Jordan Brand to Li-Ning
To be honest, this one should be an incomplete for now, because we have no idea what Dwyane Wade's move to Li-Ning will do for any of the parties involved. As a rookie, Wade signing with Converse was a blue-collar move for Marquette's entry into the star-studded class of 2003. He won a ring reppin' the Star Chevron and it made everyone take notice—even Michael and Tinker. Jordan personally helped select the Illinois-born Wade to make the move over to JB to help carry his name on the hardwood and in the streets. Flash earned his own signature line and brought home more hardware while signed to Jordan Brand. But his own shoes never really pushed crazy units like LeBron or Kobe, and for reasons yet to be made entirely clear, he made a surprise decision last week to part ways with Jordan Brand and move forward with Chinese brand Li-Ning.
Vince Carter
5. Vince Carter
Brand move: Puma to Nike
Few may remember now, but Vince Carter launched into the NBA wearing Puma, a brand that hadn't had overwhelming cachet in the L since the days of Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Then almost as quick as one of his follow dunks, he wanted out, but Puma wasn't going to make it easy. In the interim, Carter took to wearing any sneaker he could get his hands on—and wound up wearing And 1 Tai Chis in what will likely stand as his career's defining moment, the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Finally, with some legal gymnastics completed, Carter was able to make the jump to Nike. Right from the start he was the face of Nike's Shox technology, thanks to once of the greatest dunks of all time in the 2000 Olympics. Could Carter have singlehandedly brought Puma back to b-ball prominence? Too bad we'll never know.
Shaquille O'Neal
4. Shaquille O'Neal
Brand move: Reebok to Dunkman
Let's be honest, no sneakerhead really cared about Dunkman, but the fact is that at the time Shaq left Reebok he had pop culture status like Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson. He was winning games, shattering backboards, drinking Pepsi during Super Bowl commercials, starring in films, and even spittin' 40 bars. No player has quite had the same Hollywood appeal as Shaq. O'Neal's line with Reebok was on point, some underrated kicks and even a classic with the Shaqnosis. The fact that this man walked into a Nike meeting his rookie year draped in Reebok should have been enough for the brand to do whatever was necessary to keep The Big Diesel laced in Reebok for life—they did it for A.I. Instead, he went the Payless route, and—say what you will—gave a lot of kids a chance to wear the same shoe as their hero.
Eric Koston
3. Eric Koston
Brand move: Lakai to Nike SB
In April 2009 skateboard forums thought someone was playing an April Fool's joke when rumors started that Eric Koston was bouncing from Lakai to Nike's SB line. The same kind of rumors had spread earlier to no avail—Koston stayed with longtime sponsor éS. But this time they were true. Koston's Nike line has already earned major notoriety, spreading Lunar to skate, and his sneaquel was one of the most anticipated shoes for the fall of 2012. Skateboard purists shed a few tears after Koston made the move, and they were skeptical that Nike's SB line could pull through, but after the unveiling the other night of Eric's latest—no doubt he's in good hands.
Patrick Ewing
2. Patrick Ewing
Brand move: adidas to Ewing
He made the Nike Terminator a college basketball classic, but shortly after leaving G-Town for the Big Apple he inked with adidas. When you're the most famous face in a city that never sleeps its only natural to try and market and run with it as much as possible—and Ewing decided to leave The Three Stripes to start his own brand. Maybe it's lost in the historical shuffle now, but at the time, a professional basketball player heading his own sneaker brand was a HUGE deal. And while the first Ewing Athletics go-round ended prematurely due to a variety of internal troubles, the hope is that the recent re-launch will last quite a bit longer.
Kobe Bryant
1. Kobe Bryant
Brand move: adidas to Nike
Kobe Bryant's Feet You Wear adidas sneakers might be one of the most underrated runs in basketball shoe history and even his KOBE ONEs and TWOs were pretty sick, thanks to luxury vehicle inspiration. Too bad it all had to end there. He left adidas at the height of his powers, wore ridiculous Jordan player exclusives (along with just about everything else) while in limbo, then inked with Nike in 2004. Since then, all Kobe and his Innovation Kitchen team (word to Eric Avar) have done is more or less re-invent the basketball shoe.