Image via Complex Original
HeGotLead
When it comes to basketball movies, nothing out there messes with Spike Lee's He Got Game. The flick dropped in 1998 and seemed like the realness — a number-one prospect going through bribes, girls, and keeping the love of the game above everything else. Add the scenario of raising your sister alone after your father murdered your mother and donning such a biblical name — Jesus. If you haven't already peeped it, get your ass to your local Best Buy and grab a copy immediately. For those of you that have, you already know that the film goes hard with some classic basketball shoes from the '96-97 era as well as a few other rare finds. We break out our guide series for Jesus Shuttlesworth and one of the greatest sports movies of all time. You can catch all of the shoes from the film after the jump and do your best if you're watching along not to get caught up with the assistant coaches at Tech U. Click here to check out A Complete Guide To Spike Lee's 'He Got Game'.
TotalMaxUptempo
Nike Total Max Uptempo
Yeah (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: From the opening scene we catch Jesus on some NBA Jam type fire stroking three-balls with ease (pause) and you already know Ray Allen's jumper is the truth. During the scene we get a quick look at the Total Max Uptempo which was worn by Tim Duncan of the Spurs, but also sharpshooter Reggie Miller. When you're the number one recruit in the country we aren't really going to quarrel with you about your footwear selection — just keep dropping buckets son.
Chucks
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Lows
Year (of Sneaker): 1917
Complex says: Were not sure how many packs of Newports Jake had to hand over to get laced with some Chucks in Attica, but you have to respect his heart. Even though he is upstate doing a bid for killing his wife, he still gets outside on the reg to get in a few jumpers in the classic Converse.
AirMoreUptempo
Nike Air More Uptempo
Year (of Sneaker): 1996
Complex says: You remember Scottie going hard in these during the '96 Olympics. The large 'AIR' on the side panel of the sneaker makes these stand out from almost any other Nike basketball shoe and the full Max Air unit was king when they first dropped. If you didn't love them you could always pop one and shoot them back to Nike for something new — c'mon, we all did it. In this scene when Jesus and the Rail Splitters get in a pick-up game at The Garden (the Coney Island one) we catch a pair on the feet of a player.
TeamJordan1
Nike Jordan Team 1
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: Easily one of the dopest Jordan team concept shoes to ever drop, they were huge with Cincinnati and California. During the same pickup game at The Garden one of the opposing players (Vin Baker!) shows off the Team 1s briefly as he passes the ball in. We are still waiting on a retro release of these.
FoamsOG
Nike Air Foamposite One "Royal"
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: Booger is the de facto point god of the Lincoln squad and also Jesus' little cousin. In the pickup game we learn dude is slacking a little on D but his kick game is proper. At the time nothin' was really messin' with the Foams or the Rail Splitters. Nice to see Spike incorporate such a classic into the film. As proved last year, even 14 years later there was mad demand for these. Not so much for the sleeveless rugby tho.
Uptempo97
Nike Air Max Uptempo '97
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: This full Max unit is a better fit for a two man, and is the most featured sneaker on Jesus' feet as they appear four times while he is winning state titles, scrimmaging with his boys, and from highlights on the jumbotron at Tech U. We know Buffy and Suzie were watching — Brooklyn in the house.
FoamPearls
Nike Air Foamposite Pro "Pearl"
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: The Fomaposite Pro "Pearls" were clean and one of the most memorable kicks from the film. Everyone remembers them from the scene where he questions his father's past on the bench at the park. We're guessing that Ray probably hit up Nike for some new shit and knew these were a perfect fit — just as smooth as Jesus' game. Good call.
J13s
Air Jordan XIII
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: This was pretty dope since the XIIIs had not been out that long — credit that to Spike wrapping this film up in 23 days. As soon as Jake gets a little walking around money from his prison chaperones, he hits up the local sneaker spot to grab Mike's latest and greatest. The ankle monitoring bracelet and being unable to lace them doesn't hold him down — $150 with tax later and he is on the court putting in work.
TerraSertig
Nike Zoom ACG Terra Sertig
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: The boot is a little more Wale's style but Boogs is trying to act like he has a few extra inches. One of Nike's doper colorways — the Terra Sertig has been released a few other times in the past few years but nothing like the colorway Booger rocked in the movie.
QuantumForceII
Nike Quantum Force II
Year (of Sneaker): 1990
Complex says: As we go back to Jesus' childhood we get a look at his little cousin Booger (yo those shorts were fresh) staying true to the early '90s in the Quantum Force IIs.
SonicFlight
Nike Air Sonic Flight
Year (of Sneaker): 1992
Complex says: When hitting flashbacks of Little Jesus, Spike stays true to form using a sneaker from 1990 around the time of the scene. The Sonic Flights aren't a household-name Nike by any means but they were a solid takedown of some of the better-known (and higher-priced) Nike b-ball kicks of the time.
MovinUp
Nike Air Movin' Uptempo
Year (of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: The little brother of the Uptempo family got a little shine in He Got Game as well. During the scene when Jesus plays two-on-two with his teammates we catch them on Shuttlesworth and a teammate right before the million-dollar shot. Gotta be the shoes?
AirHawk
Nike Air Hawk Flight
Year (Of Sneaker): 1997
Complex says: Best known for being on Gary Payton's feet with the Sonics, the Hawk Flight was all about being low to the ground and quickness. In the final scene, Jesus and his father Jake go head-up for the last time before Jake heads back to Attica. Jake is playing for an attempt to get Jesus to sign with Big State and hopes of getting out the state pen a few years early. Jesus doesn't hold back putting down years of aggression in the form of an ass-whooping. Interesting fact — the script played for a 15-0 victory until Spike told them to play for real. C'mon Ray, how you gonna let Denzel score on you like that? He got game.