Image via Complex Original
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It may not seem that way now, with Chris Paul lobbing them up and Blake Griffin throwing them down, but the Los Angeles Clippers have't always been what you'd call good. But even in their worst times, their kick game was tough to match. And thanks to a constant influx of talented youth, even with sub-par records the team stayed relevant on magazine covers and ESPN highlights. We decided to look back through the franchise's history and showcase some of the dope footwear moments. Click on the gallery to check out The 25 Greatest Sneakers in Los Angeles Clippers History *Q and D. Miles forehead dap* and let us know which kicks reign supreme.
Duckworth-AdjustForce
25. Nike Air Adjust Force
When: 1996
Who: Kevin Duckworth
In 1996 Nike killed it with its Fitwrap Technology, allowing you to remove the straps if needed (which Duckworth did) and also grab them in nearly any color to match up with your teams colors. You probably remember these more on college players like Vince Carter (whose cut wasn't quite so high).
Griffin-AirMaxFlyBy
24. Nike Air Max Fly By
When: 2011
Who: Blake Griffin
It wasn't remotely weird that BG coincidentally dunked over the official car of the NBA — what's next, sponsorship logos on the jerseys? Oh. Nonetheless BG was king of the first half of the 2010-2011 season with his nuts-in-the-face dunks and the Nike Air Max Fly By All-Star PEs. The shoe stayed strapped with a mesh of the Hyperfuse and Air Max technology providing extreme comfort and support for Griffin while he bodied his foes.
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23. Nike Shox VC2
When: 2003
Who: Lamar Odom
Its design was inspired by a Bentley and were guessing by the way Odom was playing in his final year of his contract his game was too. The luxurious VC 2s featured plush lining and a mix of smooth and perforated leathers. Made for Vince Carter, but Odom's game was just as diverse on the perimeter.
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22. Reebok Pump D-Time
When: 1993
Who: Stanley Roberts
Who said Pumps were limited to high-flying guards like Dee Brown? In '93 big (big big BIG) man Stanley Roberts went with Dee's signature Pumps while banging under the boards against Ewing, helping lead the Clippers to a second straight playoff appearance.
Billups-Adizero
21. adidas adiZero "Ghost"
When: 2012
Who: Chauncey Billups
Chauncey has been clutch for over a decade as one of the most productive floor generals in league history — where Chauncey went teams won. Besides being reliable at the point you could catch him laced in Three Stripes kicks, this year embracing the latest lightweight (but not TOO lightweight) go. Oh, we see you too, Enes.
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20. Nike Air Max Uptempo PE
When: 2001
Who: Lamar Odom
The Clippers were a youth movement in the NBA, drafting kids fresh out of high school or gambling on kids early out of college with a lot of upside. Before he was Mr. Khloe Kardashian, Lamar was one of the Clippers smartest draft moves (Michael Olowokandi the year before). Even since his days in high school and college Lamar was known for having a dope arsenal of of Nike and Jordans and during media day 2001 he broke out some just-for-him retro Uptempos. Must be nice.
Q-TB3
19. Air Jordan III "True Blue"
When: 2003
Who: Quentin Richardson
Shortly after the NBA realized the Clippers were the style guide for NBA fans from 13 to 31, they started throwing in retro and alternate jerseys on the reg. In 2003, their new blue heavy threads paired well with the classic 2001 release of the "True Blues". It was nothing for Richardson to un-DS one of his likely hundreds of pairs.
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18. Air Jordan VIII "White/Black-True Red"
When: 2004
Who: Elton Brand
In the early 90's, Nike was all about the dual straps, Jordan Brand borrowed a page from the book and switched the style up drastically from the first seven models of his Airness' kicks. The Clippers first All-Star since D. Manning in '94 took some of his $82 million contract and dropped it on the OG colorway of the VIIIs. Random fact: the most owner Don Sterling had committed to a player up until then — Eric Piatowski in '98 for five years, $15 million. Eric Piatowski ladies and gentlemen.
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17. Air Jordan XVI "White/Midnight Navy"
When: 2001
Who: Darius Miles
One of the illest shots of D. Miles career, as soon as you see him in what seems like the rafters and you catch the latest and greatest Js from 2001 on his feet it's no surprise — Jordan Brand knew what they were doing. (Well, with the shoes anyway.)
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16. Air Jordan XII "White/University Blue-Metallic Silver"
When: 2004
Who: Quentin Richardson
After Quentin teamed up with the Clips and JB it was nothing for him to break out a new colorway of Js on any given night. His toughest decision wasn't whether to cross over his opponent and take him to the hole or pull back and hit a jumper — it was player exclusives or borrow Melo's flow. The University Blue XIIs complemented the Clipper retro unis perfectly. Word to Bill Walton.
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15. Nike Air Flight High
When: 1990
Who: Ron Harper
One of the original faces of Flight, Ron Harper had crazy ups before a devastating knee injury robbed him of much of his explosiveness. He spent a good portion of the '89-90 season in the classic Air Flight High. Harp got a second act, why can't the Air Flight?
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14. Air Jordan XI "Cool Grey"
When: 2001
Who: Quentin Richardson
Regular reader of our sneaker features? Then you already know how the Cool Grey XIs have shown up on just about every major team basketball list we have had. The numbers don't lie, every player at every level fucks with the classic look of the grey and white Jordans, whether they match their uniforms or (as is more likely) not.
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13. Jordan CP3.V "Hardwood Classics" PE
When: 2012
Who: Chris Paul
We still have yet to see Don Sterling's thank-you letter to David Stern, but landing CP3 was the franchises first true W in a long embarrassing history of losses. Paul showed up in "Concord" XIs and kept using the brand to its best with various colorways of his latest signature kicks. The best yet has to be the ABA-catered blue and red joints he rocked on retro night. No team has owned the throwback look like the Clip Ship.
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12. Reebok Commitment
When: 1990
Who: Danny Manning
Unfortunately for Danny Manning his career never panned out the way a No. 1 pick's should due to lingering injuries (Clipper's curse), but when he jumped into the NBA he at least did it in style. The Reebok Commitment was ostensibly Manning's signature shoe, and with the midfoot strap and the huge lettering on the heel, everybody knew what time it was.
Q-J11Columbia
11. Air Jordan XI "Columbia"
When: 2001
Who: Quentin Richardson
Reppin' Chicago to the fullest, it was a no-brainer for Mike and company to appoint Q as one of the fresh faces of Jordan Brand. The kid had swagger off and on the court and early in his jump to the pros he broke out one of the cleanest basketball sneakers of all-time. Nice hair, Bobby.
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10. Air Jordan XI "Concord"
When: 2004
Who: Corey Maggette
This isn't quite Iverson back in '96 but with all the Jordan looks this team had you knew Chicago-area native Maggette was going to show respect in one of greatest hoop shoes of all-time. Even if he did go to Duke.
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9. Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 "All-Star" PE
When: 2011
Who: Blake Griffin
When these hit the blog All-Star Weekend last year it had the 'nets going nuts over the glow-in-the-dark soles. Blake Griffin endorsing them didn't hurt either, as he immediately catapulted up to elite status in his inaugural NBA season. The bright orange kicks made for center stage of the NBA's biggest weekend might even give Pippen's old Maestros a run.
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8. Air Jordan XI "Bred"
When: 2002
Who: Darius Miles
We welcomed Air Jordan back to the NBA Finals in these, and even though Chris Webber and the Fab Five may have really kicked off the black sneakers trend, it was Jordan and the Bulls who had you aiming for the head shot whenever you hooped in the black and red colorway. Darius and the Clips just came up a little bit short of the Finals playoffs.
DMilesJ11SpaceJams
7. Air Jordan XI "Space Jams"
When: 2001
Who: Darius Miles
When Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson entered the league they were exactly what Jordan Brand wanted — freak athletes that embodied style just as much as a solid game. Shortly after the "Space Jam" XIs dropped it was no surprise that the kid from East St. Louis would don them and the 'fro was down with retro movement at the time — word to AI's SLAM cover. Too bad the Monstars would up stealing D. Miles's talent.
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6. Air Jordan XIII PE
When: 2012
Who: Bobby Simmons
After a brief hiatus from the league, the Clippers brought back the long-time Jordan Brand athlete after the All-Star break and homie picked up right where he left of with straight heat — oh yeah, his game is still solid too. (If you're wondering why Bobby Simmons ever got Jordan PEs to begin with, he's another Chicago product — from Simeon and DePaul. Must be nice.)
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5. Air Jordan II PE
When: 2003
Who: Quentin Richardson
When you're an official member of the Jordan Brand family, you don't just ball in general releases. Q got these mean red, white and blue IIs — among many, MANY others — that got Chris Wilcox so excited he gave him a chest bump for no reason.
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4. Air Jordan VI "Carmines"
When: 2010
Who: Bobby Brown
The "Infrared" pack had sneakerheads hype a few summers ago and the "Olympic" pack is ringing out in the streets for 2012, but the "Carmine" VIs might be the illest of them all. Born and raised in L.A., journeyman Bobby Brown got a chance to showcase his skills in front of the hometown crowd and he couldn't have made his people more proud — gotta be the shoes.
Griffin-Hyperdunk2011Galaxy
3. Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 Supreme "Galaxy"
When: 2012
Who: Blake Griffin
The "Galaxy" pack caused mass hysteria and although the Hyperdunks didn't hit quite like the Foams, they were still one of the most bomb sneakers of 2012 thus far thanks to the blue and green colorway mixture over Nike's genius use of Flywire and the BG32 badge on the tongue — the kid's moving up quick.
Q-J9PE
2. Air Jordan IX PE
When: 2002
Who: Quentin Richardson
We told you Q was getting hooked up with Clipper colorways of his favorite Js — and these white/red IXs might be one of the most impressive PEs to date. Jordan rocked red, how were these never an actual release? Just this past year they surfaced on eBay and a lucky bidder walked away with a pair $1,000 later — while everyone else kept holding on to that Yeezy money.
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1. Reebok Question
When: 2007
Who: Mardy Collins
After all the Jordan greatness that was the Q and D. Miles show, we bring Mike's toughest competition for best basketball signature sneaker. Mardy Collins rocked the Questions on any given night from 2007-2009, paying homage to AI and Reebok's greatest sneaker to date. Even a decade after the original release the Hexalite windows and contrasting toecap meant you wouldn't mistake them for anything else.