Image via Complex Original
The NBA season is in full swing, and while we care about who's racking up wins and losses, we're also watching the games to see which athletes are rocking special colorways of their signature shoes. Our friends at Nice Kicks keep us updated on the daily with their "Kicks on Court" feature, but how do the signature shoes of the past compare with those of more recent times? More importantly, which is the best pro model of all time? We tapped Nice Kicks editorGeorge Kiel III to countdown the 25 best for us, and all your favorites are included. What's the best on-court signature shoe of all time? Find out by clicking through....
RELATED: Sneaker Report - The 10 Most Ridiculous Things Players Have Said About Their Signature Shoes
#25. Nike Air Max Penny I
PLAYER: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
YEAR: 1995
• Nike laced Penny Hardaway in classic sneakers during his first two seasons in the NBA, and when it finally supplied him with a signature model during the 1995-96 NBA season, it was a hit. The Nike Air Max Penny kicked off one of the more well-respected sneaker lines ever. This Eric Avar-designed sneaker was backed by the Lil' Penny ad series, some of the greatest basketball sneaker commercials ever.
#24. Reebok Answer I
PLAYER: Allen Iverson
YEAR: 1997
• The Reebok Answer was the official start to the Answer series, the second-longest-running signature series in the history of basketball footwear (after the Air Jordan). It featured the innovative 10-pod DMX cushioning, a system of encapsulated air that flowed from heel to toe and back as you ran in the shoes. The Answer is considered one of, if not the greatest, sneaker in Iverson's extensive signature series.
#23. adidas KB8
PLAYER: Kobe Bryant
YEAR: 1997
• Kobe Bryant took the NBA by storm during his 1996-97 rookie season. The three stripes snagged the young Philly native a year later and supplied Bryant with his first signature sneaker, the adidas KB8. It featured adidas' Feet You Wear technology, which was designed to feel like a literal extension of the foot. This shoe was later retro'ed in 2005 as the adidas Crazy 8, as Bryant was no longer with the brand.
#22. Nike Air Pippen I
PLAYER: Scottie Pippen
YEAR: 1997
• In these years, Michael Jordan received most of the hoopla and attention while Pippen quietly put up superstar numbers during his career with the Bulls. Likewise, MJ's signature sneaker line overshadowed Pippen's signature series. The Pippen line was full of classics, though, and the Nike Air Pippen I was one of the first basketball sneakers to possess a full-length Max Air bag.
#21. adidas T-MAC 2
PLAYER: Tracy McGrady
YEAR: 2002
• After wearing a ton of PEs during his first couple of years in the league, Tracy McGrady came on court in his first adidas signature shoe during the 2001-2002 NBA season. The best of Tracy's long-lasting adidas line came a year later with his second signature, the adidas T-MAC 2. It was one of the first low-cut basketball sneakers to receive positive feedback from consumers.
#20. Nike Air Max2 CB94
PLAYER: Charles Barkley
YEAR: 1994
• Charles Barkley's first official signature sneaker, the Nike Air Max2 CB94, is easily one of his most beloved models. It was inspired by Sir Charles' on-court traits: tough, sturdy and durable. Earlier this year, it rereleased in its original Phoenix Suns-inspired colorway.
#19. Nike Zoom Flight V
PLAYER: Jason Kidd
YEAR: 1997
• Jason Kidd's first signature shoe is considered one of the best-performing Nike basketball sneakers for its comfort level, stability, and traction. The Nike Air Zoom Flight V also possessed some distinctive design cues, including the iridescent “bug eye” on the midsole. Five years ago, this shoe appeared on NikeiD, but it no longer bore the “Kidd” logo, because of his current affiliation with PEAK.
#18. adidas Attitude
PLAYER: Patrick Ewing
PLAYER: 1986
• Michael Jordan proved that a marquee athlete could propel a signature sneaker, and a year after the Jordan 1 dropped, adidas tried its luck with the concept by putting Patrick Ewing in the Attitude. Ewing's first signature style became a hit on and off the court, and the most sought-after colorway was this New York Knicks version. Like a lot of adidas' sneakers from the mid ’80s, the Attitude was designed in France.
#17. Nike Air Zoom GP
PLAYER: Gary Payton
YEAR: 1998
• Gary Payton may have been one of the biggest trash-talkers to ever play the game, but his first signature model was far from garbage. The Nike Air Zoom GP featured a buckle that wrapped over the laces for a snug fit, and the unforgettable oval-shaped gradient would go on to appear on other famed Nike silhouettes.
#16. Reebok Kamikaze II
PLAYER: Shawn Kemp
YEAR: 1996
• Shawn Kemp's Reebok signature series was average at best, but the bright spot in his limited line was the Reebok Kamikaze II. It featured Reebok's lightweight Hexalite cushioning, which provided an unmatched comfort level. Kemp went on to experience his best NBA season during this year, averaging 19.6 points and 11.4 rebounds.
#15. Nike Air Garnett III
PLAYER: Kevin Garnett
YEAR: 1999
• Nike quickly hopped on the Kevin "Da Kid" Garnett bandwagon when he jumped straight to the pros out of high school. On court, Garnett came out wearing player exclusives for the first couple of years that Nike then followed with two subpar signature shoes. His third signature model, dubbed the Nike Air Garnett III, was better received, and was the most successful model of his short tenure with Nike. Last year, this sneaker rereleased as the Nike Air 3. Garnett is currently signed to Anta.
#14. Nike Zoom Kobe IV
PLAYER: Kobe Bryant
YEAR: 2009
• When it launched, the Nike Zoom Kobe IV's low-cut build got a lot of "eh" reactions from the basketball crowd. But as more players began to wear it, the sneaker became one of the most consistently worn signature basketball sneakers in the NBA. This Eric Avar design was the first signature sneaker to feature Flywire and LunarLite Foam, two of Nike's darling technologies of the past few years. It is the second-lightest basketball sneaker ever created (11.6 oz), trailing only the Nike Zoom Kobe V.
#13. Air Jordan 1
PLAYER: Michael Jordan
YEAR: 1985
• The Air Jordan 1 kicked off the greatest sneaker line in the history of shoes. MJ accomplished some memorable feats in this shoe, including grabbing 1985 Rookie of the Year honors, receiving an All-Star game selection, and placing third in the league in scoring (28.2 ppg). For all of MJ's on-court accomplishments, this Peter Moore-designed sneaker gained most of its notoriety by being banned by the NBA. NBA commissioner David Stern fined MJ $5,000 for each game MJ wore the shoes, a tab Nike gladly paid in return for the abundance of attention surrounding the signature start-up line.
#12. adidas Mutombo
PLAYER: Dikembe Mutombo
YEAR: 1992
• Signature sneakers are at their best when the respective brand incorporates the player's beliefs, personality, and/or characteristics into the shoe's design. For Dikembe Mutombo's signature sneaker, adidas did just that, incorporating this player's passion for helping his native African culture. It is one of the most unique signature sneakers ever.
#11. Reebok Shaqnosis
PLAYER: Shaquille O'Neal
YEAR: 1992
• It was impossible not to notice the 7-foot, 300+-pound Shaquille O'Neal on court, and Reebok added to his can't-miss stature by supplying "The Diesel" with one of the most uniquely designed signature shoes ever. This shoe's hypnotizing upper was futuristic in terms of style, and the Shaqnosis did not disappoint in terms of technology. It featured Reebok Hexalite cushioning in both the forefoot and heel, as well as in a cup form around the sides for added heel support.
#10. Converse Aero Jam
PLAYER: Larry Johnson
YEAR: 1992
• Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the two biggest Converse brand stars to ever lace them up, but at the end of their reign, Converse funneled its effort towards Larry "Grandmama" Johnson. The Converse Aero Jam was the first of two signatures LJ wore for Converse, and its distinctive features included a fade-splattered midsole, textured heel, and fade colors on the removable cover. The "Grandmama" advertising campaign behind this sneaker was just as interesting and engaging as the shoe itself.
#9. Nike Air Max LeBron VII
PLAYER: LeBron James
YEAR: 2009
• LeBron James' seventh signature sneaker, the Nike Air Max LeBron VII, was groudbreaking from a technological perspective, and it looked great. It was the first sneaker in the young king's extensive collection to possess Nike's innovative Flywire technology. The LeBron VII was also the first sneaker in his line to contain a full-length, 360 Max Air sole. Throughout the 2009-2010 NBA season, LeBron and Nike debuted over 20 colorways of this sneaker.
#8. Air Jordan VI
PLAYER: Michael Jordan
YEAR: 1991
• The Air Jordan VI may hold a special place in Michael's heart. His Airness won his first NBA championship, he captured the second of his five MVP trophies in it, and he won the scoring title—all the IV. One of its distinctive design cues was the rubber tongue, which made the sneaker super-comfortable. This shoe also released in some spectacular colorways, including the "Infrareds" and the "Carmines."
#7. Nike Zoom Kobe V
PLAYER: Kobe Bryant
YEAR: 2010
• "Lighter" and "lower" prove to be the two popular performance characteristics in today's basketball game, and the Eric Avar-designed Nike Zoom Kobe V killed it on both accounts. This sneaker is currently the lightest basketball sneaker on the market, weighing in at 10.6 ounces. Although the Nike Zoom Kobe IV will always be credited for the beginning of the low-top craze, Kobe's fifth signature showed the refinement of Nike's Flywire technology. Many sneaker enthusiasts that have tried this low-top sneaker on the basketball court have labeled the Kobe V one of, if not the best, performance-based sneakers ever.
#6. Nike Air Penny II
PLAYER: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
YEAR: 1996
• The Nike Air Penny II, Penny Hardaway's second signature model, is arguably the most recognizable and successful sneaker in his line of kicks. Air Max in the heel and Zoom Air in the forefoot made the shoe extremely comfortable, and many sneaker addicts took an instant liking to the wavy foam midsole. The "Atlantic Blue" Penny IIs are classics.
#5. FILA Grant Hill
PLAYER: Grant Hill
YEAR: 1995
• Before the multiple ankle injuries, Grant Hill regularly flirted with triple-doubles for the Detroit Pistons. He did it all while wearing the FILA Grant Hill, one of the most recognizable basketball sneakers ever created. This sneaker is undoubtedly FILA's best-selling shoe to date. After sharing 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Jason Kidd at the end of the season, FILA reported that it sold 1.5 million pairs of Hill's first signature shoe. It was the fastest-selling sneaker since Air Jordans.
#4. Reebok Question
PLAYER: Allen Iverson
YEAR: 1996
• Allen Iverson owns one of the most influential sneaker lines ever. His first signature sneaker, the Reebok Question, is the top-selling shoe in Reebok history and is arguably the most popular non-Air Jordan sneaker ever created. Many sneaker enthusiasts and basketball fans alike will remember the Question as the sneaker Iverson wore when he broke Jordan's ankles at the top of the key.
#3. Air Jordan XI
PLAYER: Michael Jordan
YEAR: 1995
• Is there a more recognizable, powerful, or popular sneaker than the Air Jordan XI? In his first full season back from baseball, MJ had one of the better NBA seasons in his career. He became the second player ever to win MVP awards for the regular season, All-Star Game, and NBA Finals in the same season—and he did it all in this sneaker.
#2. Nike Air Foamposite One
PLAYER: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway
YEAR: 1997
• The Nike Air Max Penny I was officially Penny's first signature sneaker, but the Nike Air Foamposite One also featured his "Penny" one-cent logo. He was the only player in the NBA to wear this shoe in its debut year, while other players settled for the Nike Air Foamposite Pro. Nike won over many fans with its futuristic Foamposite technology.
#1. Air Jordan III
PLAYER: Michael Jordan
YEAR: 1988
• The Air Jordan III was the first of 14 Air Jordans developed by design mastermind Tinker Hatfield, and set the standard for all other Jordans to come. The III was the first Air Jordan to feature the Jumpman on the tongue of the shoe, and was also the first to possess a visible air unit and incorporate elephant print on the upper. Truly a classic. Check out Complex's history of celebs wearing the Air Jordan III.