Image via Complex Original
As one of the main attractions during NBA All-Star Weekend, the Slam Dunk Contest has seen many transformations in its 30-year history. One of the few constants has been contestants breaking out their finest footwear for the event. The old adage goes, “If you look good, you play good,” and it’s no coincidence that some of the best dunkers in the competition’s history wore rare pairs and some of the hottest sneakers on the market.
From Cedric Ceballos wrapping a blindfold around his eyes in ’92, to Harold Miner earning the “Baby Jordan” moniker in ’93, to Brent Barry taking off from the free-throw line in ’96, to Nate Robinson winning back-to-back contests in ’09 and ’10, Nikes have been on-feet during some of the most iconic dunks and performances in the contest. So as the crowds anticipate what kicks will appear on the Zoom City court this year, let’s take a quick look back.
Nike Big Nike
Year: 1987
Player: Terence Stansbury
As a three-time dunk contest participant, Stansbury never won but did leave his mark on the game with the “Statue of Liberty” dunk, which he performed at the 1985, 1986, and 1987 competition. On his feet in ’87 were the Nike Big Nikes, which were introduced in ’85 and were built specifically for big men (though Stansbury, who stood at 6-5, bucked the trend). A simple design that featured a high-top look and “Nike” in block letters across the heel, the shoes were a hybrid of the Dunk and Terminator designs.
Nike Air Flight ’89 Mid
Year: 1987
Player: Shawn Kemp
The Reign Man may have been defeated by Dee Brown in the ’91 dunk contest, but his performance was equally as impressive. Showing off the power and athleticism that made him one of the most feared above-the-rim players in the league, Kemp wowed the Charlotte, N.C. crowd while wearing the Air Flight ’89 Mid. A popular retro look over the past few years, the Flight ’89 was a big hit in the league when it first debuted.
Nike Air Bound
Year: 1992
Player: Cedric Ceballos
Ceballos won the ’92 contest with ease, blowing away the field with windmills and acrobatic dunks. His final dunk, though, is the one that made his performance legendary. With the competition already wrapped up, Ceballos began to count his steps to the half-court line. Once he got there, he wrapped a blindfold around his eyes, and the rest is history. Almost as iconic as his dunk were the kicks he had on his feet. The Air Bound, a sneaker that closely resembled the Flight ’89, was a hit in the NBA, worn by guys like Chris Mullin and Scottie Pippen. The sneaker hasn’t been retroed since ’03, but based on the success of the Flight ’89, it may be time to bring these back.
Nike Air Dynamic Flight
Year: 1993
Player: Harold Miner
Dubbed “Baby Jordan,” Miner took home the crown in ’93 and ’95. Unfortunately for him, his career away from All-Star Weekend never took off like many expected it to. What Miner did have, along with otherworldly hops, was great taste in sneakers. The Air Dynamic Flight was one of Nike’s top Huarache models in the ’90s, and it recently became a hot item on eBay when a pair surfaced in 2013. With the surprise popularity of the Huarache silhouette in 2014, it may be time for Nike to bring back the Air Dynamic Flight.
Nike Zoom Flight 95
Year: 1996
Player: Brent Barry
Brent Barry goes down in history as the only participant to win the dunk contest without taking off his warmups. All kidding aside, Barry’s performance in San Antonio is of the most underrated of all time. He took off from the free-throw line on two separate occasions—the free throw-line dunk has become a bit stale as of late, but prior to Barry, the only other players to successfully complete the dunk in the contest were Julius Erving and Michael Jordan. He also beat out the likes of Michael Finley and Jerry Stackhouse and wore one of the greatest signature Nike looks ever. The ’96 competition didn’t hold up well, but Barry’s gear and dunks will never be forgotten.
Nike Air Max Uptempo 3
Year: 1997
Player: Chris Carr
The 1997 contest nearly ended the event forever. Even though rookies and future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant were involved, the competition lacked the buzz and was shelved in ’98. Add the lockout-shortened season in ’99, when All-Star Weekend was cancelled, and the dunk contest almost faced an untimely demise. Timberwolves guard Chris Carr had a nondescript NBA career; he played for six different teams from 1995-2000, and his performance during All-Star Weekend doesn’t drum up memories of greatness. But Carr certainly had a keen sense of footwear style, and his choice to wear the Air Max Uptempo 3 did not go unnoticed.
Nike Shox Certified
Year: 2006
Player: Andre Iguodala
Let’s be honest: Andre Iguodala should have won the ’06 dunk contest. Iguodala completed two perfect score dunks, including an incredible Allen Iverson-assisted jam that goes down as one of the best in contest history. In the tiebreaker against Nate Robinson, it took Robinson 14 tries to complete his dunk while Dre only took two. In the end, Nate won his first of three contests, and it took Iguodala six years to comment on the robbery.
On his feet were an ill pair of Nike Shox Certified. Shox were certainly favored by high-flyers in the ’00s, and Vince Carter wore a model when he dunked over Frederic Weis at the 2000 Summer Olympics—just months after he won the dunk contest himself.
Nike Foamposite Lite ‘KryptoNate’
Year: 2009
Player: Nate Robinson
Robinson pulled out all the stops for the ’09 contest and added to the theatrics by wearing a pair of sneakers that went along with his ‘KryptoNate’ gimmick. Robinson’s love for sneakers runs deep so it comes as no surprise that he lands on this list. His custom green Foamposite Lites featured a ‘KryptoNate’ logo and showed off the dunker’s creativity and knack for showmanship.
Nike Zoom Kobe V
Year: 2010
Player: DeMar DeRozan
DeRozan is now well-known for his head-turning sneaker collection, but back in 2010, he was just a rookie trying to make a name for himself in the L. With prop dunks taking over the competition thanks to Nate’s win in ’09, DeRozan opted to go with no gimmicks and tried to win the competition with creativity and athleticism. The move nearly paid off as he scored a perfect 50 with his second dunk before eventually falling to Nate Robinson in the final round. On his feet were a color-coordinated pair of Kobe Vs. Though they weren’t exclusives, DeRozan just gave a glimpse of what he had in the closet, and later donned several pairs of customized Kobe Vs throughout the rest of the season.
Nike LeBron X ‘Volt’
Year: 2013
Player: Eric Bledsoe
Eric Bledsoe became a hot commodity during the 2012-13 season when he filled in for an injured Chris Paul and showed why he bounced from Kentucky after his freshman year. Dubbed “Mini-LeBron” for his ability to impact the game in so many facets and for his otherworldly athleticism, Bledsoe flashed his bounce while wearing a pair of ‘Volt’ LeBron Xs. Bledsoe struggled in the first round but opened up the second with a beautiful 180 off a self alley-oop that earned a perfect score from the crowd and even left his buddy King James impressed.
Nike Foamposite Pro ‘Spider-Man’
Year: 2014
Player: Terrence Ross
Looking to defend his crown in 2013, Terrence Ross pulled out all the stops by bringing out Drake, but it wasn’t enough as John Wall was crowned the champion. Ross, however, did win when it came to best sneaker in the contest. The sought-after ‘Spider-Man’ Foamposite Pro had sneakerheads drooling, and it solidified Ross’ spot as one of the NBA’s elite sneaker collectors.