We're kicking off our countdown of the greatest basketball sneakers in NBA history. To create this list, our #NBArank panel of sneakerheads voted on dozens of shoes. Here are the kicks that fell just outside our top 30.
Air Jordan XVII
While most fans would prefer to forget Michael Jordan's two-year stint with the Wizards, these sneakers are definitely worth remembering. They got a well-received retro release earlier this year, reminding fans that when you looked beyond the metal briefcase they originally shipped with, they were actually a good-looking and high-performing pair.
Air Jordan XX9
Jordan Brand went bold with the look on this model, slapping an oversized Jumpman logo on the side, almost like it was bursting out of the sneaker. It was the perfect look for Russell Westbrook as he became the face of the brand, while the shoe itself was incredibly comfortable on the foot.
And 1 Tai Chi
Before Vince Carter became forever linked with Nike (remember Dr. Funk?), he was rocking these And 1s when he shook up the basketball world at the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest. The color blocking on the shoe -- which made it look from some angles like you were wearing two different-color sneakers -- wasn't for everyone, but because of its place in history, the shoe endures today.
Converse Dr. J
Before the Weapon -- worn by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, among others -- there was this clean-looking sneaker with the star on the side that went perfectly with the 76ers' jerseys at the time. The "Are you wearing magic shoes" commercial is something of a spiritual ancestor to the "Gotta be the shoes" Jordan ads of the '80s.
FILA Grant Hill 1
While most players were signing with Nike and Reebok in the mid-'90s, Grant Hill went in a different direction, and for a few brief years made FILA cool to wear on the court. It helped that the company's red, white and blue colors were a perfect match for the vintage Pistons jerseys that Hill wore early in his career.
Nike Kobe XI Elite
The last on-foot sneaker of Kobe Bryant's career was one of his best. The FlyKnit yarn construction made the shoe incredibly light, while allowing Nike to push the envelope on colorway designs. They were the perfect sneaker to send the Black Mamba off in style.
Nike Kyrie 1
It didn't take long for Kyrie Irving to become a sneaker icon. His first signature model, released two years ago, was an instant hit among sneakerheads and ballers alike. It's likely that this shoe will become only more revered as time goes on.
Nike Zoom Flight '98 "The Glove"
Rarely has a player's nickname lent itself so literally to his sneaker's design, but that was the case with this Gary Payton sneaker, which was enveloped by a neoprene sleeve encasing the entire upper of the shoe. The inner design was cool too, but if you were a '90s kid, you wanted to wear these zipped up like GP did.
Nike Zoom KD IV
The previous model of Kevin Durant's signature sneaker had introduced a low-cut silhouette, and this one brought back the strap from the KD 2s, resulting in a peak combination of performance and comfort. These were so good that you'll likely still see people balling in them at weekend runs around the country.
Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier X
This will always be remembered as the shoe on the foot of LeBron James when he ended the curse and brought a title home to Cleveland. It speaks to the quality and style of the shoe that a pair that hasn't been out for even a year has already made such a strong impression on the voting panel.
All-Time Kicks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-30 | Honorable mentions