We're counting down the greatest basketball sneakers in NBA history. Our #NBArank panel of sneakerheads rated dozens of shoes. The result is our Top 30 list. Today we unveil sneakers 11-15.
All-Time Kicks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-30 | Honorable mentions
Air Jordan IV
Year of release
1989
Player who wore 'em
Michael Jordan
Check the rhyme
"Look at my 9s, look at my Blazers, look at my 4s, cut wit' laser" | Wale, "Fitted Cap"
The sneaker
Sure, they famously cost $100 ("$108 with tax!"), but everyone had to have these Jordans when they first came out in 1989. And everyone reacted just like Buggin' Out in "Do The Right Thing" the first time they got dirty, too. Thankfully, Nike keeps retroing them, so we can all get a fresh pair every few years. -- A.R.
Nike Air Max Uptempo
Year of release
1995
Players who wore 'em
Scottie Pippen and David Robinson
Slept on
Got the majority of mentions from our 5-on-5 panel for the most underrated all-time kicks.
The sneaker
Before Scottie Pippen got his own signature line, he was rocking these, as were nearly half the Bulls' roster during the 1996 playoffs. When a shoe is that connected with a team that won 72 games and a title, it's automatically going to be popular with the masses, but the Uptempos were strong on their own, and surprisingly lightweight on the foot for a shoe that looked bulky at first glance. -- A.R.
Nike Air Zoom Generation
Year of release
2003
Player who wore 'em
LeBron James
Highlight play
The King's first NBA dunk featured a signature tomahawk in these kicks.
The sneaker
These didn't carry his name, but LeBron James' debut sneaker set the tone for what would become one of the better signature lines of all time. Though some of the shoe's best colorways were exclusive to LeBron, the original white/black/red release still looks good and is probably overdue for a retro release. -- A.R.
Nike Air Max Penny I
Year of release
1995
Player who wore 'em
Penny Hardaway
Classic ad
Eddie Murphy was the first choice for Lil' Penny, but Chris Rock was perfect.
The sneaker
Anfernee Hardaway made his own signature sneaker cool, but Lil' Penny made them legendary. Even fans who barely remember Hardaway's brief stint as one of the best players in the league remember the commercials with the doll voiced by Chris Rock. The first signature kicks to bear Penny's name were about more than an ad series. They were legitimately great sneakers. -- A.R.
Reebok Pump
Year of release
1989
Player who wore 'em
Dee Brown
Check the rhyme
"L keep rappers' hearts pumping like Reeboks" | Big L, "Put It On"
The sneaker
The moment Dee Brown pumped up his sneakers before unleashing the dunk to win the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest, you knew these shoes had secured their place in basketball history. Though the pump technology hasn't endured, the memory has. -- Adam Reisinger
Nos. 6-10 | Full list | Nos. 16-20
If you want to get involved in the discussion or just follow along, #NBArank is the Twitter hashtag to use. You also can follow along with @ESPNNBA as we count down the 30 best kicks ever.