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 16-20.
#NBArank All-Time Kicks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-10 | 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-30 | Honorable mentions
Air Jordan XII
Year of release
1996
Player who wore 'em
Michael Jordan
Highlight play
All 44 minutes.
The sneaker
Is there a shoe more associated with a single game than this one? Probably not. You can't think of the Air Jordan XII without thinking of the Flu Game, Michael Jordan's iconic performance in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals. That game alone probably lifts this sneaker a couple spots higher than it otherwise would be on the list, but it earns its place in sneaker history by being one of the best releases from the iconic Jordan line. -- A.R.
Adidas Superstar
Year of release
1969
Players who wore 'em
Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabar
Check the rhyme
"My Adidas and me close as can be/We make a mean team, my Adidas and me" | Run-DMC, "My Adidas"
The sneaker
If there's a shoe that deserves the credit for taking basketball sneakers from the days of Chuck Taylors to modern times, it's this one -- if only for introducing leather as the common material that would be used on kicks for decades to follow. Whether it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wearing them in the '70s or Run DMC rocking them in the '80s, these shoes were perfect for legends and everyday folks alike. -- A.R.
Nike Air Max Penny II
Year of release
1996
Player who wore 'em
Penny Hardaway
Check the rhyme
OK, not a rhyme, but the hip-hop mag Ego Trip did help contribute the conspiracy theory that 2Pac is still alive because he's wearing yet-to-be-released Pennys in the "Toss It Up" video. What other sneaker can claim something like that?
The sneaker
His career doesn't stack up to players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but when it comes to signature sneakers, Penny Hardaway is one of the all-time greats. The first of three Penny kicks checks in at No. 18 on our countdown, and retro releases in 2016 mean you're probably likely to see this sneaker on players' feet at your local runs even today, proving how this model has withstood the test of time. -- A.R.
Nike Zoom Kobe VIII
Year of release
2012
Player who wore 'em
Kobe Bryant
Classic ad
"You can be like me, Aziz Ansari."
The sneaker
When Kobe Bryant went low with the Kobe V, he started a trend that would culminate with the Kobe VIII, the lightest basketball sneaker ever. Despite checking in at just 9.6 ounces, the shoe was incredibly supportive on the foot, while pushing forward the style fans and players had come to expect from the Kobe line. -- A.R.
Puma Clyde
Year of release
1973
Player who wore 'em
Walt Frazier
Check the rhyme
Not only did Ad-Rock sport the Clydes on the cover of the Beastie Boys' Check Your Head, but Frazier also got a mention himself on "Pass The Mic" in the lyric, "So what you gonna' say that I don't know already?/I'm like Clyde and I'm Rockin' Steady."
The sneaker
Even if you know Walt "Clyde" Frazier only for his outlandish suits on Knicks broadcasts, you know the one thing he's always brought to basketball is style. That extended to his signature Puma sneaker, which used a colorful suede in an era when nearly every basketball sneaker was either leather or canvas. It's more an off-court sneaker these days, but still just as stylish as the day Clyde first slipped them on. -- Adam Reisinger
Nos. 11-15 | Full list | Nos. 21-30
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.