The Best Non-Jordan Athlete Kicks Part 1
Air Jordans are the creme de la creme of the sneaker world. Not to be confused with their annoying stepsister, the Team Jordan collection, these shoes have continued to be the most coveted products on the market for 30 years and counting.
When you crawl outside Jordan designer Tinker Hatfield's revolutionary mind, the rest of the competition is still trying to play catch-up. But like everything else in life, there, of course, are some classics stashed away without the Jordan emblem pressed on.
There are so many kicks to choose from that this list could run 400 deep. But a list that intense would take a week to digest.
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Narrowing our choices down, we present to you part one of our featured series—seven non-Jordan kicks we can all appreciate.
Nike Foamposite
Nike's Foamposite collection first hit shelves in 1997 and immediately changed the way we looked at sneakers.
Designed with a futuristic flare in mind, the Foamposite was a dramatic departure from what sneakerheads were used to from the Jordan brand. These shoes exposed new elements of footwear technology and combined it with a Puff Daddy, No Way Out-inspired design.
Austin Boykins of KicksOnFire.com talked about some of those technological advances:
"With the intention to develop a product of simplicity with complex technology, the foamposite delivered a system of comfort that included less pieces than your average sneaker during the time. Through many trials and tribulations, Nike was able to go further on the concept of creating the upper of a sneaker made out of a single cast or mold.
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To this day, the Foamposite will be remembered as one shoe people either loved or couldn't stand. The look and feel of it was that polarizing. Of all the players to don the Foams over the years, the one we remember most is Penny Hardaway.
Hardaway is the ultimate '90s nostalgia player. With Shaquille O'Neal by his side, the duo turned the pinstriped Orlando Magic in an Eastern Conference contender. Off the court, Hardaway was famous for his Nike commercials featuring the voice of Chris Rock as Lil' Penny.
Nearly 18 years after its initial release, Nike is still putting out different color schemes and variations of the shoe. One of the more popular versions—the "Yeezy" colorway—is being resold on Flight Club for $350.
The market is still there, and that's an indication of how significant the Foamposites have been throughout sneaker history. Their technological improvements and aggressive motifs are more than enough to rank it as one of the best non-Jordan shoes of all time.
Nike Air Alpha Force
In the late '80s, Nike was finding ways to push its creative envelope even further. The Nike Air Alpha Force line it introduced was one of the ways it quenched that creative thirst.
Simplistic color patterns and a brazen strap at the bottom of the laces are still things many sneaker addicts look for in their kicks.
At the time, the rebounding lord, Charles Barkley, mainly rocked the Air Alpha Force II model although Reggie Miller got in on the action as well.
The beauty of these shoes is that they represent basketball in the late '80s or early '90s to a T. They're the shoes you picture on trading cards or in movies like 3 Ninjas—"Rocky loves Emily!"
Barkley gets the credit for wearing these masterpieces. While they may not have the mystique or prowess of an Air Jordan, the Nike Air Alpha Force is classic in its own unique way.
Nike Air Tech Challenge II
Normally, you wouldn't think tennis shoes would be worth wearing off the court. Basketball players and their variance of kicks have always dominated the shoe game. Andre Agassi was the man who changed that perception when he started rocking the Nike Air Tech Challenge II in the '90s.
The Air Tech Challenge II is one of the most comfortable sneakers you'll ever put on. It fits perfectly, runs true to size and doesn't have any offbeat elements that would bother a consumer. Another perk of this shoe is the abundance of colorways it's been released in.
You have the classic white, pink and black layout that was worn by Agassi followed by a host of other color schemes that dropped during Nike's recent retro release. If you're looking for a pair to cop and call your own, unlike a ton of Air Jordans, the price points are actually reasonable.
It's nice to know that you won't have to worry about breaking the bank if you get your hands on these leather treasures.
There hasn't been a tennis shoe released that even comes close to the Air Tech Challenge II, and there probably never will be. Styles have changed for the worse, which has made Agassi's signature shoe a must for collectors.
Vans Half Cab
Vans Half Cab is one of the most influential sneakers ever assembled. The first revolutionary skate shoe, the company based the model off skateboarder Steve Caballero. In a sense, they were his very own version of Air Jordans.
What sets the Half Cab apart is how it was influenced off what kids were doing in real life. Discussing its history with Vans.com (h/t Complex), Caballero describes how the shoe came to be a reality.
"In '91, I noticed that a lot of street skaters were cutting my shoe halfway down and wearing them that way," he said. "So in '92, I gave Vans the idea to make a lower cut shoe and call it the Half Cab."
There isn't much of a wait if you want to still own a pair of these iconic shoes. Unlike a lot of retro Nikes, the Half Cab is still readily available online and in stores.
Pick up a pair, grab your favorite Sharpie marker and go to work on the midsole. Customizing your Vans is half the fun of owning them.
Nike Air Penny
On the low, Hardaway wore some of the nicest sneakers in NBA history. There's a genuine debate between which one was the grandest of all, but when you throw your cards on the table, it's hard to top the Air Penny.
Hardaway's first signature shoe was designed beautifully. With an Orlando Magic colorway to bode, the Air Penny combined that vintage '90s look and feel and added in a real aggressive touch to it. It's not only a fantastic basketball shoe, but it also can be worn off the court with a pair of jeans or sweatpants.
Like many of the signature Nike shoes to come out in the mid-'90s, the Air Penny is extraordinarily comfortable.
It made waves back then and still holds weight today. For all of the shoes in the Air Penny line, the first one stands out the most.
Nike Kobe 9 Elite "Masterpiece"
Nike's partnership with Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant has been good for basketball fans. Throughout the years—after Bryant left Adidas—Nike continued to produce engaging shoes that captured the very essence of the Black Mamba.
When the Kobe 9 Elite series dropped in 2014, everything changed. It's almost like Nike took all of the progress they had made over the years, attached it to a rocket and blasted it into the atmosphere.
The Kobe Elite 9 is a beautiful shoe. There have been a ton of great releases in this collection, but the "Masterpiece" edition is the renegade of the family.
Using its Flyknit material, it made this a lightweight, ultra-comfortable shoe that comes with an immense amount of ankle support.
Everything about the shoe feels right. When you slip it on, you can picture a church choir singing out how amazing the Elite 9s are.
There may not be a shoe out there that has this type of artistry. When you unbox the Kobe Elite 9s, they look like they should be hanging in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Nike created a special product, and those fans who were lucky enough to snag a pair really understand that to be true.
Reebok Question
We've talked about a ton of Nikes in this piece, and for good reason. Nike is still the pioneer and most innovative sneaker brand in the world.
It's designed some of the most recognizable and infectious shoes consumers have ever seen. Most of the time, it's Nike or bust when buying a pair, but back in 1996, Reebok broke through.
Allen Iverson's first signature shoe—the Rebook Question—was fitting for how spirited of a player he was. As one of the most visceral and skilled rookies the league had ever seen, it felt like the Question became a bigger hit among fans the better Iverson played.
Designer Scott Hewett's creative direction was innovative at the time. The thick laces, waffle texture in the midsole and colorful toe gave this shoe life.
Since its inception, the company has created multiple versions of the shoe. Its colorways have varied, but none hold a candle to its original white and red look.
We've seen years of quality basketball shoes clutter the market. Reebok's Question has stood the test of time, carving its name out in the history books.
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