10 NBA All-Star Weekend Kicks Worth Checking Out
Rejoice, sneaker fiends. Your traditional NBA All-Star weekend fix has finally arrived in bulk.
Adidas, Jordan Brand and Nike have decided to continue their storied tradition of unleashing genuine sneaker goodness upon all of us. Famous signature shoes have gotten a makeover in a variety of colorways and profiles, while some brands have decided to bring fresh ideas into the mix as well.
Excitement is in the air as the 2014 NBA All-Star Game will be played in New York City—pardon me, but despite the Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets' melancholy, that's still the mecca of basketball. Nike has even gone as far as to design their All-Star weekend products around life in NYC.
It's winter in New York, so expect frigid weather to prevail outdoors. Indoors though, it should be a different story. All-Star weekend is known for its festivities, fashion and entertaining moments.
With a truckload of these custom kicks ready to hit shelves and be worn by some of the NBA's very best, let's go ahead and take a look at 10 All-Star Game shoes you need to keep an eye out for.
Kobe X
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The Kobe X's released to the general public on Feb. 7 in the dope "5AM Flight" colorway. That release represented the 10th installment of Bryant's deal with Nike, bringing new technology and comfort in a low-top silhouette.
All-Star weekend gives fans the second interpretation of the Kobe X.
This All-Star inspired colorway is a complete change of direction when compared to the "5AM Flight" rendition. The black upper is complemented by a silver Nike swoosh and a matching tongue.
But it's not until you make your way down the shoe that you'll see the highlight of this All-Star edition. The neon orange, green and yellow blended colorway on the sole is the sticking point visually.
That feature really gives the rest of the shoe a purpose. It takes the Kobe X from being a bleak performance shoe to a stunning one.
We know the Kobe X is one of the top functioning basketball shoes out right now. The All-Star version continues that trend of excellent performance while serving it up in a unique colorway.
D Lillard 1 'NYC All-Star' Edition
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Adidas' signature line is growing by leaps and bounds from all angles. The company's dedication to building lasting products that go beyond the norm has been apparent for the last couple of years.
On a basketball front, the D Lillard 1—Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard's first personalized shoe—is a symbol of that direction.
Lillard's debut kicks are crisp. Though they come in a multitude of colorways—the same treatment most signature sneakers are getting nowadays—that isn't a necessarily a negative.
The D Lillard 1 "NYC All-Star" edition is one of the best colorways the brand has offered up. The white-leather upper is sleek. A snakeskin texture splattered across the back panel of the shoe—among other places—is the defining moment from an optical perspective.
Kudos to the designers over at Adidas for making a quality shoe that fits the needs of one of the league's top young point guards. It not only looks the part, but it's supportive and easy to move around in as well.
KD 7
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Kevin Durant's signature KD 7 model has been dispersed in a variety of colorways dating back to 2014. All-Star weekend in New York City was another excuse for Nike to give fans a brand new approach to the classic Durant shoe.
This specific edition of the KD 7 is focused on silver. The entire canvas of the shoe is saturated in a metallic silver coating. Hyper-pink straps and a matching midsole are the flare that helps the kicks really break through.
There's no need to get knee-deep into the minutiae of the KD 7 performancewise. Being one of the staples of Nike's basketball lineup for a while now, fans understand this shoe is one of the top performers around.
Nike's use of the Hyperposite heel—a sleek performance mechanism—is one of the greatest additions to the KD 7 model.
Like the rest of Nike's All-Star fleet, these shoes are all about the details. Etchings of silver designs line the quarter section of the sneaker. If you flip the shoe over and peep the sole, you'll notice the icy bottom is complemented by splashes of pink and a shocking hue of purple.
Based on everything that's been packed into this shoe, fans of Durant will want to make sure this particular version of the KD 7 is in their collection.
Melo 11 'Pearl'
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The buttery ice-like sole and prominent white layering give the Melo 11 its "Pearl" looks. Part of the "Pearl Pack" released by Jordan Brand just in time for All-Star weekend, this particular Melo colorway is the nicest to hit shelves.
Folks who have worn any version of the Melo 11s understand that it's one of the best shoes when it comes to ankle support. The "Pearl" version is no different.
The molded materials used to fuse the upper together are extremely versatile and responsive. They allow enough flexibility to move freely on the court without sacrificing stability. That combo is a triumph for the Jordan Brand.
You can knock the Melo 11s for its aesthetics. However, one aspect of the shoe that can't be challenged is the quality of it. The way these shoes were crafted is huge. Nothing was spared in terms of putting forth a lasting, sturdy sneaker.
Adidas Futurestar Boost
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Adidas' Futurestar Boost basketball shoes aren't the most glamorous kicks on the market right now. They don't have a signature NBA star linked to them, so the design is more generic looking than anything else.
But don't confuse generic with ugly. The Futurestar series does a nice job of integrating all of the prominent features we love about Adidas into one shoe.
The legendary shell-toe design that helped cement Adidas' place in pop culture history was added to the Futurestar model. It's not as prominent as the Superstar version, but despite being altered to fit the mold, it's still very noticeable.
Adidas has also been pushing their Boost technology, and for good reason. That technology not only makes all of their recent shoes "fall asleep on the couch" comfortable, but it also makes them dynamically supportive.
Look for the Futurestar model to be featured on various NBA players' feet during this year's All-Star weekend festivities.
LeBron 12
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Since the shoe's inception, the LeBron 12s have managed to become synonymous with durability.
Wearing those kicks on the court is a player's dream. Despite a large frame, they aren't bulky or weighed down in any way. Sure, they don't feel like the Kobe Xs, but the LeBron 12s are still a fantastic basketball shoe.
Honoring King James' 11th All-Star appearance, Nike built this special edition version of his signature shoe. Of all Nike's All-Star releases, these are the easiest on the eyes.
Consumers who already have love for the LeBron 12s should be infatuated with the picture you see plastered above this scrambled blanket of text.
The All-Star edition of James' kicks are glamorous. The white bootie section of the shoe is sliced with a black trim. A neon-green outsole and heel give the shoe a glow-in-the-dark look as well.
An interesting part about these LeBron 12s is the way the sole changes color as you go from toe to heel. The neon green melts into this dolphin blue, "Bermuda ocean water"-looking hue.
Overall, this shoe is sharp. Nike did an excellent job with this one.
Jordan CP3.VIII 'Pearl'
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Chris Paul is one of the most laterally gifted guards in all of basketball. The way he changes direction on a dime, breaks you off with 9 cents change and continues toward the hoop to create is special.
Paul has rejuvenated the Los Angeles Clippers franchise since he wound up there in 2011. He was one of the driving forces behind Lob City, and without him there's a good chance this team still would be searching for a taste of the playoffs.
Besides being an L.A. hero, Paul is also one of the most prominent representatives of Jordan Brand. Serving as an ambassador, he's donned a ton of their products over the years.
The Jordan CP3.VIII "Pearl" is another chapter in Paul's profuse Jordan history. Constructed from lightweight materials, this low-top cut of shoe was intended to complement CP3's style of play.
Like the rest of the "Pearl Pack," the CP3.VIII is clean. The silver and white color union straight up works for this specific profile.
J Wall 1 'NYC All-Star' Edition
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John Wall's decision to jump ship from Reebok to Adidas was met with open arms and a horde of creativity.
The J Wall 1—Adidas' first venture with Wall—was engineered to be a high-top basketball shoe with all of the fixings. From premium opulence to a stress-free performance core, the shoe was wonderful.
Fitting in with the NBA's All-Star jerseys this time around, the J Wall 1 "NYC All-Star" edition is straight fire.
Adidas has done a great job getting creative with their branding. The famous three-stripe logo we've all come to know and love is pressed toward the back of the heel on the J Wall 1, covering part of the upper in the process. It's a subtle nod to the company without being overwhelming.
Another cool feature on this version of the J Wall 1 is the speckled gold paint lining the outsole. That burst effect leads up to the John Wall crest, which is the crowning jewel of these "NYC All-Star" editions.
It's shame that the J Wall 1s don't get as much attention as some of the other signature kicks on the market right now. They are not only comfortable, but the double dose of mesh lining on the upper makes the shoes breathable. And that's an excellent feature for people who love to play hoops.
Kyrie 1
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There isn't a signature shoe out right now that looks like the Kyrie 1.
When Nike gave Kyrie Irving his own pair of kicks—the first signature hoops shoe since Durant got his deal with the company in '07—there was a sense of curiosity.
How would these shoes look? What type of technology would they include? Would the fit be narrow or more relaxed like LeBron James' personal kicks?
Those answers came when Irving's Kyrie 1 "Dream" debuted in December 2014.
Since then we've seen a few different colorways hit the market. The All-Star edition is another version that looks nothing short of phenomenal. The gray mesh overlay is close to the "Black History Month" variant released in January.
The main difference between the two models comes down to the outsole. On the All-Star weekend version, the outsole is flossy and scintillating.
The ice-blue exterior is broken down into a two-tone pattern that easily fuses together with the mesh exterior. Combine that with the rest of the colors featured on the shoe and what you have is a pair of kicks that stands out among all of the All-Star weekend drops.
Air Jordan XX9 'Pearl'
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As you've probably noticed by looking at this list, you can play in a lot of different basketball shoes. For what it's worth, the Air Jordan XX9 is one of the very best out there.
September 2014 is when the XX9 first touched down and blew people away like a supersonic fighter jet. When the shoes hit stores it was apparent that the Air Jordan XX9 should be marveled over because of its grand craftsmanship.
The woven one-piece upper is the shoe's true calling card. That's what gives this sneaker its feng shui. In my humble opinion, no Air Jordan model has been as responsive or smooth as the XX9.
Featured as a limited run, procuring a pair of the "Pearl" edition XX9s was a challenging endeavor. The colorway and clean physique of this silhouette made it one of the most appealing versions to hit stores.
Even if you didn't get your hands on these suckers, you can still watch Russell Westbrook—a man who rocks the XX9—wear them during this year's All-Star Game.
All Nike product information via News.Nike.com, unless noted otherwise. All Adidas information via News.Adidas.com, unless noted otherwise.
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