Top 5 Kicks That Have Gotten the Most Hate This Year

Not all sneakers are created equal. And not all sneakers are universally loved. Lately, hate has especially been piling up for a select group of kicks.

We wanted to explore all that 2016 had to offer and rank five sneakers that have been subject to unrelenting internet hate.

Bouncing between signature offerings and unique models put forth by various brands, our list of the top kicks to receive the most hate this year is now complete. As always, chime in below and let us know how you feel. Do you love these kicks? Hate them? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

5. Nike KD 8 ‘Elite’

Image courtesy of Nike

You at least have to give Nike credit for pushing Kevin Durant’s signature line to the brink each and every time it crafts a shoe. With the KD 8 “Elite,” Nike went against the casual wear grain and strictly unleashed a performance shoe.

A high-top, compression sock was accoutered to the top of the sneaker. The look was controversial. Kevin Wong of Hypebeast described it best in his review: “Of course we have to mention the most obvious alteration to the shoe, the added compression sock unit at the neck. By itself, the shoe draws obvious comparison to a wrestling boot—commonly worn by WWE superstars and fashionable women.”

You can tell by the aesthetics alone this shoe was bound to get hated on. The wrestling boots comparison alone was proof of that.

Regardless of aesthetic-driven feelings, the KD 8 "Elite" serves as a quality hoops performer.

4. Air Jordan VI Low ‘OVO’

All of Drake’s signature Jordan Brand offerings to date have been well received. No matter what model Drake lends his OVO moniker to, the shoe quickly sells out and resells for crazy dollars—by StockX’s account, the white Air Jordan 12 “OVO” is currently being listed for $1,300.

But Drake hit a rough spot with analysts after he unveiled an “OVO” Air Jordan VI in May. The low-top cut was hated on from the get-go.

Complex’s Angel Diaz was especially critical: “The other day, Drake teased his latest sneaker with Jordan Brand. This time around they’ve decided to go with Air Jordan VI Lows, and, let me tell you, these things are as under-whelming as Views.”

With the lack of hype to back it up, this Drake and Jordan Brand project fell into a sneaker abyss.

3. Anta KT 1

The scope of sneaker brands today is further reaching than ever before. NBA athletes aren’t limited to choosing between traditional outlets like Adidas, Under Armour and Nike.

Klay Thompson bailed on those companies, instead opting for the Chinese brand Anta. Shortly after, the Anta KT 1 was released in 2016, serving as Thompson’s first signature shoe.

Anta isn’t totally new to the kicks landscape. Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo has a signature shoe with the brand. But with Thompson, the company was able to procure an athlete who has been playing on the grandest stage of hoops.

The Anta KT 1 came on the heels of controversy. If you recall, Thompson seemed unhappy about his kicks last season, per Complex’s Riley Jones.

It’s hate that’s unwarranted. When you strap the shoe on, it excels, as Jarron Ramos of Wear Testers reported. Perhaps the brand’s continued efforts to improve will turn more people on to the Anta KT 1.

2. Adidas Crazy Explosive PE

Andrew Wiggins’ decision to sign with Adidas rather than Nike prior to his rookie year allowed him to become a fresh face within the company's basketball profile—Wiggins’ deal was worth around $2 million a year, per ESPN’s Darren Rovell.

So it was obvious when Adidas unveiled its new signature basketball sneaker—the Crazy Explosive—the shoe quickly became attached to Wiggins’ name.

It appears the Minnesota Timberwolves forward will go forth and wear these kicks next season. Andres Carrillo over at Kicks on Fire touched on Wiggins getting his own player-exclusive version of the Crazy Explosive.

Backlash surrounding the Primeknit, boot-like shoe was brisk and relentless. Nick Birdsong at the Sporting News talked about that in greater detail.

Adidas’ latest basketball silhouette achieved what Under Armour was able to do with the Curry 2 Low “Chef": get people fired up about a controversial design.

1. Under Armour Curry 2 Low ‘Chef’

Under Armour’s Curry 2 Low “Chef” is the lone sneaker responsible for fueling the internet’s hate train. Roasted for being a “dad shoe,” Curry’s Under Armour 2 “Chef” stole headlines away from other kicks released around the same time.

Think-pieces, like this gem for Complex’s Russ Bengston, sparked a feverish debate. Were the kicks wearable? Did Under Armour fuel this colorway on purpose to gain traction?

Whether it was a marketing ploy or not, few sneakers have caused as much social hysteria as the Curry 2 “Chef.” Even Bleacher Report’s Lance Fresh got on in the conversation, posting the kicks on his Instagram account.

Whose side are you on?

All Nike/Jordan product information via News.Nike.com unless noted otherwise. All Adidas information via News.Adidas.com unless noted otherwise.