NBA Kicks Roundup: The Top Sneakers to Open the Season
It's here. It's finally here. The 2016-17 NBA season is upon us, and yes, it's glorious.
As fans of all things sneakers, we find it only natural to politic about all of the dope kicks floating around on opening night. With three games officially in the books, players from the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers brought their A-games.
Let's stop messing around and get into it. Here are the top sneakers worn on opening night in the National Basketball Association.
Kristaps Porzingis: Adidas Crazy Explosive 'PE'
1 of 8Adidas' most recent signee, Kristaps Porzingis, decided to wear his first Three-Stripe sneaker on opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The model he chose was the Crazy Explosive.
This shoe is a remarkable piece of footwear. Mesh layering surrounds the entire frame, providing a lightweight feel. Boost technology was also cleverly inserted into the sole. These elements have made the Crazy Explosive a true staple of Adidas' 2016 collection.
Porzingis' "Player Exclusive" version of the Crazy Explosive was strictly dedicated to the Knicks. A blue base, orange sole and a shot of Boost layering looked great on camera.
With the 2016 season underway, look for more "Player Exclusive" versions of the Crazy Explosive from Porzingis in the coming weeks.
LeBron James: LeBron Soldier 10 'Battle Grey'
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LeBron James returned to his throne sporting a pair of LeBron Soldier 10 "Battle Greys" against the New York Knicks. The shoe clearly worked, as James' dropped 19 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists on the way to a 117-88 win.
The King's Soldier line has become a go-to favorite for those who play hoops thanks to its supreme level of support. It's probably the most reliable sneaker James' has released to date, using an advanced cushioning system in the collar to keep one's ankles in place.
Lockdown support is the key here because the traction system on the Soldier 10 isn't ideal. It's really the only flaw this shoe has to offer.
Either way, James decided to break out a "Battle Grey" pair on opening night. It was a stellar choice by No. 23.
Stephen Curry: Under Armour Curry 3 'Dub Nation'
3 of 8Stephen Curry made his season debut on October 25 wearing the Under Armour Curry 3 "Dub Nation." The sneaker continues Curry's impressive signature line with UA and pushes boundaries when it comes to basketball tech.
Under Armour's patented Anafoam technology was used to form the upper. It provides a lasting mold, which allows a player to pivot without fear of rolling an ankle. A herringbone pattern fused onto the sole gives the Curry 3 a colossal sense of traction. When mixed together, this shoe has a chance to become the best performing model of the year.
Even in a losing effort, Curry looked good. It's going to be fun to see how many different iterations of the Curry 3 Under Armour comes up with this season.
Kyrie Irving: Kyrie 2 'Player Exclusive'
4 of 8Kyrie Irving and LeBron James have a lot in common. They're both defending NBA champions, they're both Nike athletes and on opening night, they both wore a gleaming pair of signature shoes.
Unlike James' Soldier 10, Irving's Kyrie 2 is more of a mid-to-low cut. The shoe serves as a throwback to silhouettes of the 1990s. It also happens to be the best shoe on the market today in terms of traction, thanks to an intricate rubber pattern etched onto the sole.
Irving's "Player Exclusive" Kyrie 2 featured a tonal white upper, gold accents—including the Nike Swoosh—and a speckled sidewall. These were championship-level kicks for the 24-year-old Cavs guard.
Kawhi Leonard: Air Jordan XXXI 'Fine Print'
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Kawhi Leonard looks poised to take over as the San Antonio Spurs lead man. His 35-point performance against the Golden State Warriors was all the talk on October 25.
Carving up defenses in style, Leonard represented his brand by rocking the Air Jordan XXXI "Fine Print." This latest installment of the Air Jordan line pays respects to the brand's heritage. Paired up with the Air Jordan I, the XXXI aesthetically looks like a sneaker from the 1980s, despite being loaded with forward-thinking technology.
Along with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Leonard will be sporting different versions of the shoe throughout the 2016-17 NBA season.
Kevin Durant: KD 9 'Battle Grey'
6 of 8Nike's "Battle Grey" pack continues to get its fair share of love thanks to Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant.
Durant made his regular-season debut with the Warriors sporting the "Battle Grey" KD 9. In front of a roaring crowd at Oracle Arena, the Warriors couldn't get past the San Antonio Spurs, losing 129-100. But mixed up in all of that disappointment was Durant getting back to his usual, dominant self.
KD's 27 points and 10 rebounds were impressive, especially against a stout San Antonio defense. It was simply Durant being Durant.
The "Battle Grey" KD 9s might have shown up in a losing effort, but that doesn't change the fact they remain one of the cleanest cuts we saw on opening night.
Damian Lillard: D Lillard 2 'Triple White'
7 of 8Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has officially put the NBA on notice after his commanding 39-point showing against the Utah Jazz.
Lillard soared all over the place, looking like a future MVP. He also did it with style and grace. The D Lillard 2—an Adidas cut—was prominently put on display. This "Triple White" version of the shoe glimmered as Lillard attacked the hoop without fear of missing.
The D Lillard 2 has quietly become an all-world performer thanks to an incredible sense of balance. From traction to support, it flows really well—especially for not being a high-top.
It was cool to watch the dynamic Trail Blazers guard shine in this "Triple White" version of the D Lillard 2.
Brandon Jennings: Kobe 11
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Kobe Bryant's absence isn't all about his impact on the Los Angeles Lakers. Talking from a sneaker perspective, Bryant's signature line is now missing its champion.
New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings attempted to be that guy, refusing to let Bryant's sneakers die. On opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jennings sported a low-top cut of the Kobe 11s.
Draped in a harmonic grey palette, these sneakers stood out. With their comfort level on a trillion, thanks to an advanced mid-sole design and supportive cushioning platform, Jennings earned himself a place on this list.
No one knows what the future of Bryant's signature line holds. Either way, it's great to see Jennings in a pair of Kobe 11s. This shoe deserves to be worn for the duration of the 2016-17 NBA season.
All stats, box scores and information via Sports-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
