Forgotten Athletic Shoe Endorsements/Commercials

[kes1111]

Back in the 1980's before almost every elite basketball player was gobbled up by now giants Nike and adidas, there was a time when some of the game's best were endorsed by a variety of different brands. Some big and some small. For Hakeem Olajuwon, his first signature sneaker came from Etonic, a brand known mostly for their golf and running shoes.

 

[kes1111]

Back in the ‘80s, Ralph Sampson was a basketball legend. First pick of the NBA Draft in ’83, Rookie of the Year in ’84, he towered over the rest of the players and elevated the game to unprecedented heights. Signing Sampson took PUMA to the next level in the basketball world – and in return, we created a customized kick just for him.

 

[Raeeb7]

 

[Raeeb7]

 

[Raeeb7]

 

[EchoCrash]

Those were some of the best ball shoes made. Amazing support and very comfortable sole and padding.

 

[kes1111]

Clyde Drexler was taking the next step in his NBA career, and that step came in different shoes — the Avia brand. The shoes themselves are actually very aesthetically-pleasing, especially for this era. They look very similar to Patrick Ewing’s shoe, which, from personal experience, I can say balanced sleek design and comfort to a tee. You don’t play 43,109 minutes and become an all-time great in bad shoes, that’s for sure. They lack in beauty to some of the shoes on this list, but they’re certainly an elite one in league history.

 

[kes1111]

The popularity of the City Wings skyrocketed when pocket dynamite, Spud Webb, wore the low-cut version of the sneakers en route to winning the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Competition. Featuring ’City Wings’ stamped on the tongue and sides, it is one of the most recognizable basketball sneakers. A true collectible with a genuine backstory!

 

[brickdome]

 

[brickdome]

 

[Raeeb7]

 

[Raeeb7]

 

[kes1111]

Vince Carter came up during the rise of basketball shoes entering popular media, and he played a role. Before his first NBA season, Carter signed a deal with Puma for the “Puma Vinsanity” for $50 million over 10 years. He broke that agreement very early, though, citing that they made his feet hurt.

 

[PsiBorg]

This was one of my favorites:

 

[PsiBorg]

 

[PsiBorg]

This one was tight too:

 

[kes1111]

KangaROOS was born to solve a specific need. In 1979, an American architect by the name of Robert Gamm – also a passionate follower of the jogging craze – found himself facing a common dilemma: Where on earth do you put your keys while you’re out on a run? Mulling the question on his daily seven-mile workouts, he finally had a Eureka moment. A stash pocket on the side of the shoes would keep the keys safe!
KangaROOS used the momentum and positive press to branch out into a variety of sports such as hockey, baseball and American football with endorsements by the day’s leading athletes, including football All-Star Walter Payton.

 

[CPT Callamity]

I miss the competition that used to exist. So many designs and companies going at it.

 

[kes1111]

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana signed an endorsement deal with LA Gear in 1990 after working with Adidas and later Mizuno for most of his career and quickly became the company's feature athlete.

 

[Bumpee]

 

[kes1111]

PONY sneakers commercial with the Dynamic Breakers and Darryl Dawkins (1984)

 

[kes1111]

In early 1997, Nike released a series of TV spots the featured Nike athletes for then the fastest system in the Nike arsenal – Zoom Air. Gary Payton wore the Nike Zoom Flight Hawk

 

[kes1111]

Emmitt Smith and Reebok joined forces for the first time in 1993. Throughout the ‘90s Smith would appear in Reebok advertisements showcasing the brand’s bold “Preseason” line of turf shoes. Smith’s signature ES22 trainer arrived in 1996.

 

[kes1111]

From 1980 to 1981, Earl Monroe had an endorsement deal with Jordache for a signature line of basketball sneakers that bore his nickname "Pearl" near the heel.