Evolution Of The Basketball Shoe

Answer 1

The evolution of men's Basketball sneakers has been rapid, interesting and a reflection of the American culture's love for shiny new things. In the early days of the National Basketball Association, footwear was for function only. Design and style was yet to come along, not to mention million-dollar shoe contracts. Fortunately, the scope of basketball shoes has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five decades. Here are a few of the highlights.

Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most famous players to ever wear the original Converse sneaker, and it became a staple of the no-frills early years of the league. The simple shoe was worn by many professional basketball players until the late 1980s, including Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

A man by the name of Michael Jordan arrived in the NBA in the mid-1980s, and men's basketball shoes changed forever. A struggling company out of Oregon latched onto the young star early into his career, and the two rose to the top of their respective fields. With colors, design schemes and supporting that had never been seen or felt before, Nike soon had a firm hold on the men's basketball shoe industry.

By the mid-1990s, dozens of shoe companies had entered the highly profitable realm of men's basketball shoes, and costs began to get a bit out of control. Shoes that bared the names of the league's best players often commanded $150 after taxes, and basketball shoes soon became a status symbol.

In the years that have followed, the price for quality men's basketball shoes has leveled off, and many quality pairs can be found for around $50. Dozens of companies continue to produce products using services and factories all over the world, so the overall quality of the products varies. A shoe that feels comfortable and snug on one person's foot might give another person cramps and blisters, so it is a very good idea to try on a few different pairs of men's basketball shoes before making a selection.