8
Apr
Footwear Focus
This week in kicks: Proctor debuts kicks at Final Four
Australian Duke star Tyrese Proctor debuted some special kicks during his Final Four hitout.
Australian Duke star Tyrese Proctor debuted some special kicks during his Final Four hitout.
This week in kicks It might’ve been April Fools, but this week’s sneaker moments were no joke, with plenty of Aussie action.
An Australian college star sported custom kicks in thebiggest moment of his career, while a fan-favourite sneaker finally saw its second edition.
One NBA All-Star debuted a colourway of his MVP girlfriend’s signature sneaker, another added fur to his in an ode to his canine best friend, and Jordan brand signed their latest signature athlete - a snowboarder.
Final Four custom Kobe’s for Proctor
After three years at Cameron Indoor, Tyrese Proctor and his Duke Blue Devils finally made the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four.
To mark the occasion, Proctor enlisted the help of sneaker customiser @willscustomss to cook up some special shoes.
The one-of-one rendition of the ‘All-Star’ Kobe 6 added fiesta-inspired touches to the all-white pair, to reference the city of San Antonio where the final six games of March Madness were played this year.
However, the kicks did not provide the result Proctor was hoping for, as Duke went down to Houston by three points.
Former NBL coach inspires NBA Nike Air Forces for autism
One of the most meaningful initiatives in the NBA is back for another year, with the Utah Jazz leading the charge as the league’s coaches don custom Nike Air Forces to raise awareness for autism.
Pioneered by former Perth Wildcats coach and current Jazz assistant, the campaign will run from April 2–9, with each NBA head coach wearing the custom kicks which will then be auctioned off, the funds going to Morrison’s charity To The Max Foundation, founded in honour of his son who has autism.
60 pairs were created for the campaign by Salt Lake City customiser JSM 801 Customs, who also designed the shoes during the maiden campaign last season.
This continues Utah’s efforts to champion autism awareness that previously involved Australian basketball icon Joe Ingles, who took up the cause after his son was diagnosed with autism.
Adidas announces AE2
One of the most popular debut signature sneakers in basketball history finallyhas a follow-up, with images of the AE2 officially releasing this week.
Anthony Edwards’ first signature model - the AE1 - wasnothing short of a phenomenon, helping to reinvigorate adidas basketball whilefirmly planting the young Minnesota star among the pantheon of debut signaturesneakers.
The three-time All-Star has kept a similar design languagefor his sophomore shoe, while also drawing in inspiration from the shoes of hisfellow three stripes star James Harden.
The new model is reportedly set for release this October,giving Edwards a nearly two-year run with both the high and then low model of his first shoe, which has quickly become a cult classic.
Hawks star backcourt forced to tape shoes in China
The NBL season is over, but despite the Illawarra Hawks lifting the championship trophy just weeks ago, their import backcourt of TreyKell III and Tyler Harvey have been hard at work, both playing in China’s CBA.
But while Kell and Harvey’s star-level play has continuedoverseas, one thing that is different about the pair is the black tape that adorns the shoes of both players.
Kell, who plays for the Shanxi Loongs, and Harvey, aShanghai Shark, both prefer to wear Nike’s Kobe line, but the Chinese Basketball Association carries a sponsorship from Chinese brand Li Ning, which requires the Nike logo on all player’s shoes to be covered.
In previous years, the league has dealt with repeated instances of star players not being allowed to wear their preferred footwear brands - in 2016 former NBA forward Yi Jianlian was fined by the league after wearing Nike during a game, while more recently former NBA guard Eric Bledsoe also played in the league with taped-over Kobe models.
FIT OF THE WEEK: Dyson Daniels
Every week, we’ll pick one Aussie or Aussie-adjacent hooper who has put together the fit of the week.
Daniels went for more of a business-inspired look this week,to great success, with the Atlanta Hawks star guard quickly becoming one of the NBA’s best dressed men.
POST-CREDIT SCENES
The best bits that didn’t quite make the cut.
Skechers sign USC star
Jordan Brand add first snowboarder
Haliburton’s dedicates shoes to dog
Bam debuts A’One colourway
About the Author
Jed Wells is a basketball, fashion and culture writer based out of Sydney, Australia, with a keen interest on the sneaker industry both on and off the court. He is still waiting for his own signature shoe.