If you are a follower of one of the most renowned sports, Basketball, you must have heard Basketball uniforms have an excellent combination, such as jerseys, shorts, and most importantly a pair of shoes. Since the 1970s, Nike has been one of the prestigious shoe brands that dominate the whole NBA.
Baller Shoes DB data shows that around 70% of NBA players wear Nike shoes, and data also shows that Nike has six of the top ten shoe models worn by 2024 NBA players. These are Nike Kobe 8, Nike Ja 1, Jordan Zion 3, Nike Sabrina 1, Jordan Tatum 2 and Air Jordan 38.
Around 17% of Adidas, PUMA 2% and other brands are worn by the NBA players, data shows. So there is a clear domination from Nike. How is it possible and what’s the secret behind it?
Nike basketball shoes were the most worn during the 2022-23 NBA season.
Nike shoes has a rich history
Nike has a rich history in the basketball area. They have been developing catchy and high-performance basketball shoes over the years. They use cutting-edge technologies to make shoes that provide cushioning, and traction, these are essential for basketball players at the highest level.
In the 1970s, Nike first joined the NBA league with shoes like The Blazer that were worn by famous basketball player George Gervin. They also released The Bruin in 1972, made up of distinctive leather uppers.
Nike appeared as a big power during the 1980s
During the 1980s, many more brands began to make basketball shoes, and many star basketball players signed with those brands. But Nike was a big and single power at that time. Their first major release was the Air Force 1 in 1982, worn by Moses Malone.
Just two years later in 1984, Nike won the competition against Adidas to sign Michael Jordan, the player was 6 feet 6 inches tall, and that’s why Adidas weren’t able to make shoes for him but Nike grabbed the opportunity to sign him for making exactly the shoes that are worn by Jordan. Nike gave Jordan a five-year contract worth $7 million, which was big for an NBA rookie.
Nike Basketball shoe. Image: Sports Illustrated FanNation
They released the first Air Jordan in 1985 and then the second version was the Air Jordan 111 in 1988. Nike grabbed the NBA market at that time and continues to deliver high-quality shoes in the NBA area.
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Since Jordan’s series success, Nike has continued to dominate in the NBA. deals with other famous star players like Theyon James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant were the key to Nike’s popularity.
Apart from Star players singing, they are brilliant in marketing. they were engaged in Television, Newspaper and Magazine Ads, which increased to get their shoes in front of the World audience.
So Nike’s impact on the NBA is not created in a day. It takes a huge time to become popular in the world. Today, Nike shoes are considered one of the richest and most prestigious in the NBA and the rest of the world.
The 5 Most Popular Shoes Worn by NBA Players Last Season
Nike KD 15
There were plenty of compelling sneaker stories throughout the season, and somehow Kevin Durant did not receive enough attention for his accomplishments. Durant debuted his 15th signature shoe and signed a lifetime sneaker deal with Nike. The Nike KD 15 was the fifth-most worn shoe in the NBA this season, with players logging 24,960 minutes in the performance model.
Nike Kobe 5 Protro
When it comes to performance basketball shoes, Kobe Bryant has the strongest sneaker legacy. Look no further than the Nike Kobe 5 Protro. The retro model was launched in January 2019 and hasn’t released a new colorway in almost three years. Still, the Nike Kobe 5 Protro ranked fourth as the most-worn basketball shoe on the court this season.
Nike LeBron 20
It is impossible to discuss this past season without mentioning what LeBron James accomplished on the court. Not only did James break the league’s all-time scoring record, but he debuted his 20th signature sneaker. The Nike LeBron 20 came in as the third most-worn shoe of the season, with players logging 33,855 minutes.
The Nike LeBron 20 black and red shoes. Image: SI.com
Nike PG 6
This one came as a surprise to us. We knew Paul George had a popular signature sneaker line, but was not expecting this level of clout in the league. The Nike PG 6 was the second-most popular shoe this season, with players tallying 35,453 minutes in the model.
Nike Kobe 6 Protro
The Nike Kobe 6 Protro was the most worn basketball shoe of the 2022-23 NBA season, with players logging 40,884 minutes in the iconic model. While NBA players have had no trouble obtaining the rare shoes, most fans cannot find the shoes from the Nike Kobe line for anywhere close to the retail price. Luckily, Nike has announced big plans for the future of the Kobe Brand. Source: Sports Illustrated
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