From school sneakers to hi-tech basketball shoes: how basketball footwear evolved over the last 100 years.
Global sports betting company 1xBet, which offers the best conditions for NBA online betting, shares insights about iconic sports footwear.
Where it all began
Basketball players of the first professional teams played in casual clothing and footwear. However, over 100 years ago, it became clear that basketball shoes needed to be high-top, with rigid soles and maximum foot support.
The first footwear model specifically designed for basketball was the Converse All-Star sneakers, released in 1917. By 1936, Converse solidified its status as the top basketball footwear manufacturer by launching the high-top white Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers, in which the USA team won gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. The patriotic red and white stripes of this model were so beloved by Americans that during World War II, Chuck Taylor All-Stars became the official training footwear of the U.S. Army. As a result, Converse monopolized the basketball footwear market for 40 years—reportedly controlling 80% of the American market in the mid-20th century. Its sneakers were worn by the most popular basketball players of the time and movie stars such as James Dean.
Over the past 100 years, Converse All-Star sneakers have become one of the most popular footwear styles on the planet. It’s no wonder that in 2017, New York’s Museum of Modern Art included them in its exhibition on the history of 20th-century fashion, where they took their rightful place alongside Dr. Martens, as well as Bruce Lee’s tracksuit and WWI trench coat.
Technology breakthrough
In the 1950s and 1960s, the sports industry began to realize that basketball footwear should be made from a more durable material—leather rather than fabric. During this time, the ability to adjust the laces for better foot security emerged, and the conservative design evolved into a more stylish one.
Adidas Superstar
In 1969, Adidas launched the revolutionary Superstar model, which eventually became iconic. The key advantages of the Adidas Superstar include a fully rubberized toe for protection and a sole that leaves no marks on the court. In a short time, over 75% of NBA players switched to Adidas Superstar, including legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Today, while the Superstar may be technologically outdated, it remains popular as everyday sporty footwear.
Nike Air Force One
Nike entered the competition with Adidas to reshape the basketball footwear market back in the 1970s. This American manufacturer released several intriguing models and returned to a fabric base, making the sneakers lighter. However, it was the Air Force One model, launched in 1982, that truly made an impact. To gain a leading position in the industry, Nike began using compressed air capsules as cushioning—hence the word “air” in the name.
Nike Air Jordan
In 1985, Nike signed a contract with promising NBA player Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and launched the signature sneakers, Air Jordan. Jordan’s rapidly growing popularity made this model a sales hit. Air Jordan has undergone several upgrades and remains a bestseller to this day.
For several decades, basketball footwear manufacturers have competed in technology, and regarding design, modern sneakers resemble Formula 1 race cars more than traditional footwear. Basketball sneakers have long become a fashion staple, worn even by those who have never held an orange ball.
About 1xBet
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