The 25 Greatest Sneakers in Michigan Basketball History

Submitted by FabFiver5 on

The website Complex has published an article (with great pictures!) of the best shoes Michigan players have worn through history. It's an awesome look back on the days of Ricky Green all the way to today. I remember most of these shoes, but forgot how many different styles the Fab 5 wore...many wearing different styles at the same time.

Your #1 shoe:

1. Nike Air Flight Huarache 

When: 1992

Who: Chris Webber 

After 1992, college basketball was never the same. Five kids from Michigan got together and decided they were going to rock baggy shorts, play with some major swag, and take the game by storm. It was also the year Nike released one of its most unconventional sneakers of all time, the Air Flight Huarache. Tinker Hatfield designed a shoe unlike anything before, inspired by a Mayan sandal. The shoe was one of the first to be stripped of unnecessary materials for a lightweight masterpiece. The baddest shoes on the baddest squad.

http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/02/the-25-greatest-sneakers-in-mic…

Dr.Jay

February 24th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^

As an avid sneakerhead/collector(well over 100 pair), the Nike Air Force Max would be my #1. To me they are the defining shoe when I think of the fab 5, I have 3 pair of these(nike re-issues them every couple years) and I always rock them with a pair of Maize Michigan B-ball shorts.

Marcus818

February 24th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

Absolutely. The Air Force Max being 3 is blasphemy. When I sold off my shoe collection years ago I kept only 1 pair, the Air Force Max's. They have too much sentimental value. They also made a huge error by excluding the Zoom Flight 95's.

lbpeley

February 24th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^

of them and noticed some dunks, too. I can't remember the last time I saw an actual reverse dunk in a game. Is it a lost art or do i just not watch enough basketball?

Geh Blau

February 24th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^

I was pretty distraught when we moved to Adidas because I normally think their shoes look like crap, but I my sentiments completely changed with the Crazy 8.  They have that bulky, heavy duty black and white look that made me think new age Fab Five gear.

True Blue Grit

February 24th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^

in my closet up until a couple years ago when I gave them to a U-M Student friend of my daughter.  Oh well.  Hopefully he put them to good use.  Cool article though.  Some of those shoes are awesome.

Kennyvr1

February 24th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^

I miss Nike more and more everyday. Some of those shoes which I had when I was a youngster are so smooth. Those air max barkleys should be number 1 or 2 on this list though not 3. Although those ones at 2 are kind of dope.

Elmer

February 24th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^

I thought the second place finisher got robbed.  Those two tone Nike Dunk Highs were sweet.

Still wish the Nike Legend circa 1982 would get more love.  They are my favorite of all time for playing hoops.

French West Indian

February 24th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^

I'm pretty sure there is still a pair of those Huaraches at my parents house somewhere.  I remember them because my parents always had us buy are shoes a size too big so that we could grow into them...except with the Huarache my feet stopped growing and I never really did fit into them.

Still I argree with the list.  The Huarache was a nice lightweight, stripped down innovation.

AVPBCI

February 24th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^

adidas TS Bounce Commander PE "Michigan"

those shoes are awesome

i saw a pair on ebay but they were 11.5 size and i wear a 13

 

if they were available in 13's they'd be gone

bacon1431

February 24th, 2012 at 1:27 PM ^

Never really understood the big obsession with basketball sneakers. I always hated wearing basketball shoes . Too clunky and felt they slowed me down a bit. But I have weak ankles so I had to wear them most of the time. But I always preferred playing in my Asics and taping my ankles heavily.

And I never got wearing them for casual shoes. So big and heavy. Probably just me though.

R Kelly

February 24th, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^

The Nike Air Max Penny I's are some of my favorite shoes of all time.  Nike/Jordan really had some of their best shoe designs ever in the mid '90s.  

BVB

February 24th, 2012 at 3:51 PM ^

Great thread while killing time at the airport version of hockeytown cafe... I had a sweet pair of nikes Gary Grant era, but don't recall the name. They were maize, blue and white. Great shoes, especially for a 12 year old. A bit ot, but somewhere in my basement, I have a pair of Webber airmax a year or 2 after he left. Those were nice too