Basketball’s Next Generation

Every once in a while in Basketball a player comes along that changes the game. Whether it’s the way they can take over a game at any given moment, fly through the air with the greatest of ease and finish above the rim or make their teammates better by performing a spectacular play. Just look back at Magic Johnson, a player that could play every position. Michael Jordan, who defied the laws of gravity and now Lebron James, a player who at the age of 14 was a man among boys and now regularly tears defenders apart. (If you haven’t already seen the documentary ‘More than a Game’ I suggest you do and you’ll know what I mean when I say man amongst boys!)

In the sneaker game brands look to innovate and create the next generation of product like players look to advance their game on the Basketball court. For example, check out the latest APL shoes that are supposed to add inches to your vertical leap, the NBA has put a ban on these as they’re seen as performance enhancing. What next? Springs underfoot? Oh no, I forgot Nike has already done that and look what Vince did…

As players become quicker, more athletic and less prone to injury, Basketball shoes are becoming lighter yet more supportive. For the first time ever SoleHeaven is now stocking these cutting edge performance Basketball boots, so whether you’re a baller or a sneaker head looking for your latest fix then check out some of them below.

We’ll start with the revolutionary Hyperdunk basketball shoe. Launched at the 2008 Olympics this shoe was the lightest Basketball shoe at the time at 13 ounces, near 20% lighter than any other Basketball shoe at the time. Inspiration from the supportive cables on suspension bridges came in the form of ‘Flywire’ offering support across the midfoot and heel. The shoe was worn by both Forwards and Guards at the time and is now supported by the ‘Blake Show’ aka Blake Griffin, the LA Clipper who leaps tall buildings in a singe bound, well not actually buildings but cars…just check out the footage from last years All Star Game for proof!

Here’s another game-changer. The Kobe IV, the first Basketball shoe worn by Kobe Bryant to go against the rule that Basketball players need ankle support. Hey, if Kobe can wear them for the last 3 seasons without injury then what’s this high top business been all about? With Nike’s responsive Zoom Air cushioning in the heel and Flywire midsole locking the foot down, preventing any foot sliding inside the shoe, this is one of the lightest Basketball shoes ever made at 10 ounces and perfect for those super quick 1-2 guards. Just ask Great Britain’s starting Point Guard Ode Odegboye.

If anyone managed to actually watch the GB Basketball team play at the London Prepares 2012 Basketball tournament on the BBC Red Button service then you would’ve noticed both the Kobe IV and the Hyperdunk were being worn by many of the GB and France players.

One standout player for GB during the tournament was Joel Freeland, at only 24 years of age he has been working on his low post game out in Spain and showed viewers exactly why the Portland Trailblazers drafted him back in 2008. On his feet he was supporting SoleHeaven’s new Nike Hyperfuse, a shoe that has the breathability of a mesh running shoe and overall support of a basketball shoe.

The shoe itself has 3 types of material ‘fused’ together by a hot plate to form a complete one piece upper, this gives designers the flexibility to insert breathable zones and supportive overlays exactly where the athlete needs them without any added weight to the shoe.

Basketball shoes are already pushing the boundaries of innovation so let’s be honest, how much lighter, stronger, more responsive can a basketball shoe go? If the NBA has banned players from wearing certain shoes then what’s next, socks being worn as shoes? Who knows, we might one day see Marty McFly’s auto-laced Nikes being worn by the next Lebron James or Kobe Bryant…whoever they may be?

Until next time.

KB – Veteran Baller/Sneaker lover

Tags: air jordan, basketball, blake griffin, hyperdunks, kobe bryant, kobe VI, NBA, newcastle eagles, nike, nike Hyperfuse, soleheaven