Kristian Ferrell
Basketball shoes have evolved significantly over the years, from the early days of the sport when players wore various types of footwear, to the modern era where a multitude of brands and styles are available. The first basketball shoes ever made were the Converse All-Stars, released in 1917, and they remained popular for several decades. However, as the sport gained popularity, new brands entered the market, challenging Converse's dominance. The evolution of basketball shoes has been driven by technological advancements, performance enhancements, and style preferences, with companies vying for endorsements from top players to gain a competitive edge. Today, basketball shoes are known for their comfort, style, and performance features, making them popular not only among players but also with fans and collectors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first basketball shoes | 1917 |
| Company that released the first basketball shoes | Converse Rubber Shoe Company |
| Name of the first basketball shoes | Non-Skid |
| Features of the first basketball shoes | High-top footwear, canvas upper, rubber sole, cushioned insole, arch and heel support, diamond tread pattern |
| Renamed in | 1922 |
| New name | Chuck Taylor All Stars |
| Year Converse All Stars became official shoe of the Summer Olympics | 1936 |
| Decade when Converse basketball shoes were only available in black or white | 1960s |
| Company that challenged Converse's dominance in 1969 | Adidas |
| Name of Adidas' basketball shoes | Superstar sneakers |
| Puma's basketball shoes | Clyde's |
| Year Nike entered the market | 1973 |
| Nike's first basketball shoes | Blazer and Bruin |
| Year Nike dethroned Converse as the king of basketball shoes | 1985 |
| Nike's basketball shoes that dethroned Converse | Air Jordan Ones |
| Year Reebok released the Pump | Late 1980s |
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What You'll Learn
The first basketball shoes
The Converse All Stars, as they were later known, were the first basketball shoes ever made and dominated the market for the next half-century. Indiana University basketball star Chuck Taylor began wearing them in 1917, and in 1921, he met with the company and modified the shoes into a style still used today. The addition of Taylor's signature to the ankle patch in 1922 led to the shoes becoming known as the 'Chuck Taylor All Stars'. Taylor helped to market the shoes by holding basketball clinics and acting as a player-manager for the company-sponsored Converse All Stars touring basketball team. By 1936, when basketball made its Olympic debut, All Stars were the shoe of choice for players from all nations and were selected as the official shoe of the Summer Olympics until 1968.
The Converse All Stars remained popular until the 1970s when other companies began to challenge Converse's dominance in the basketball shoe market. Converse attempted to counteract the decline in sales by adding more colour options and updating the rubber sole, but they could not compete with the new entries to the market. In 1969, Adidas released the Superstar sneaker, endorsed by NBA players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which offered a genuine leather upper sole and improved traction. In 1973, Puma entered the market with the "Clyde", a stylish addition that marked a shift away from utilitarian sneakers. Nike also released the Blazer and the Bruin in 1973, contributing further to the evolution of basketball shoes.
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The rise of Converse
The Converse Rubber Shoe Company was founded in 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, by Marquis Mills Converse, a manager at a footwear manufacturing firm. The company initially manufactured rubber-soled footwear, galoshes, tennis shoes, and non-footwear items like automobile tires. In 1916, Converse established a basketball line, and in 1917, it introduced the Converse All-Star basketball shoe, which quickly gained popularity during World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic. The shoe was made of canvas and rubber and was the first mass-produced basketball shoe in North America, becoming one of the most iconic shoes in sports history.
In 1921, Charles "Chuck" Taylor, a semi-professional basketball player, joined Converse as a salesman. Taylor saw the potential in the shoe's design and contributed ideas for improvements, particularly in flexibility and ankle support. Within a year, the company adopted his suggestions, and the restyled shoe also incorporated the distinctive All-Star logo. In 1922, Converse added Taylor's signature to the ankle patch, and the shoe became known as the Chuck Taylor All Star, the first celebrity-endorsed athletic shoe.
To promote sales, Taylor held basketball clinics in high schools, colleges, and YMCAs across the US, teaching the fundamentals of the game while showcasing the Converse All Star shoes. In the 1926-27 season, Taylor also served as a player-manager of the company-sponsored Converse All Stars basketball team, which further contributed to the shoe's popularity. By the 1950s, Chuck Taylor All Stars had become a standard choice for high school, collegiate, and professional basketball players.
By the 1960s, Converse dominated the basketball shoe market, with around nine out of ten college and professional basketball players wearing their shoes. The company also customised shoes for the New York Renaissance, the first all-African-American professional basketball team. However, in the 1970s, Converse began to face competition from brands like Adidas, Puma, and Nike, and the company's market share declined. Despite this, the Chuck Taylor All Stars experienced a resurgence in the 1980s as retro-style casual footwear, and they continue to be popular beyond the basketball court today.
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The birth of sneaker culture
In 1917, the Converse Rubber Shoe Company released the first shoe aimed at basketball players, called the "Non-Skids". These high-top sneakers featured a canvas upper, a rubber sole, a cushioned insole, and arch and heel support. They also included a diamond tread pattern, designed to provide increased grip on the floor. The Non-Skids, later renamed the "Chuck Taylors" after the semi-professional basketball player and Converse salesman Charles 'Chuck' Taylor, became the first basketball shoe and dominated the market for the next half century. Taylor provided feedback on the shoe, suggesting improvements such as changing the flexibility of the sole and increasing ankle support. As a result, Converse added his signature to the ankle patch in 1922, and the shoes became known as the "Chuck Taylor All Stars".
The Converse All Stars became incredibly popular, with Taylor promoting the shoes by holding basketball clinics and managing a company-sponsored touring basketball team. By the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games, where basketball made its debut, the All Stars were prominently featured, and they were selected as the official shoe of the Summer Olympics until 1968. During World War II, they were even chosen as the official athletic training shoes of the US armed forces. By the 1960s, Converse was estimated to have cornered 80% of the basketball shoe market, with around nine out of ten college and professional basketball players wearing their shoes.
However, the 1970s marked a revolutionary shift in the basketball shoe market, with new entrants and technological innovations challenging Converse's dominance. Adidas released the first low-top basketball shoes, the Superstars, endorsed by NBA stars such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West. Puma also entered the market with the Puma Clyde, designed by Knicks point guard Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, who wanted a stylish low-top shoe in different colourways for each game. Nike made its move in 1973 with the release of the Bruin and the Blazer, contributing to the evolution of basketball shoes.
The stage was now set for the "sneaker wars" of the mid-1980s, with Nike, Converse, and Reebok battling it out. In 1984, Adidas briefly took the crown with the release of the Forum, which resembled modern basketball shoes. However, the following year, Nike released the Air Jordan 1, endorsed by Michael Jordan, which became the most popular basketball shoe of the decade. Jordan's deal with Nike was groundbreaking, as he was the first NBA player to receive a portion of sales from his shoe. The Air Jordan 1 shattered conventions by featuring Jordan's name and logo prominently on the shoe, making them stand out as "Jordans".
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The 1980s sneaker wars
The 1980s saw a boom in the sneaker industry, with brands exploding onto the scene and gaining loyal customers. This was a time when sneaker culture became prominent, especially within the Black community and the world of hip-hop. The variety of colours available in sneakers was still rare, so brands that offered multiple colour options, like Converse, gained popularity. Converse All Stars, which had been the official shoe of the Summer Olympics from 1936 to 1968, saw a resurgence in the 1980s as retro-style casual footwear.
Basketball players also played a significant role in the sneaker wars of the 1980s. Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks was known for his vicious dunks and the Brooks shoes he endorsed. Isiah Thomas of the Pistons wore blue and white sneakers, a colour combination that gained popularity. Spud Webb, who won the dunk contest at 5'8", wore low tops.
Endorsement deals with basketball players became lucrative, and many players signed on, contributing to the intense competition among sneaker brands in the 1980s. The sneaker wars of this decade set the stage for the multi-billion-dollar industry that sneaker culture is today, with special editions of basketball shoes selling out within minutes of their release and dedicated fans collecting "sneakerhead" collectors' items.
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Basketball shoes today
Basketball shoes have come a long way since the first shoe specifically aimed at basketball players was released in 1917 by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. The shoe, called the "Non-Skid", featured a canvas upper, a rubber sole, a cushioned insole, and arch and heel support. Today, basketball shoes are designed with specific performance characteristics in mind, such as grip, cushioning, and lightweight construction.
Major sports brands like Nike and Adidas have developed basketball shoes that utilise their latest technologies. For example, Nike's LeBron NXXT Genisus and Giannis Immortality 4 shoes feature vanguard technologies like Zoom Air and Zoom Turbo, as well as advanced cushioning systems. Adidas's basketball sneakers are designed to blend court performance with street style, offering a sleek and modern look.
The right basketball shoe can significantly impact a player's performance on the court. While regular athletic sneakers can support some basketball movements, specialised basketball shoes are designed to handle the demands of running, jumping, quick stops, and abrupt direction changes. Different positions on the court may also require different types of shoes, with guards and players who rely on speed typically favouring low-top shoes that offer more flexibility.
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Frequently asked questions
The Converse "All-Stars" were the first basketball shoes ever made. Converse released the shoes in 1917, but they didn't become popular until Indiana University basketball star Chuck Taylor began wearing them.
Since the early 1910s, basketball shoes have improved both technologically and visually. Over the years, companies have released special editions, often linked to current events, fads, or historical events. They have also collaborated with basketball players to release signature shoes.
In the early days of basketball, players wore various types of footwear. This included rubber-soled Keds, which were generically marketed for sports, and leather high-tops.
The Nike Air Jordan 1, released in 1985, is considered the most important basketball shoe of all time. It was Michael Jordan's version of the Nike Air Force 1. The shoe was groundbreaking because Jordan was the first NBA player to receive a portion of the sales from his shoe. It also shattered the rule that shoes worn in NBA games had to be at least 50% white.
