Ayrton Oneill
The first basketball shoes were created to meet the need for non-slip shoes on the court. In 1917, Converse released the first shoe specifically designed for basketball players, the 'Non-Skid'. This shoe was a high-top with a canvas upper, a rubber sole, and a cushioned insole, arch and heel support. The shoe also featured a diamond tread pattern for increased grip. Converse All Stars were prominently featured on basketball players at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games, where basketball made its Olympic debut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1917 |
| Company | Converse Rubber Shoe Company |
| Shoe name | Non-Skid/All Star/Chuck Taylors |
| Features | High-top, canvas upper, rubber sole, cushioned insole, arch and heel support, diamond tread pattern |
| Endorsements | Endorsed by basketball player Chuck Taylor in 1921 |
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What You'll Learn
Converse All Stars were the first basketball shoes
Converse All Stars, also known as Chuck Taylors, were the first basketball shoes. They were released in 1917 by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, founded in 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts. The shoe was originally nicknamed the "Non-Skids", as they were the first high-top sneakers designed to provide better ankle support for basketball players. The shoe was renamed after semi-professional basketball player Charles 'Chuck' Taylor started working for Converse as a salesman and improved the shoe's design.
Taylor had a good idea of how the Non-Skid shoe could be improved, such as by changing the flexibility of the sole while also providing increased support for the ankle. By 1921, Taylor had met with the company and modified the shoes into a style that is still used today. By 1936, when basketball first officially debuted at the Berlin Summer Olympic Games, All Stars were prominently featured on the feet of basketball players from all nations. The footwear was selected as the official shoe of the Summer Olympics from that year until 1968 and, during World War II, it was the official athletic training shoe of the US armed forces.
By the 1960s, Converse was the NBA's number one brand, with around nine out of every ten college and professional basketball players wearing Converse shoes. The Converse All Stars' dominance continued until the 1980s, when Nike released the Air Jordan Ones. The shoe quickly surpassed the Converse All-Stars in annual sales, becoming the most popular basketball shoe of the decade.
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Non-slip shoes were a necessity for players
Basketball is a sport that involves a lot of movement, with players constantly making sudden stops and starts, quick lateral movements, and changes in direction. As such, non-slip shoes with good traction are essential for players to maintain balance and prevent slips and falls that could lead to injuries. The right shoes allow players to move with confidence and make the necessary maneuvers to outmaneuver their opponents.
The first shoe specifically designed for basketball players was the "Non-Skid" shoe introduced by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in 1917. These high-top shoes featured a canvas upper and a rubber sole, with a cushioned insole, arch and heel support. The iconic diamond tread pattern on the sole was designed to provide increased grip on the floor. By the time basketball made its official debut at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games, Converse All Stars were the shoe of choice for players from all nations.
Over time, other shoe companies entered the market, offering basketball shoes with different traction patterns to suit various playing conditions and court surfaces. For example, Adidas released the first player-endorsed shoe in 1971, featuring the face of Kareem Abdul Jabbar on the tongue. Puma also entered the market in the 1970s, collaborating with NBA player Walt "Clyde" Frazier to create a low-top sneaker with more padding and a suede leather construction for easier dyeing.
Today, players are advised to choose basketball shoes with the right level of traction for their playing style and court surface. While basketball shoes are designed to provide grip and prevent slipping, players may also use products like sticky pads, grip sprays, or hand sanitizer to enhance traction on dusty courts.
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Converse All Stars were the official shoe of the Olympics
Converse All Stars, also known as Chuck Taylor All Stars, were the first basketball shoes, introduced in 1917 by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. The shoe was initially designed in three styles: a monochromatic shoe with a black canvas upper and black rubber soles, an all-white, high-top model with blue and red trim, and an all-black leather and rubber shoe. The white, high-top model with blue and red trim was designed for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where basketball made its Olympic debut. This was the first time that Converse All Stars were the official shoe of the Olympics.
The Converse All Stars were designed with a stitched upper portion, a toe cap, and an outsole usually made of rubber. The shoe's innovation was its "loose lining" of soft canvas, which provided flexibility and prevented blisters. The shoe was also designed with a distinctive five-pointed-star logo displayed on the high-top shoe's ankle patch. Over time, the shoe was released in multiple colours and prints, including a black-and-white version in 1949 and a low-cut "Oxford"-style version in 1957.
By the time basketball was first introduced at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games, Converse All Stars were already widely popular among basketball players. The shoes were prominently featured on the feet of basketball players from all nations at the 1936 Olympics. Following their debut as the official shoe of the Olympics, Converse All Stars continued to be selected as the official shoe of the Summer Olympics until 1968. During World War II, the Converse All Stars were also the official athletic training shoes of the US armed forces.
By the 1950s, Converse All Stars had become a standard among high school, collegiate, and professional basketball players, with around ninety per cent of professional and college basketball players wearing the shoes by the 1960s. The Converse Rubber Shoe Company's dominance in the basketball shoe market continued into the 1960s, with the company capturing about 70 to 80 per cent of the market. However, by the 1970s, the company began to struggle financially due to competition and poor business decisions as the shoe lost its popularity among basketball players.
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Adidas released the first player-endorsed shoe in 1971
The first basketball shoe was released in 1917 by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, which was founded in 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts. The shoe was called the "Non-Skid" and was designed specifically for basketball players. It featured a canvas upper, a rubber sole, a cushioned insole, and arch and heel support.
Over the years, several companies have released basketball shoes, with Converse cornering around 80% of the basketball shoe market by the 1960s. Adidas, which had been making strides in sports equipment and footwear since the 1940s, entered the basketball shoe market in the 1970s. In 1971, Adidas released the first player-endorsed shoe, featuring the face of NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the tongue. This move solidified Adidas's presence in the basketball world and set a precedent for future player endorsements and signature shoes.
Adidas continued to innovate in the basketball shoe market, introducing iconic shoes such as the Forum in 1984, which has since been remixed and remade numerous times. The brand also sponsored various basketball camps and tournaments, further associating itself with the sport. In the 1990s, Adidas introduced the Feet You Wear technology, creating shoes that mimicked the shape and curves of the human foot for improved stability and reliability.
The 2000s saw Adidas relaunch some of its classic shoes with modern twists, such as the Pro Model 2G in 2003, which offered extra cushioning for safety. Adidas also began incorporating technology into its shoes, with the Adidas_1 running shoe released in 2005, featuring a microchip that adjusted the cushioning based on the surface. This technology was later included in the Adidas_1 Basketball model.
Adidas has sponsored numerous basketball players and continues to be a prominent brand in the basketball shoe market, known for its performance-enhancing features and cultural appeal.
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Air Jordans were the first signature shoes in the NBA
Air Jordans are considered the first signature shoes in the NBA, but this is not strictly true. Before the Air Jordans, there were other signature shoes in the NBA.
Chuck Taylors, for example, were the original basketball shoes, and Converse was the NBA's number one brand. Adidas and Puma also signed players Kareem and Walt "Clyde" Fraizer, respectively, to endorse their basketball shoes. Clyde got $5000 and free shoes, but he didn't like their leather shoe and told them, "Even if you paid me, I wouldn't wear that shoe." Adidas put Kareem's face on the tongue of a shoe and used his famous skyhook as a secondary logo. Puma, on the other hand, created the Puma Suede shoe with Clyde, which had "Clyde" stitched under the logo.
In 1984, Michael Jordan signed a deal with Nike, and the first Air Jordan shoe was produced for him during his time with the Chicago Bulls. The shoe was designed by Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, and Bruce Kilgore, and it was released to the public on April 1, 1985. The Jordan Logo, known as the "Jumpman", originated from a photograph by Jacobus Rentmeester, taken before Jordan played for Team USA in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
The Air Jordans revolutionized the concept of athletes having their signature shoes. Nike proved they were more than a track and field company and became the giant we know today. The Air Jordan shoe sold out at 50,000 pairs and generated more than $150 million in sales. In 2022 alone, Jordan Brand brought in $5.1 billion to Nike, with a reported $150–256 million going directly to Jordan.
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Frequently asked questions
The first basketball shoes were the Converse All Stars, released in 1917. They were the first high-top sneakers made for better ankle support.
Indiana University basketball star Chuck Taylor wore the first Converse All Stars.
Yes, Chuck Taylor worked for Converse as a salesman. He was also a basketball player and helped improve the design of the All Stars by suggesting changes such as increased flexibility of the sole and more support for the ankle.
The Puma Clyde, designed by Knicks point guard Clyde Frasier, was the first signature basketball shoe. Adidas also released the first player-endorsed shoe in 1971, which featured Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s face on the tongue.
Nike released the Air Jordan 1 in 1985, which quickly surpassed the Converse All-Stars in annual sales and became the most popular basketball shoe of the 80s.
