Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking the 10 most iconic signature shoes

Shoe: Nike Hyperposite

One could perhaps make the case that the Nike Hyperposite collection during the early-to-mid 2010s was among the best shoes in recent memory — or is that just me?

Aldridge just missed out on the NBA’s 2018-19 ruling that loosened restrictions on colorways, otherwise, Nike could’ve certainly gotten creative. He eventually signed onto Team Jordan in 2014-15, but before doing so, he rocked the Hyperposites in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Many nights, though, the black-and-red mix in colors looked like something out of a video game. From street-art-esque abstract graffiti to all-grey with red string variations, it was something to behold.

It also helped that Aldridge’s production provided much to remember in the Hyperposites. Over the span, he made two All-Star teams, and averaged 22.1 points and 10.0 rebounds on 47.1 percent shooting, and ramped that up to 26.2 points and 10.6 rebounds on 45.2 percent shooting and 66.7 percent from 3-point range in the Playoffs.

Over the years, it unofficially became the big man shoe, as players like Chris Bosh, Anthony Davis and Amar’e Stoudemire caught on, too.

Shoe: Nike Air Force One High

On the Mount Rushmore of the most versatile casual kicks, true sneakerheads know the 1982-born Nike Air Force I shoes are self-reserved for one of those four spots.

Over the past few years, they’ve become stigmatized for being the shoes one could use to go to the park and deliver a 30-point game in, but also be the same shoe used to describe degenerates and criminals. It’s become a cultural meme by this point.

In the social media era, those wearing Air Force Ones are seen as the “by any means” baller. The one unafraid of creases; the one who might not score, but he’s going to get every rebound, every foul, and play the best defense on the court. The “don’t care” baller. And in NBA history, you won’t find many enigmatic, controversial, flat-out ballers that surpass the form of Rasheed Wallace.

Starting in the late-1990s, Rasheed Wallace began to rock them, and kept the trend until his last days. What made it so special was that very few players, if any, had the nerve to rock them in-game. It’s not the prototypical hoop shoe. The only player that comes to mind is Kobe Bryant, who donned them during his 2003 “sneaker free agent” year.

That officially made Wallace a “1 of 1.” He got his iconic, signature moment, first guiding the Portland Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals, and then winning a 2004 NBA Finals in Detroit in the shoe. Since his retirement, the shoe has once again seldom hit the hardwood. And that, in itself, tells the story of his rarity.