Converse is back to form in the NBA. Since its creation in 1908, the Massachusetts-based company has been linked to basketball and through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the brand is making a comeback to challenge Adidas and Nike.
The 80s were an era that marked the exponential rise of the NBA. The battles between Celtics and Lakers, the ‘Bad Boys’ of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars and the start of Jordan’s Bulls kicked off the international growth of the best basketball league in the world.
The duels of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and… Converse.
The legendary sneaker brand had some memorable moments and its high point was in this decade before Nike, Jordan and Adidas took over the limelight and put shoes on the pros.
With the enormous growth of different brands they have been falling by the wayside. But they were an important part of the league and Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard of the Oklahoma City Thunder and star of the league, has been in charge of bringing them back to the memory.
How popular was Converse?
All the stars, young and old, wore the American brand. On every court, always present. Bird, Magic, Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Mark Aguirre, Dr J, Bernard King. The elite promoting the product, which has dissipated over the years.
Choose your weapon. That was Converse’s slogan, centered on the duel that marked the 80s of Lakers-Celtics and Magic-Bird, to reach everyone. In the midst of a period of global expansion, the message could not have been clearer.
One of the most recognized models, the Chuck Taylor, is also named after a player who adopted them as regular footwear.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Converse
The Thunder point guard, in the victory over the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center (109-128), delighted the fans with some curious Converse, totally gold, which were the big attraction in the pregame.
With them, the Willy Wonka x Converse All-Star BB Trilliant CX Low, he was the best player of the contest, with 24 points and 7 assists. Gilgeous-Alexander signed with Converse in the summer of 2020, being one of the pioneers of their revival.
Who else wears them?
Another of the most stylish players on and off the court, Kelly Oubre, was also linked to the brand. Draymond Green has been the big exponential in recent seasons and De’Aaron Fox, star of the Sacramento Kings, is now the other big face.
Other NBA players wearing these shoes include Malik Beasley (Milwaukee Bucks), Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz), PJ Tucker (Los Angeles Clippers) and De’Anthony Melton (Philadelphia 76ers), among others.
A trip to the past with hope for the future. It seems that those sneakers that were once fundamental in the growth of the league are back in fashion. From Larry and Magic to Shai. Converse never went out of fashion in the NBA.