2007 Basketball Shoe Preview

Here's a treat for all of you on this "auspicious" date, The Double Take becomes The Fashion Take for one day as the big shoe companies let us preview their upcoming shoe line-up for the next season.

First up is AND1.

AND1

Again, AND1 will primarily rely on their "street cred" from their mixtape tours and street ball promotions combined with their shoes being relatively cheap. However, don't think that AND1 doesn't have any NBA ballers in their stable. Included in the AND1 roster is a number of pro ballers including Michael Bradley, Scott Padgett, and Royal Ivey. It was these players that inspired one of AND1's premier shoes for next year, the BENCHWARMER.

The AND1 BENCHWARMER

The AND1 BENCHWARMER contains all the usual features you'd come to expect from a basketball shoe including compression-molded rubber soles for high-performance cushioning. The feature that makes it stand out from the pack though is the Pine veneer accents featured prominently on the shoe. Garbage time players and fans of old-time station wagons alike will be delighted by this one.

Converse

For those looking for an upcoming look at the next Wades, I apologize. However, Converse did send us yet another Chuck Taylor colorway. It's some other shade of green. Exciting!

Converse YACTC (Yet Another Chuck Taylor Colorway)

Nike

For all you Kobe fans, rejoice! Not only is Kobe changing his number to 24 next year, but Nike will also update his signature shoe. The new Kobe will debut yet another innovative technology from the Nike research department. That's right, next year's shoe will feature an On/Off switch which will actually deflate the Zoom Air insoles. Sometimes a game just isn't worth your effort, like the second half of game seven against Phoenix. The product guy tells us that the feature was originally developed for Vince Carter's signature shoes before he was traded to New Jersey from Toronto. Furthermore, most of the New York Knicks squad will be wearing this shoe next season.

Nike Switch technology as used on the Kobe

Reebok

Reebok will look to convince you that it's all about the shoes. Although they wouldn't let us show any pictures, we were allowed to disclose some of the under-the-hood details of next year's Iverson line. As you know, signature shoes are designed with input from the star and a lot of inspiration from their game. The next 'Answer' will be no different. It will be amongst the top shoes on the market, but not quite the best. Changes to Reebok's cushioning system mean that the shoes will make a definite improvement on your game, but can't really take it to the next level. There are a few problems we forsee though. Since your game isn't quite next level you'll never be picked first in a pick-up game. The shoes also look durable enough, but when you wear them they always seem to threaten to fall apart on you.

Adidas

Although it has been said that big men don't sell shoes, Adidas has a pair of big-name big men in their stable, namely KG and TD. The upcoming KG's will be coveted by many, but are rumored to have an exhorbiant asking price. Tim Duncan's signature shoe will be replaced with a pair of Oxfords, time will tell if anyone notices.

Next Year's Duncan signature kicks

That's a wrap! I hope you enjoyed the first and hopefully on the only Fashion Take.