5 Sneaker Movies That Need To Be Made
Earlier this spring, the movie Air captivated the nation. The star-studded cast turned Michael Jordan's early days of sneaker free agency into a riveting 112-minute drama that doubled as a history lesson.
When discussing footwear, the conversation must always begin with Jordan. However, there are still many untold sneaker stories that are just as exciting. Tales that made or broke businesses and reshaped our cultural tastes.
We at FanNation Kicks have listed five sneaker stories that need to be turned into movies. All that we ask is you include us in the credits of these future blockbuster films.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant during a 2011 NBA game.
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
What if a telegenic 17-year-old basketball prodigy was dropped into the entertainment capital of the world and won five NBA Championships in 20 years? Now what if we told you that barely scratched the surface of the impact Kobe Bryant made on the planet?
No player had a richer sneaker history than Bryant. He was the first high school player to land a shoe deal (arguably the primary reason he skipped college). A few years later, Bryant paid $8 million to get out of his contract with adidas.
Fresh off a three-peat, Bryant tested the waters of footwear free agency, where he wore 65 pairs of Air Jordans and a healthy mix of other brands' during the 2002-03 NBA season.
If none of those pitches move the needle, we can focus on the low-top revolution Bryant ushered into the basketball world during his time with Nike. Bryant spent 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, and there was never a dull moment on the hardwood for the "Black Mamba."
LeBron James
LeBron James during a 2016 NBA game.
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
There is a reason why Sports Illustrated dubbed LeBron James as the "Chosen One" in an iconic 2002 cover story. After winning four rings (with three different teams) and breaking the league's all-time scoring record, James is the only player capable of challenging Jordan's GOAT status.
Following in the footsteps of Bryant, James also received lucrative footwear contract offers coming out of high school. All the major sneaker brands were in play, but James declined adidas' low-ball offer of $70 million and Reebok's historic $110 million offer.
Instead, James signed a 7-year, $87 million contract with Nike. Fast forward more than a decade into James' legendary career, and he signed a lifetime contract worth $1 billion with Nike. The best part is the ending of James' career is still unwritten.
Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson during a 2009 NBA game.
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Bryant had the better career and sneaker history, but Allen Iverson had the more significant cultural impact. Iverson took all the slings and arrows the sports world could throw at him for his bold, unapologetically authentic style.
Iverson was ridiculed for everything from his hair to tattoos to clothing. So much so that the NBA implemented a dress code policy in 2005 aimed at cleaning up the league's image.
Throughout it all, Reebok had Iverson's back. Iverson signed a signature sneaker deal with the brand coming out of Georgetown University and inked a lifetime deal in 2001 worth $800,000 a year, including a $32 million incentive when he turns 55.
With the help of Reebok's marketing prowess, Iverson's commercials and advertisements were ubiquitous throughout the early 2000s. Iverson's appeal cut across all demographics, but no fans embraced him more than millennial kids.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal during a 2000 NBA game.
© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Tell Shaquille O'Neal that he cannot do something, and he will prove you wrong. Go back to O'Neal's time at LSU when a marketing professor told him post players could not sell shoes.
By 1992, O'Neal had signed a signature sneaker deal with Reebok worth $15 million annually. The high-top shoes are still enjoying retro releases to this day. However, O'Neal's sneaker story does not end there.
In 1999, O'Neal reportedly passed on Reebok's $40 million offer after an angry mother confronted him about his shoes' prices. O'Neal then created his own affordable sneaker brand that has sold over 400 million pairs of shoes, including one million per month.
Walt "Clyde" Frazier
Walt "Clyde" Frazier during a 1971 NBA game.
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Progress is built on the shoulders of previous generations. Signature sneaker deals are everywhere in the modern NBA, but it all began with Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Following the New York Knicks' 1973 title, Frazier became the first player to have his own signature sneaker line.
Frazier is known for his impeccable fashion style, and PUMA designed a basketball shoe capable of supporting one of the coolest men on the planet. The PUMA Clyde OG is still a staple in every sneakerhead's rotation - hoops fan or not.
In 2018, PUMA's relationship with Frazier came full circle when the German brand signed the Knicks broadcaster to a lifetime deal. Knowing Frazier's story is essential for any sneaker or hoops historian. But casting an actor as effortlessly chic as Frazier could be a challenge.
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