Top Ten Most Patriotic Sneakers of All Time

Ranking the top ten patriotic sneakers ever worn on a basketball court.

Not only is the 4th of July one of America's most important holidays, but it is also one of the most fun. The cookouts, fireworks, and fire sneakers all celebrate the country's independence and exceptional spirit.

Thanks to the Summer Olympics, Nike and other brands have created a strong history of basketball shoes in red, white, and blue colorways. Like a lot of subjects during these polarizing times, it is a contentious debate, but today we are ranking the ten best USA-themed kicks of all time. 

Nike Kyrie 2 USA

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Kyrie Irving has participated in the Summer Games just once, but he made it count. Irving helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. With the win, he became just the fourth member of Team USA to capture the NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.

Irving did it all in the Nike Kyrie 2. During his time in Brazil, the All-NBA point guard wore a handful of player-exclusive colorways. Unfortunately, Irving and Nike split ways in December 2022, and the outspoken point guard has since signed with Anta.

Adidas Dame 7 'USA'

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From one dynamic point guard to the next, Damian Lillard carried the torch in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Lillard wore the Adidas Dame 7 EXTPLY in the 'USA' colorway throughout the games in Tokyo, Japan.

Team USA Basketball has become synonymous with Nike, so an adidas athlete making waves is no small feat. Of course, Lillard earned a gold medal and looked good doing it. Fans can find the exact colorway on the KICKS CREW website.

Air Jordan 36 'USA'

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Several Jordan Brand athletes, including Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, and Bam Adebayo, represented Jumpman during the 2020 Summer Olympics. The cast of NBA All-Stars represented debuted various player-exclusive colorways of the Air Jordan 36. 

There are no wrong choices when it comes to choosing USA-themed colorways in the Air Jordan signature line. Unfortunately, these kicks were never released. However, the Air Jordan 37 is being sold at a discount on the Nike website.

Nike LeBron X 'Home'

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While the Miami Heat wreaked havoc on the NBA, LeBron James and Team USA did the same in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, England. James wore his tenth signature shoe with Nike in multiple patriotic colorways. 

The legendary Nike LeBron X 'Home' and 'Gold Medal' colorways were released in 2012 and 2013 but have not enjoyed retro treatment yet. However, fans can choose between several styles of James' retro and new sneakers on the Nike website.

Nike Hyperdunk 08 'USA'

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You just had to be there in 2008. Kobe Bryant was at the beginning of a monstrous run. The Los Angeles Lakers legend put his own sneaker line aside to rock the revolutionary Nike Hyperdunks. 

Bryant had worn the cutting-edge kicks during his MVP season and had one of the first viral videos on the internet when he jumped over an Aston Martin and later a pool of snakes while wearing the Hyperdunks. Needless to say, Bryant led the 'Redeem Team' to a gold medal in Beijing, China, while wearing various colorways of the Nike Hyperdunk 08.

Nike KD 9 'USA'

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Times had changed by the 2016 Summer Olympics. It was clear that Kevin Durant was emerging as the best basketball player in the world. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward wore the Nike KD 9 in multiple USA-themed colorways. Fans were treated to a general-release colorway that hit shelves on July 1, 2016, for $150.

Of course, Durant won a gold medal and was on his way to winning more trophies with the Golden State Warriors. Since then, Durant's teams have changed a few times, but he maintains one of the strongest signature sneaker lines in modern history. Fans can purchase Durant's newest shoes on the Nike website.

Nike Air Force 180

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We are confident that Durant will be pleased to know that Charles Barkley outranks him on this list. Barkley and 'The Dream Team' are credited for making basketball a global game during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. 

Barkley also endeared himself to sneakerheads by wearing the Nike Air Force 180 in a USA-themed colorway. The shoes were last released in July 2016 for $140. Fans can find the kicks on the sneaker resale website StockX for an average price of $229.

Air Jordan 7 'Olympic'

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Whether it's basketball or sneakers, Michael Jordan is always going to be at the forefront of the conversation. The Air Jordan 7 marks a significant inflection point in Jordan's career trajectory. 'His Airness' won a gold medal in Barcelona and went on to win his second consecutive NBA Championship in the same shoe. 

Luckily for fans, Jordan Brand re-releases the 'Olympic' colorway every four years around the Summer Games. And every time, the patriotic kicks sell out. There is a reason why Jordan is still considered the 'GOAT' by most people after all these years.

Nike Air Swoopes 2 'USA'

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'The Dream Team' made history in 1992, but 1996 was owned by the women. Sheryl Swoopes and Team USA Women's basketball team were pioneers in Atlanta, Georgia. As recently documented in ESPN's 30 for 30, those players overcame every obstacle imaginable to win a gold medal. 

In addition to trail blazing on the court, Swoopes was just as integral to the sneaker industry as she became the first female hooper with a signature sneaker. The Nike Air Swoopes 2 belongs near the top of every sneaker list.

Adidas The Kobe 2 'USA Flag'

Heritage Auctions

No shoe is more polarizing than the Adidas The Kobe 2. However, Kobe Bryant and adidas did create one of the most patriotic sneakers of all time. Six weeks after 9/11, the Lakers guard debuted a pair of his signature shoes in a flag colorway. Bryant wore the player exclusives twice - October 30 and November 11.

Adidas made 30 pairs, all of which were in Bryant's shoe size (14). Bryant received six pairs himself, and the rest went to brand executives and employees. However, he did gift one pair to LeBron James while he was still in high school at St. Vincent St. Mary's. James' pair was sold in February 2021 on the Heritage Auctions platform.

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