In anticipation of the upcoming season, we’ve introduced again the illustrious SLAM KICKS awards. There’s a number of new faces, so faucet in.
This story and a lot extra sneaker protection is included in newest challenge of SLAM KICKS 27. Seize your copy now.
First Workforce
DeMar DeRozan
Nobody else has the vary that DeMar possesses in relation to Kobes. This has been firmly established, particularly on our web page. And if we’re being actual, DeMar’s assortment by itself is sufficient to make this record yr after yr. The 1s, 6s and 9s all made their anticipated appearances, nevertheless it was seeing the Kobe 10 Elite HTM and the return of the Kobe A.D. from his Spurs days that cemented his standing, but once more.
P.J. Tucker
In a actuality the place the grails of 10 years in the past are being re-released each few months, P.J. Tucker stays pulling as much as arenas with unspeakable colorways in tow. Nike KD 4 samples and Off-White Kobe customs ought to paint the vary that the person displayed evening after evening.
Devin Booker
A storyteller, a tastemaker and a sneaker historian. Devin Booker proved to be all these and extra with the debut of his first signature sneaker. Colorways honored the Beaverton model’s previous icons and Booker’s personal reminiscences. Appearances had been mapped out with a thematic-level of care. Documented and televised, the Nike E-book 1 not solely laid the muse for Booker’s line, it set the usual mad excessive.
Stephen Curry
Once you’ve spent 11 years with one model like Stephen Curry has, you get to dip again into the archives as a lot as you need to. Particularly when your entire fashions have been up to date so that you’re floating on Circulation cushioning. From headlining the Curry 11 to the Anatomix Spawn FloTro and the Curry 4 FloTro, the 2023-24 season noticed the very best shooter on the planet merge the tales of at present with the silhouettes of years previous.
Tyrese Maxey
The tides of alternative turned to Tyrese Maxey all season lengthy because the 76ers level guard of the long run. Nevertheless it was his various rotation of New Stability TWO WXY v4 colorways that cemented Mad Max’s first-ever First Workforce choice. From greenback payments together with his face to revealing his personal emblem, the Boston model isn’t pulling any punches with the rising star.
SECOND TEAM
LeBron James
The LeBron 21 obtained funky when it got here to colorways. Shaggy suedes, pearlescent oranges, shiny metallics; even a second layer to the silhouette was revealed in clad gray. The extent of the experimentation culminated within the return of Deion Sanders’ Nike Air DT Max ’96, revealing a hybrid sneaker slashed by the soccer coach’s iconic claw marks. The sandbox stays stuffed with alternative.
Paul George
When one door closes, one other opens. In Paul George’s case, at the very least a dozen did. A stream of Kobe 4s, 8s, PG 1s and 2s all flowed by way of in his second season faraway from his signature cope with Nike. And in the event you thought we noticed the “Philly” Kobe 4 so much final yr, simply wait till 2024-25 season.
Malik Monk
When you’ve got an arsenal of Kobes like Malik Monk, steadiness may be the very last thing in your thoughts. However the Kings guard has confirmed to be tasteful in his on-court output, shifting between his personal PEs, unique colorways and the lately up to date run of Protros with out leaning too far someway.
Jayson Tatum
From “Taco Jay” and flavored lemonades to wavy denim therapies, Jayson Tatum already has a completely thought-out roster of colorways. The Jordan Tatum 2 prolonged the efforts of his first signature and established a prolonged connection to the model’s wider athletes, from the WNBA to the League’s rising stars.
Trey Lyles
Let’s be actual, no different massive man within the L is placing it on like Trey Lyles. The Kobe aficionado has been nicely recorded on our socials and his assortment of 4s by way of 9s remained in peak kind this season. Toss in a duo of Yeezy and Mambacurial-inspired customs and also you’ve obtained a second-straight Second Workforce choice for the Sacramento ahead.
MVP: P.J. Tucker
We’ve been over it earlier than and we’ll say it once more, P.J. Tucker is just not the sneaker king, however he’s the MVP of the 2023-24 SLAM KICKS Awards. Kicking it within the Nike Kobe 3 and Mookie Betts’ Air Jordan 11 PEs places him in a tier of his personal. Nevertheless it’s the tales behind the likes of his personal Nike Air Flight ’89 and unique Nike E-book 1 colorways that stay on the coronary heart of P.J.’s continued sneaker excellence.
Most Improved Participant: Devin Booker
After years that includes an assortment of smooth, Suns-appropriate Kobe PEs, Devin Booker was handed the keys to his personal signature sequence. He’s not simply the face of the silhouette, he spearheaded each a part of the method, from its form and shade blocking to the eventual releases. An unique rotation of orange, black, purples and greys shifted to achieve each nook of the colour palette as tasteful colorways arrived in droves from October to April.
Rookie of the 12 months: Victor Wembanyama
The Nike Air Zoom GT Run was Wemby’s operating mate all season lengthy. Block after block, one jaw-dropping show of indescribable basketball artistry after one other, the alien moniker has change into greater than becoming. Self-drawn extraterrestrial doodles served as his stamp of expression till the arrival of his personal GT Hustle colorway at NBA All-Star Weekend. Sporting a sea of galactic imagery, the Swoosh doubled down with the reveal of Wemby’s personal emblem chiseled right into a corn area. If something, that is only the start of Wemby’s ascension within the sneaker house.
Images through Getty Pictures.
