Browsing the "Shawn Kemp" Tag
January 8th, 2013 by John K.
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Reebok Classics is ready to kick off its much-anticipated 2013 campaign with the long-awaited and soon-to-be celebrated launch of the Reebok Kamikaze II OG. This outstanding design was worn by Shawn Kemp – one of the most exciting players of the 90′s with a vicious dunking ability and exciting above-the-rim style of play. This January 18th, the Kamikaze II will finally make a comeback at select Reebok retailers and Reebok.com, retailing for a cool $100 (a relative bargain in today’s sneaker market). Following the OG Sonics colorway will be a slew of new designs that Sneaker News previewed, so be sure to keep it locked in on Sneaker News for all your Reebok updates and be sure to check out the official images below.
Reebok Kamikaze II OG
White/Black/Rivet Green
01/18/13
$100
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October 16th, 2012 by John K.
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A considerable amount of growth of footwear brands must be credited to the larger-than-life superstar athletes that represented the brands on their feet. The ‘signature athlete’ is a trend that started in the 1970′s with Walt Clyde Frazier’s Puma Suedes, and today, it tempers the pace of sports footwear with names like LeBron James, Robert Griffin III, Tiger Woods, Dwyane Wade, and more. What’s the most influential footwear sponsorship in history? Is it Michael Jordan and Nike? How about Bo Jackson and cross-training? Let us know what you consider to be the most influential of all-time.
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August 27th, 2012 by John K.
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Those who have hopelessly followed Shawn Kemp’s career after his massive weight-gain in the post-Seattle era finally have a come-back to look forward to that won’t end in disappointment – the return of the Reebok Kamikaze II. Sneaker News gave you an in-depth preview of the re-issue of one Shawn Kemp’s signature Reeboks last week, but here’s a colorway that’ll certainly spice things up and strike a melody of nostalgic notes – a Seattle Supersonics colorway in White, Green, Yellow, and Black; it features a White tumbled leather upper with a metallic green finish, yellow detailing on the Reebok logo and speckling on the midsole, and a black interior lining, tongue, and laces. Another full shot of this Sonics joint just below, so give it a look and let us know if you think this is the best new colorway of the Kamikaze II we’ve seen!
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August 21st, 2012 by John K.
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Reebok has made a big splash so far at the Project Trade Show in Las Vegas, debuting the return of the Reebok Kamikaze II in this sick ‘Reignman Camo’ Pack; using the familiar rain camo graphic as a play on words with Shawn Kemp’s iconic ‘Reignman’ alter ego, the Reignman Camo Pack features three tonal colorways of black, crisp grey, and dark olive with the dotted-line graphic on the upper. With the successful re-launch of the Reebok Answer series beginning with the Question and Answer IV, Reebok has some high hopes for its 90′s catalog of basketball icons, so expect The Kamikaze II and the rest of Shawn Kemp’s signature model to make quite a splash in 2013. More detailed shots of the Reebok Kamikaze II ‘Reignman Camo’ Pack is just ahead, so take a thorough look and stay tuned for more from Reebok soon.
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June 28th, 2012 by Aaron Hope
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Imagine if Nike Sportswear hadn’t issued hardly any of its 1990s classics, then suddenly, BAM! — a torrent of Jordans, Air Maxes and signatures that’d leave longsuffering sneakerheads in tears. That’s kind of like what’s going on right now under Swizz Beatz‘ supervision at Reebok, as the Vector brand is finally bringing back some of its most memorable silos of the past two decades. It started last year with the Shawn Kemp-inspired Kamikaze III, a descendent of the Reebok Kamikaze II that’s now getting a proper retro treatment along with a couple of Allen Iverson’s signatures. AI’s ‘Pearlized Red’ Question is on display with the OG blue colorup soon to follow, which will be joined by the Answer IV in one of that model’s many (many) first run styles. And on the running/training side of things, we’re about to be blessed with Emmitt Smith’s EM22 and the original DMX Run (suggesting a future release for it’s DMX-debuting counterpart, the Answer I?). Have a peek at Reebok’s upcoming Retro Sport collection after the jump, let us know which of these classics you’re most excited to own and if there’s another RBK model you’d like to see return (Swizz promises “Shaqs also” soon), and be sure to stick with Sneaker News for release info.
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May 29th, 2012 by John K.
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REEBOK 90′S CLASSIC WEEK
Yesterday’s feature of Frank Thomas’ Reebok Big Hurt for Classics Revisited placed an unforeseen spotlight on one of the most unique sneakers of the 90′s, and like it did during the original run, the Big Hurt response was mixed, to say the least. But moving from the diamond to the hardwood is the first signature shoe for a top athlete known for thunderous slams of his own – Shawn Kemp of the Seattle Supersonics. Kemp and Gary Payton formed one of the most exciting duos in NBA history while climbing up the ranks of the Western Conference, and it was during that early to mid-90′s tenure that earned him the nickname ‘Reignman’ for his vicious downpours on feeble defenders in the paint. In 1994, Reebok introduced Kemp as part of its elite group of athletes with the Reebok Kamikaze – a radically new design that minimalized the Reebok logo and emphasized a dynamic design to match Kemp’s electrifying persona.
In addition to the footwear was a line of Shawn Kemp apparel that was advertised as ‘Super-Human Gear For Mere Mortals’, and the success of the sneaker as well as Kemp’s rising popularity led to second model known as the Reebok Kamikaze II (which Kemp wore during the 1996 clash against the legendary ’96 Bulls in the Finals). The Kamikaze line came to an end with the II with the introduction of the Reebok Reignman in late ’96, but the Kamikaze later reprised its role as part of a Swizz Beatz collaboration that opened up new doors to a new collection of Retro-inspired lifestyle/street footwear. The Kamikaze is certainly one of the most recognizable titles of 90′s sneaker history and tied to one of the most exciting Power Forwards to ever play the game, so get familiar with the Kamikaze and Kamikaze II below and stay tuned to Sneaker News for more updates on Reebok’s 90′s renaissance!
Reebok Kamikaze
Kamikaze I (1994)
Kamikaze II (1995)
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November 28th, 2011 by John K.
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Shawn Kemp’s 1990′s reign as the premier above-the-rim forward in the league is one of the most remembered NBA tenures in the game’s history. He threw down with complete disregard for human life (just ask the Golden State Warriors), made hanging on the rim an artform, and even helped the Seattle Sonics reach the NBA Finals in 1996, beating the 72-10 Chicago Bulls twice during that series. His departure from Seattle marked the end of the Reign Man, who brought with him quite a few extra pounds and thusly a decreased vertical leap, and faded away as the butt of numerous jokes – only to return in tip-top shape in his comeback attempts in the mid-late 2000′s. During Kemp’s reign of terror, he sported one of most memorable line of signature basketball shoes with Reebok while wearing Nike before and after that time, so check out a quick helping of some of his best sneaker moments below and head to Complex for the full feature.
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