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The 2008-09 NBA All-Star Weekend came to an end last night with the actual All-Star Game itself being played in front of a sold out crowd as US Airways Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were reunited with Phil Jackson for the first time since Shaq was traded to Miami in the Summer of 2004. Coincidentally enough the two shared the MVP honors, something many of us might never have saw coming. Aside from the game itself all eyes were on who was wearing what shoe. While over the course of the last few years with sneakers becoming more and more of a big deal and various media outlets such as ourselves here at Sneaker News having access to pictures of the shoes months before they’re debuted on the hardwood the element of surprise is taken away. None the less it’s still good to see some of the colorways and PE’s of the various models that Nike, Jordan, Converse, Reebok, and adidas have to offer.
Nike showcased their two stars players with one on each team; for the East it was Lebron James and his Nike Zoom Lebron VI, for the West it was Co-MVP, Kobe Bryant, and his Zoom Kobe IV. Additionally there were a number of Nike players including Tony Parker and Danny Granger who wore the Nike Huarache 09, Pau Gasol and Rashard Lewis who wore the Nike Hyperdunk, Amare Stoudemire and the Nike Foamposite Lite, Dirk Nowitzki and the Air Spot Up, and Brandon Roy was seen with a new pair of Nike Basketball shoes that we currently don’t have any additional information on. Lastly it seems Lebron’s teammate, Mo Williams, made the switch from adidas over to Nike as he was seen wearing a pair of the Hyperdunks.
Jordan Brand had three players in this year’s game including nine-time NBA All-Star, Ray Allen, as well as Joe Johnson and Chris Paul. While Allen and Johnson each wore a pair of the new Air Jordan 2009 in their respective East PE’s, Chris Paul debuted his new Brand Jordan signature shoe, the CP3.II.
Converse had it’s lone All-Star with Dwyane Wade and the Wade Slash All-Star PE. The three stripes were represented via Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett. Reebok had their two yearly All-Stars on the court in Allen Iverson and Yao Ming. And last but not least the other Co-MVP of the game, Shaquille O’Neal, and his Li Ning shoe.
