Twitter Conversations: Can The New Generation of NBA Big-Men Sell Shoes?

John Kim October 29, 2014

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History says that superstar big-men in the NBA don’t sell shoes. They may be cornerstore players when it comes to winning Championships, but in the realm of being sneaker pitch-men, big-men fall short. There are several current and future Basketball Hall-of-Fame centers and power forwards that have owned signature lines, but none of them have really made a dent when it comes to building a lasting legacy, and recent reissues of Ewings, Shaqs, and Akeems are more a reaction to the retro sneaker movement rather than a reflection of their dominance in the sneaker industry as a whole.

However, the new generation of big-men in the NBA aren’t the same rough-and-tumble players of years past. They’re the high-flying, high-octane offensive machines, and its time that this underrated category gets the shine they deserve. Did our readers believe that some big-men are ready for their own signature shoes? Who are the names that should be up next? Check out the latest installment of Twitter Conversations below and be sure to follow us on Twitter to participate in next week’s debate.

@SneakerNews Anthony Davis because he’s truly the future of this league.

— dave (@KingDavee6) October 29, 2014

@SneakerNews Blakes on his way, he’s probably up next and should be. AD is on the come up too so he needs some consideration — Agent P (@LPinknee) October 29, 2014

Anthony Davis’ name is one you’ll hear for a while. Does he deserve a signature shoe? That’s still up for debate, but he’ll get some sure-fire consideration in regards to league trophies. Blake Griffin’s a guy who we feel should be next in line, but is he stuck with the Super.Fly line for good?

@SneakerNews people buy signature shoes because they want to break someone’s ankles or fly over someone, big men ain’t “flashy” — G.O.A.T (@Official_KLynch) October 29, 2014

@SneakerNews big men designs usually have awkward physiques, silhouettes, tend to be bulky in size.

— Skylar Jones (@skythetruth) October 29, 2014

Forwards and Centers don’t exactly have the sexy skill-set that a dunking guard/forward or flashy point guard does. In addition, signature shoes for big-men were typically bulkier, but with designs have gravitated toward lighter, slimmer, and more fitted looks.

@SneakerNews blake needs his own kicks already. I see something like the lebron 11 for his style.

— ” (@HarryPowderrr) October 29, 2014

@SneakerNews Anthony Davis one of the best players in the NBA, and gets no credit. Yall gonna see this year — Steven (@Stevecass7) October 29, 2014

It’s true that wing players are the more “popular”, but big-men are just as important to any team. The truth is that the physically larger-than-life players take a back seat when it comes to marketability and popularity, but with Blake being a huge star and Anthony Davis ready to take the league by storm, the perception as big-men being low on the marketing totem pole should change.