INTRODUCTION
My friends can attest for this one probably being one of the most important articles I write. I started playing basketball (recreationally) when I was in 5th grade. Back then, I was in an afterschool program that had me at school from 2-6pm, and although, in retrospect, I am grateful to have the extra education and opportunity to learn/practice…I wanted any excuse to get out of it. I'm sorry. Some of my friends started having basketball practice on our school campus two times a week during this time. And I had somehow convinced my parents to sign me up for this sport that I had not a single clue about. Score! It gave me a boost of adrenaline and excitement to be hustling up and down a court and tussling for a loose ball.
Eventually, all this practice would have to be used somewhere. We started having games against other divisions within the same recreational center. I remember being so excited to go shopping at Dick's Sporting Goods with my dad because I wanted to be dripped out in the coolest gear when I got to play alongside other talented players. It is now that I can give recognition to my very first pair of basketball shoes as well as the predecessor of the Kobe 10 'Easter': the classic black and white Adidas basketball shoes. I honestly don't even know what they're called because I can't find them online anymore (but I'll insert a lil throwback pic of me wearing them at the end if we luck out on finding those).
I was so serious about the sport. Soon after, I would have a neon person-sized duffle bag to hold my shoes and water bottle, some boys' basketball shorts that gave me the most horrendous camel toe, and that five pack of Nike headbands. And I would do it all again if I could. I was just having fun being involved in something that my friends were also doing. It was the first time that I had been in a sort of competitive environment with low stakes.
AN HOMAGE TO THE BLACK AND WHITE ADIDAS
You don't need much to start playing basketball. All you need is you and maybe a ball and hoop. I started out playing in dirty high top converse and probably in my skinny jeans. Everything else makes the play feel a bit better. I felt like it added to the spirit of joining a sport but also made it more comfortable. I maybe had these black and white Adidas for a year before I transitioned to my next pair. They were nicely padded all around, and this padding was almost more like a padding of air instead of a padding with denser material — almost like one of those school ice packs with the blue jelly inside. It also featured a high top design to support those ankles. And trust me — my ankles were going against some good competition at the time. They were sleek. Stylish. Everything that I could ask for for my very first few games.
THE VALUE OF A BASKETBALL SHOE
I know a lot of people have a lot more scope when it comes to the different brands of shoes and even the different designs and builds. In my personal experience, I've seen basketball shoes do two things: provide comfort/speed and give you your own personality on the court.
The functionality of a basketball shoe lies in its ability to encompass your feet comfortably as well as provide you grip for those quick changes in direction on the court. You want a shoe that gives your foot enough breathing room to account for these natural movements and to absorb some of that turn, but you also want a shoe that molds to your foot enough to feel like they're just an extension of it. Without the functionality of a basketball shoe, a person risks injury. Whereas, owning a solid pair of basketball shoes allows a player to feel more supported and have less to worry about on the court in terms of lower body safety.
Second. The aesthetic of a basketball shoe. They've come out with some pretty wild shoes in terms of patterns, colors, and collaborations. Some that I've seen include the Kyrie 5 'Spongebob Squarepants' series and shoes that are a different color for each shoe. When I see these on a court, I immediately sense aura. My apologies for having to settle for this word, but it's really the only word that encapsulates this. I see these shoes, and I immediately think they're some D1 recruit for Duke. I'm kidding. But a pattern or unique or sleek color way gives a player a great sense of personality on the court. Sometimes it even just comes down to making you feel better on the court. Feeling more in your element. And honestly, that's what matters most. The energy that other players sense from you on the court comes from a player's confidence, and confidence comes from a multitude of places: your skills, your drip, your support system, your motivation. Turning something as functional and helpful as a basketball shoe into a means of expression is special.
MY SECOND AND CURRENT PAIR OF BASKETBALL SHOES
After a year of wearing my beloved Adidas basketball shoes, my dad and I went to the store and, really, my only goal was to get something that looked cool and fun. I didn't have any preference for brand or whether it was low/high top. Well well well. Low and behold, I glanced over my shoulder and there they were. This fiery salmon pink body blended with this bright sea moss blue gummy sole. I was absolutely stunned by this color. I almost could not move or speak for maybe a good two minutes. My dad and I have a very similar eye for cool and funky apparel, so he shared the very same sentiment. Very quickly, these became my staple shoe and the only shoe in my rotation.
THE SHOE TECHNOLOGY
Let's look at the design details. The official color way for the shoes is Hot Lava and Sunset Glow accented with Black — a bright, fiery immersion of colors inspired by a Robin's egg. The primary color of the shoe is Hot Lava with Sunset Glow in pivotal places such as the sole, tongue, and laces. A sophisticated Black swoosh gleams across both side panels. It uses Lunarlon technology which is a type of cushion that uses a soft and supportive foam core. This specialized foam core, surrounded by a foam carrier, allows for a lightweight and comfortable, yet springy design perfect for a basketball player that does quick spurts of sprints up and down a court. Because this technology has a significantly lighter fit than other materials, it reduces the impact on popular pain points that the foot tends to experience.
That is to say, this shoe is made for basketball players to sprint fast, pivot when necessary, and be supported throughout an entire game all while drawing eyes. It's important that a basketball shoe is lightweight not only because of the constant running, but also because of the need to run fast. That's why I say that the shoe has to almost be an extension of the foot — as if nothing is really on it so that nothing is impeding your exercise.
There are shoes that are going to be too big for you, too small, too narrow, too wide. And it's very noticeable and annoying during a game when one of these situations is the case. Running fast and being able to launch off quickly is important. Jumping in basketball also has a great deal of importance: propelling your body upward to release a shot, to catch that ball for a layup, and to block someone's shot attempt. A player's main goal is to go after the ball at the right time, so being able to launch after it with an extra spring gives them a leg up on the opponent.
This shoe is not just some regular shmegular shoe. This shoe allows a player's technical skill to take off. If a player sprints fast, this shoe's got them. If a player blocks shots, this shoe's got them. If a player is a sharp shooter from the corner, this shoe's got them. It supports players to achieve their greatest potential.
MY EXPERIENCE WEARING THE KOBE 10 'EASTER'
I really can't say enough about this shoe. Just a forewarning that I'm about to geek out on these shoes only because I can. I've had them for 10 years now. An entire decade. I got them when I was 11 and now I'm 21. These shoes are not just shoes to me. They symbolize my breaking into the world of sports which is a very important part of who I am.
I touched on this before, but the color was the first thing that caught my eye. I love wearing bright colors because they make me feel more lively. To me, this specific color way almost seems like a random pairing, but that's exactly why I like it. I like how loud both of them are, and bringing them together just makes me feel cool and funky. It's like a breath of fresh air because I don't see this color way often if at all, yet they just work.
As for sizing and fit, I got my regular size which is a seven in women's. I'm not sure if this collection really sell shoes that go off of women's sizing, so really I got a 5.5 youth/men's. I feel like that does impact a lot of women's experiences in their sport in a way that makes it seem as if the sport is not made for us. Having all different arrays of sizing for different people includes all types of players wanting to break into the realm of basketball. Anywho. The width of the shoe is around a medium width, I would say. And this has an immense impact on my play. I play both basketball and volleyball in these shoes because they help me with relatively the same things: sprinting, jumping, and lateral movement. In both of these sports, I need to be able to change direction fast. Because these shoes have a bit more room width wise, my foot is able to move with my body during the initial turn and then feel the support of the shoe as I finish out the turn and launch into the other direction. Just as your body moves forward when you brake in a car, the foot continues to go in the initial direction when changing direction. The extra width accounts for this, and the springy nature of the sole aids with acceleration in the new direction.
I purchased the Kobe Mamba Focus basketball shoe probably in my senior year of high school, and this shoe is an example of being a tad too narrow, in my opinion. As I run, I can feel the sides of the shoe right up against the perimeter of my feet. When I change direction, I almost feel as if I'm going to tip over because it gives no room to let my body naturally pull the initial direction before accelerating in the next direction.
The Kobe 10 'Easter' also has a slightly upturned nose which is helpful when lifting off the foot. For a basketball shoe at least, the only part that should bend is the portion at the ball of the foot. This helps to stabilize the back half of the foot in order to prevent injury. Because this shoe has an upturned nose as well as ball points where people get bunions (sorry, I don't know anatomy that well so this is my only point of reference to give you lol), it supports bending only at the ball of the feet.
I really didn't know that all of this went into making a great shoe. But it all makes sense as to why I've been so supported throughout the years by this shoe. It's an odd mix of giving my foot enough space for fluidity but also enough stability and tension in the back half of the foot to protect myself when playing.
The last thing that I wanted to mention was the sole of the shoe. The front of the sole on the nose of the shoe is completely coming off. But it's been like this for maybe two years now, and I continue to play on it. It's not the most preferred way to wear a shoe, I will admit. However, I do want to give credit on how it surprisingly hasn't bent under my shoe and tripped me when running. My best guess is that this is due to the upward turned nose along with the fact that the gummy sole comes farther up to where the top of the toes are. The soles have this extra centimeter of translucent material that mends it with the body, so that it stays intact longer and blends the two bold colors seamlessly into each other.
REFLECTION
Reflecting on this, I realized that I often overlook how the design of something as frequently used as a shoe has the ability to make my life experience that much more enjoyable. I usually associated good play with my technical skills, but the Kobe 10 'Easter' played a significant role in helping me execute my technical skills while allowing me to play without the constant worry of more serious injury. I noticed this within the past year as I continued to grab for these over my new Kobe Mamba Focus shoes because the other ones were harder to move in, and I knew the Easters were reliable.
The Kobe 10 'Easter' is forever my gateway into the world of sports and feeling confident while playing at a top level. The color makes me happy. The support that I get from these shoes is unmatched. But not to worry! They are still in commission and will be for hopefully another five years or so.
I also want to take the time to thank my dad for supporting me throughout my basketball journey and for sharing the experience of buying all my cool gear with me. Because of the support of my dad as well as the top grade gear, I was able to play with more confidence and ease.
I also want to thank Kobe Bryant for his contribution to the world of basketball and the legacy of the Mamba Mentality that he has left with us. I will forever be proud to wear these shoes and put my blood, sweat, and tears into my dreams.
