NBA Heat Check (2010-11)

A lot of players, a lot of games, a lot of basketball sneakers, but these 5 gentlemen brought the style, sense, and swag to put to shame the shoe game of every other player on the NBA hardwood, at least for one night during the 2010-11 season. I present to you, the NBA Heat Check.

5) Courtney Lee - Houston Rockets

Weapon of Choice: Nike "Cough Drop" Foamposite One
The thing about Courtney Lee that I really like is that he always mixes things up with his shoe game, from the Penny III, to the Air Hoop Structure, to the LeBron VIII. He was spotted this season wearing the "Cough Drop" Foamposite Ones, in what may be his greatest footwear moment to date.

The thing about Foams is that they definitely don't go with everything, so I can appreciate when a player has the presence of mind to make sure that the sneakers match the colors up top before throwing them on. While not one of my personal favorite incarnations of the Foamposite One, the "Cough Drops" looked pretty amazing with that Rockets uni.



4) George Hill - San Antonio Spurs

Weapon of Choice: Nike Air Penny III Metallic Silver
Speaking of matching the sneaks to the jersey, George Hill rocking the House of Hoops Metallic Silver Penny III was a no-brainer. Keith Bogans would lace up the silver 1/2 Cents all the time last season, and as soon as the silver Penny IIIs were announced, I knew that they'd look good on some San Antonio Spur.

It pains me a little to see someone on the Spurs rocking a Penny so well, but you gotta give credit where it's due. George Hill was killing it in these.



3) J.J. Hickson - Cleveland Cavaliers

Weapon of Choice: Nike 1/2 Cent "Cranberry"
Continuing the Air Penny theme (surprise!) is J.J. Hickson in the "Cranberry" 1/2 Cent. He was actually doing work in these, and came up with one of the more memorable plays of the season in them, emphatically blocking a Blake Griffin dunk and earning a certain degree of revenge on behalf of the rest of the league. My dude Hakim Warrick was also a semi-regular user of the Eggplant version of the 1/2 Cent, although he unfortunately wasn't blocking any shots or playing any manner of defense whatsoever.

If there's one 1/2 Cent colorway that I still contemplate picking up from time to time, it's the Cranberries. Damn, those things are loud.



2) Gilbert Arenas - Orlando Magic

Weapon of Choice: FILA Grant Hill (95)
Gilbert brought the heat every night and even wore a handful of my personal favorite pairs - Air Penny II, Royal Foamposite One, Cool Grey XI - but I like the FILA shout-out that he gave to Grant Hill.

Bold, nostalgic, unique, clean.



1) Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls

Weapon of Choice: Adidas Crazy 8 Chicago
While Derrick Rose's adiZero Rose signature isn't bad, it wasn't until he pulled out a Bulls colorway of Kobe Bryant's old Crazy 8 that he caught my attention.

Yes, they were pretty amazing, and yes, I'm still hoping to get my hands on a pair.