In the ever-popular and highly competitive sneaker game, it was only a matter of time before Tim Hardaway Jr. went back to his roots.
While playing college basketball at Michigan, Hardaway wore adidas sneakers because they were the shoe of choice that the Wolverines wore. But now, the Dallas Mavericks guard is all-in when it comes to wearing Michael Jordan’s Jumpman Brand.
And that major move has a direct correlation with Hardaway’s dad.
“At first I was with Michigan, and Michigan was adidas at the time when I was in school,” said Hardaway, who played for the Wolverines from 2010-13. “So just going into the (NBA in 2013) and still having that relationship with the three stripes (adidas), I just continued on with that in my rookie year and the next three years after that.”
From there, things changed for Hardaway when it came to which sneaker apparel he was going to wear.
“It was just time for me,” he said. “I wanted to go back to the roots and where my pops was and what he played in (with) Nike and Jordan and that type of family.”
Tim Hardaway Sr. was the king of the killer crossover dribble during his 14-year NBA career, which also included a stint with the Mavs in 2001-02. Hardaway Sr. primarily wore a signature sneaker called the Air Zoom T-Bug Flight, which was built by Nike.
With that, Hardaway Jr. said: “I think it was a no-brainer for me to go to the Jumpman Brand. It’s just a classier brand, and it’s only a slight few that get that honor and that opportunity to put on that Jumpman logo and represent it to the best of your abilities.
“So it’s an honor and privilege just to be able to do that.”
In addition to Hardaway Jr., some of the current NBA players who are part of Team Jordan include Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, Russell Westbrook, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and Chris Paul. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently told Spectrum SportsNet that he had a strong desire to lure Doncic into becoming a member of his sneaker team.
“When Luka was going through his contract negotiations with Nike — and you saw him at one point wearing Jordans — I wanted to begin Team LeBron and have Luka as my first signing with Nike,” James said. “I wanted him to be my guy,.
“I wanted him to be first (as a signee) because I just love what he stands for.”
While all that big sneaker business was going on, Mavs forward/center Kristaps Porzingis acknowledged he has a strong affection for wearing adidas and recommends everybody else to do the same.
“Adidas is doing a great job,” Porzingis said. “They have a lot of comfortable shoes, and for me it doesn’t matter what shoe I’m wearing for the game.
“I can switch them at halftime. It doesn’t really matter. That’s kind of how my mind works.”
Even if he’s 12-of-15 from the field with 30 points and 15 rebounds, Porzingis said he wouldn’t remain wearing the same shoes until he has a bad game.
“I’m not superstitious like that,” Porzingis said. “I can wear these shoes right here, which are obviously made by adidas and are super comfortable.”
Hardaway Jr. is of that same mindset.
“I’ll say throughout the course of the season I try not to wear the same shoes probably no more than four or five times in a game just because it’s so much pounding and so much break down into the shoe, because you’re playing so many minutes and then you’re practicing in them and then traveling with them,” Hardaway Jr. said. “I just try to make sure I play with a fresh pair.
“It feels good to go out there and have that ability to put on fresh sneakers every game. And to have that opportunity to do so is just a privilege and an honor.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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