Remember our childhood? When we saw our legends in the sneaker business, we all had that feeling someday ‘I would earn enough to fill the racks with richness’. Yes, those are that costly. But then there’s a guy who felt differently. “I mean $14.98, access for all people who couldn’t afford,” former NBA player Stephon Marbury said about his shoe line-up! The former point guard had only one motive in mind when he launched Starbury sneakers. Affordable sneakers of good quality! And just as he had imagined, it was a driving force that saw his shoes selling in a flash. Marbury even made a bold claim in 2016 involving Nike. And guess what, these shoes might be making a return soon!

When Marbury founded Starbury Inc., he started working on his goal, and the company’s first collection came out in 2006. Those famous $15 shoes, though affordable, were good materials! But why is this back in the news? In a conversation with Complex, the former basketball player revealed that he is planning to introduce the Starbury line-up to the sneakers industry (valued at $89 billion per Sneakers worldwide). “I want to drop it next summer,” he said.

 He added, “Because after 2025, going into 2030, we’re going to see a whole new breed of athletes.” However, he has yet to reveal any dates regarding the launch. Looking back at his budget sneakers, he shared, “I made sure that the quality was good enough for me to hoop in. Making that shoe and selling it, I never thought it would do as good as it did. But I had the vision it could do that, because you’re giving the people the opportunity to have access.”

Will it pose a challenge to Nike? Back in 2016, Marbury claimed that Starbury sneakers were made from the same materials Nike uses in China. However, he presented them at a much more affordable price. That sparked a huge debate back then when Marbury made the claims on X. For many avid fans who longed for these shoes but couldn’t afford them, Marbury’s lineup was a boon!

“I come from where I come from. My mom, seven kids, she could afford to do it. We grew up…everything like everybody else from the hood. But I understood the importance of giving back, making sure that we created something that people would be able to attach themselves to,” Marbury said on the “Maxed Out,” podcast. Motivated by his own experiences, he decided to start the lineup for the fans.  

But the market is huge and the takers are from different sections of the society, and there’s room to coexist for all. And just this year, Nike and Jordan Brand are busy celebrating the 40th anniversary of Air Jordan 1 that Michael Jordan wore. Should Nike be worried if Stephon Marbury were to relaunch the sneakers?

Did the shoes fare well on the market in the past? 

For the initiative, Marbury had joined hands with Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear. As per sources, he used his salary from the New York Knicks to start the lineup. Most importantly, what reduced the price of these shoes was Marbury himself. He took only royalties and did not take any endorsement money. That made a change. 

Made in China, these shoes received great hype upon their original launch. And since he wore them on the court, the first lineup is said to have sold out in just three days. It did well, selling one million pairs. The sales of the shoes reached 4 million. 

However, after Stephon Marbury’s last year in the NBA and Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear’s bankruptcy following the 2008 recession, the product was discontinued. However, the shoes saw new life again when Marbury became famous in China. While they still did not surpass Nike and Air Jordan, the lineup brought happiness to many at a cheaper price. He isn’t the only one to do so. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal had also previously launched his affordable sneaker line at Walmart. What is your take on this?