Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans changed the sneaker game forever, turning Nike into a global powerhouse. Even in 2025, MJ’s legacy keeps cashing in—Jordan Brand raked in $3.1 billion in Nike’s 2019 fiscal year alone, and he’s made $1.3 billion from Nike since 1984. But before MJ and the swoosh ruled the sneaker world, other NBA legends had their own kicks. Let’s take a trip down sneaker memory lane!

Michael Jordan's 'Air Jordans' Here Are 6 NBA Players Who Had Their Signature Shoes

Way before sneaker culture blew up, Celtics legend Bob Cousy got his own signature shoe in 1958. The PF Flyers All-American had a simple canvas build with a special "Cousy" patch—cutting-edge tech for the ‘50s! With no AC in arenas back then, slipping on sweaty courts was a real problem, so the shoe was designed for extra grip. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the start of NBA players putting their names on sneakers.

1. Bob Cousy – PF Flyers All-American Basketball Shoe (1958)

By the time Kareem hit the NBA, he was already a superstar—three NCAA titles, three Final Four MVPs, and a 51-point explosion in his rookie season. Adidas wasted no time, signing him to a $25,000 per year deal to launch the Adidas Jabbar in 1971. The shoe had his face on the tongue and his signature skyhook as a secondary logo. It wasn’t just a sneaker—it was Kareem’s dominance stitched into leather.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Adidas Jabbar (1971)

New York Knicks legend Walt Frazier had the game—and the style—to match. In 1973, Puma gave him a deal: $5,000 and free shoes. But Clyde wasn’t feeling their stiff leather kicks. His response? “Even if you paid me, I wouldn’t wear that shoe.” So Puma let him design his own—introducing the Puma Suede Clyde, the first basketball shoe that was as cool off the court as it was on.

3. Walt “Clyde” Frazier – Puma Clyde (1973)

Before Nike took over, Converse dominated the NBA. Their Dr. J Pro Leather was the must-have sneaker of the late ‘70s. With Dr. J’s name in gold next to the Converse star, the high-top had a clean, timeless look. Julius Erving didn’t just wear the shoe—he flew in it, throwing down iconic dunks that changed the game forever.

4. Julius “Dr. J” Erving – Converse Dr. J Pro Leather (1976)

sample desc 6 Credit: Sample credits USA TODaBilly Ray Bates had crazy talent but struggled with off-court issues, forcing him to leave the NBA at just 26. He took his game to the Philippines, where he averaged an insane 46 points per game in the PBA. Fans loved him, and Australian brand Grosby dropped the “Black Superman” shoe in 1983—every pair sold out. Decades later, it’s still a cult classic in the Philippines. AY

5. Billy Ray Bates – Grosby “Black Superman” (1983)

Before Air Jordans, Nike was still proving itself in basketball. They signed George “Iceman” Gervin, and he got his own personalized Blazers with "Iceman" stitched on the back. Too bad they were never sold to the public—because, with Gervin’s smooth game, they would’ve been ice-cold classics.