As someone who is not a huge fan of the “WHAT ARE THOSE??” Internet trend, even I have to admit it works pretty perfectly with James Harden’s new on-court sneaker of choice. After signing a massive $200 million endorsement deal with Adidas this summer, the Rockets star has chosen the all-white Crazy Light Boost 2015s to be his footwear of choice at the start of this NBA season.
Here’s a look at the sneakers:
Disclaimer: I am not a “sneakerhead,” nor have I ever claimed to be. But, with that being said, I have some thoughts.
First of all, no. Second of all, what?
In a time where basketball sneakers are getting totally off-the-chain bonkers, I appreciate Harden taking a step back and going simple. But he stepped too far back… way too far back, man.
These are good shoes if you have arthritis and/or dementia. These are good shoes if you’re really hoping to impress your uppity tennis pals. These are good shoes if you’re a middle-aged dad who has given up on ever getting laid again.
But these are not good shoes if you’re a professional basketball player with millions of dollars. These are not good shoes if you’re the basketball face of one of the world’s most valuable brands. These are just not good shoes. But, yes, they are relatively expensive at $130 retail.
Alright, maybe I’m being too harsh on Harden and his new sneaks, or maybe I was just expecting more. But low-tops? Come on. That’s not going to provide much protection for the countless times Harden gets crossed up in 2015.
Ed. Note (from Spencer and other older people who love basketball): I’m not a sneakerhead, either, but DIME does kicks, so I’ve worn, reported on and talked about them a lot. I know more than I’d care to, but complaining about that fact is idiotic (this job is too awesome).
But, Pete’s just wrong here. It’s because he’s young, impressionable and — while he won’t claim to being a sneakerhead — subconsciously affected by the pizazz of the latest signature kicks and retro re-releases. All the bells and whistles are how he identifies whether a sneaker is to his liking.
The all-white Crazy Light Boost 2015s ARE AWESOME primarily because they’re a return to a more minimalist aesthetic, one old fogies (also known as adults) can get behind. Plus, the all-white colorway is perfect for matching off-the-court outfits. Pete is too young to understand the benefits of dressing well, so we’ll excuse him that faux pas.
These kicks aren’t the bland sneakers rocked through the 1970s and 80s, though. Adidas’ proprietary BOOST technology sports one of the top energy return ratios in the game. As for the low-cut complaints, that’s simply a matter of preference. Some high-tops are simply too bulky and James’ game is predicated on explosive quickness, which is drastically reduced if he’s dragging a pair of cement blocks around. The blocks might look cool to Pete and others, but they’re not practical for the player.
Also, there was no need for that jab about Harden’s defense; he was runner-up for MVP last year, and that doesn’t happen if you’re only playing on one side of the court.
