Christmas time is here. There are essential things about the holidays: the Christmas tree, the lights adorning houses, and Mariah Carey’s music. Obviously, you’re on this site for a reason so I can assume you’re also a big basketball fan. Marquee matchups are probably going to be on the TV instead of Christmas movies on December 25.
The past decade has seen an addition of Christmas-themed sneakers. It all started in 2009 with the Nike LeBron 7 Christmas color-way (which was just re-released). Nike also released the Nike Kobe V “Chaos” that day, for a Lakers vs. Cavaliers match-up. Since then, Christmas color-ways have been a staple of the holiday games. Kobe Bryant arguably had one of the best ones the year after (more on this later). LeBron James has had iterations of the Christmas colors for his shoes up to 2017.
Nike, Adidas, Jordan, and Under Armour have taken part in the tradition. So! I asked a few people around NBA Twitter their favorite iteration of a Christmas shoe.
The Nike Kobe VI in the Grinch color-way debuted in 2010. I didn’t really like it initially! The years went on and they really grew on me. Essentially, they’re the first color-way that come to mind when I think about a Christmas shoe. Many people that I asked shared that same sentiment. The Grinch color-way is very bright, loud, and now iconic. Resale price for the shoe is close to $800 on sites like Stock-X.
Grant Goldberg of Bleacher Report put it simply: “They’re really cool to look at and I liked bright things as a kid.”
C.J. Toledano of House of Highlights shared the same sentiment as these Kobe’s. They are tied for his favorite Christmas-themed shoe along with the Nike KD 3’s. Both of which are different from typical colors you’d see for anything Christmas-related. “I love that both aren’t just straight-up traditional green and red and go a little bit further in the storytelling.” The KD 3’s got away from the traditional colors for a yellow outsole and matching upper. The blue swoosh and flywire branding adds a nice complement to the rest of the shoe.
Silver Screen and Roll‘s Harrison Faigen and Meredith Minkow of Bleacher Report also took the Grinch VI’s. Minkow stated that The Grinch is her favorite Christmas movie which factored into her decision. Faigen took an in-depth approach to how Kobe picking the Grinch as inspiration was so great. “It was so on-brand for him to a) relate to the Grinch and b) not take the lessons the Grinch learned in that movie and instead use the character he is at the start of the story to further fuel Kobe’s chosen villain persona,” says Faigen.
Anna Melissa, copywriter and originator of “Catch Lobs Not Feelings” also picked the Kobe VI’s. She also added that if it’s just casual shoes to wear during the holidays, her pick is the Jordan XI’s. Which so happens to be a shoe that Nick Young wore during Christmas Day in 2013!
Bringing it back to LeBron, another iteration of his shoes made it on the list! Josh of 9450 Apparel picked the LeBron X’s for his pick of the Christmas shoes. “These LeBron’s struck a nice balance between stylish and festive. With a metallic ruby red body combined with mint green accents, the Christmas edition LeBron X’s are my favorite Xmas colorway on one of the best LeBron shoes of the decade. Plus, who can forget these kicks debuted during a highly anticipated 2012 NBA Finals rematch Christmas game where Bron’s Miami Heat faced off against KD’s Oklahoma City Thunder”
Finally, we have Ric of The Forum and Big Market Blues podcast gave us a pick that was not a Nike shoe! He went with the Adidas that Kristaps Porzingis sported on Christmas Day of 2017. Porzingis wore custom Adidas Crazy Explosives. He states: “I’m kind of a minimalist when it comes to shoes, so the super clean white with the green accent was dope. I love that shoe specifically, feels great to play in, and I’m glad KP was repping for those of us that still love high tops. Also, I’ll never get over the fact that he should be a Laker. Thanks a lot, Byron Scott.”
It looked like the Grinch Kobe IV’s have become the quintessential Christmas shoe! I just want to say thank you to everyone that gave their input, and to you, the reader for taking the time.
Happy Holidays everyone!
And more importantly, Go Lakers.
