You know an NBA player has arrived when they have their own shoe deal.
That’s just the way it is, and the way it has been since Michael Jordan redefined the relationship between hoops and sneakers back in the 1980s.
But what about the guys before the shoe revolution? What about the superstars who, had they lived in today’s world, might have had a shoe of their own, a shoe that kids would’ve bought at the expense of allowance loans and parents’ long-suffering?
We have a feeling the Suns would have done particularly well in this hypothetical world, so we’ve pooled the best modern-day shoe candidates. Our criteria for the former Suns players selected as shoe-worthy is three-fold:
- Talent. Players don’t call the shoe companies. The shoe companies call them, and they only do that if their game merits said phone call. In short, you need to be really, really good to have a shoe named after you.
- Name/nickname matters. Modern-day shoe moguls thrive thanks to cool-sounding monikers, initials, etc. Great shoes don’t just look good. They “sound” good, especially in conversation (i.e. “did you see the new ___? I have to get a pair!”).
- Imagery/imagination. Shoes named after boring stat-stuffers aren’t going to fly off the shelves. Potential consumers have to be attracted to the idea of wearing that player’s sneaker. Whether it’s a unique skill, signature move, whatever, the shoe needs to convey an immediate, iconic image to the buyer.
With that criteria in mind, here are the best Suns candidates for shoe deals before Jordan’s arrival in 1984.
Dick Van Arsdale (1968-1977)
Talent: There was a time when Van Arsdale was one of the best guards in the league in much the same way Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook is now. He did a little bit of everything in pell-mell fashion. His three-year stretch of at least 21 points per contest earned him a corresponding trio of All-Star appearances. He was probably an elite thief on defense as well. Steals weren’t kept track of until 1973, by which time an already-in-decline Van Arsdale was still averaging 1.2 steals per contest.
Name: The one by which Suns fans know him most is “The Original Sun”, due to his status as the first-every player drafted by Phoenix as an expansion franchise in 1968. We’re going with his other nickname, though: The Flying Dutchman. Stich an image of the ship on the outward side of the shoe, and you’ve got a keeper.
Image: Again, Van Arsdale was very good in his prime, averaging over 21 points, six rebounds and four assists per contest. He was most known for his hard-nosed approach on offense. His non-stop drives to the rim earned him well over seven free throw attempts per game for a four-year stretch. If you’re wearing his shoe, it’s because you’re taking it to the rack. We have a feeling that would appeal to ballers of today’s generation.
Connie Hawkins (1969-74)
Talent: Before Hawkins even made a dent in the professional ranks, he had already become a legend on the New York City playgrounds, where he routinely dueled (and beat) some of the best talents in the world. On his pro resume: five All-Star games, one ABA championship and MVP award, three first-team appearances combined, one scoring title and a five-year peak of over 20 points per game.
Name: When a player this good has the nickname “The Hawk”, there is ZERO debate about whether a shoe named after him would have sold well. Logos, casual conversation (“did you see the new Hawks?”)…Connie Hawkins was made for the post-1980s shoe market.
Imagery: Hawkins is considered the godfather of iconic aerial antics in basketball. Julius Erving makes it a point to pay homage to his high-flying predecessor anytime someone tries to credit Dr. J for pioneering the dunk age of the NBA. Simply put, Hawkins could do things in the air with a basketball we simply don’t see anymore. His game fit perfectly with his nickname.
Had shoes/technology/marketing been 20 years further along in 1964, it might have been Hawkins taking basketball shoes to a whole new stratosphere. He had the whole package in terms of shoe marketability.
Walter Davis (1977-1988)
Talent: Six-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, six seasons averaging at least 20 points per game and a career-shooting percentage of 51.1 percent despite playing a perimeter position (guard). Oh yeah, and he made the cover of Sports Illustrated in his rookie season. He was good.
Name: Because his jump shoot was so smooth, Davis earned the nickname “Sweet D” right away. It’s simple, but awesome, the kind of nickname creativity we just don’t see nowadays. You can’t tell me a pair of Sweet D’s wouldn’t sell (Sweet D6, for his jersey number, if you like that better).
Image: Again, Davis’ jump shot defined his career. Ask anyone who played with or against him, and they’ll struggle to do justice to the beauty of his form and the result thereof. It’d be easy enough to design a silhouette of a perfect jump shot next to the name of his shoe, then market the crap out of it. "Buy these shoes and you'll shoot just like Sweet D."
Leonard “Truck” Robinson (1978-82)
Talent: Despite living in one of the best rugged forward/center ages of the NBA, Robinson thrived as a double-double machine. Phoenix traded for him the year after he led the league in rebounds, one of six seasons in which he averaged at least 9.4 boards per contest.
Name: It’s hard to beat “Truck”, especially if you’re a big man. The fact that he earned that in an era that included Artis Gilmore, Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone is nothing short of extraordinary. Again, we’re going back to our hypothetical discussion. “Have you seen the new Trucks?” This also lends a helping hand to designers, who would go out of their way to make a shoe that just looks solid or imposing.
Image: Truck’s damage came down low, in dirt-work fashion. Shoes are normally named after smaller players or high-flyers, but we feel the combination of his success and stellar nickname would give aspiring big men a shoe of their own. Let’s face it: post players are woefully underrepresented in the shoe game. Truck would have helped fix that.