In anticipation of the upcoming season, we’ve brought back the iconic SLAM KICKS awards. There are some new faces so keep tapping!
This story and many more sneakers are included in the latest issue of SLAM KICKS 27. Pick up your copy now.
First team
DeMar DeRosa
No one has the range that DeMar has when it comes to Kobes. This is definitely confirmed especially on our page. And if we’re being real, DeMar’s collection alone is enough to make this list year after year. The 1, 6, and 9 all made their expected appearance, but seeing the Kobe 10 Elite HTM and Kobe AD return from his Spurs days solidified his status again.
PJ Tucker
In a reality where classics from 10 years ago are re-released every few months, PJ Tucker continues to gravitate to the gym in unspeakable colors. Nike KD 4 samples and Off-White Kobe customs should paint the frame the man displayed night after night.
Devin Booker
Historian, tastemaker and sneaker historian. Devin Booker proved to be all that and more with the debut of his first signature sneaker. Colorways honored past icons of the Beaverton brand and Booker’s own memories. The appearance was drawn with a thematic level of care. Documented and televised, the Nike Book 1 not only set the stage for Booker’s line, but set the bar for insanity.
Stephen Curry
When you’ve spent 11 years with one brand like Stephen Curry, you can go back into the archives as much as you want. Especially when all your models have been upgraded so you’re floating on Flow cushioning. From the Curry 11 headliners to the Anatomix Spawn FloTro and Curry 4 FloTro, the 2023-24 season saw the best shooter on the planet fuse today’s stories with silhouettes from years past.
Tyrese Maxey
The tides of opportunity have turned toward Tyrese Maxey all season long as the 76ers point guard of the future. But it was his diverse rotation of New Balance TWO WXY v4 colorways that anchored the first Mad Max team. From dollar bills with her face on them to revealing her own logos, the Boston-based brand pulls no punches with the rising star.
SECOND TEAM
LeBron James
LeBron 21 got funky when it came to colorways. Crisp velvets, pearly oranges, shiny metallics; even the second layer of the silhouette was revealed in gray clothing. The amount of experimentation culminated in the return of Deion Sanders’ Nike Air DT Max ’96, which revealed a hybrid sneaker cut with the football coach’s iconic claw marks. The sandbox remains full of possibilities.
Paul George
When one door closes, another one opens. In the case of Paul George, at least a dozen did. The Kobe 4, 8, PG 1 and 2 all flowed in his second season out of his contract with Nike. And if you thought we saw too much of the Philly Kobe 4 last year, just wait until the 2024-25 season.
Monk Malik
When you have a Kobe arsenal like Malik Monk, balance might be the last thing on your mind. But the Kings guard has proven that he has a taste for his game on the court, switching between his own PEs, original colorways and the recently updated Protros run without leaning one way or the other.
Jason Tatum
From Taco Jays and flavored lemonades to wavy denim creations, Jayson Tatum already has a well-thought-out list of colorways. The Jordan Tatum 2 expanded on its first signature effort and established a long association with the brand’s broader athletes, from the WNBA to the League’s rising stars.
Trey Lyles
Let’s be real, no other big man in the L lays it down like Trey Lyles. The kobe lover has been well registered on our social sites and his 4 to 9 collection has remained on top this season. Throw in a pair of Yeezy and Mambacurial-inspired customs and you’ve got yourself a second-team pick for the Sacramento forward.
MVP: PJ Tucker
We’ve gone over it before and we’ll say it again, PJ Tucker isn’t the king of sneakers, but he is the MVP of the 2023-24 SLAM KICKS Awards. Kicking it in the Nike Kobe 3 and Mookie Betts’ Air Jordan 11 PE puts him on a level of his own. But it’s the stories of its exclusive Nike Air Flight ’89 and Nike Book 1 colorways that remain at the heart of PJ’s continued sneaker excellence.
Most Improved Player: Devin Booker
Years later, Devin Booker was handed the keys to his own signature line. He’s not just the face of the sketch, he’s led every part of the process, from its shape and color blocking to the final releases. An exclusive rotation of orange, black, purple and gray shifted to reach every corner of the color palette as the tasteful hues arrived in abundance from October to April.
Rookie of the Year: Victor Vembanyama
The Nike Air Zoom GT Run has been a Wemby competitor all season long. Block after block, one indescribable artistic display of basketball after another, the alien’s name has become more than appropriate. Self-drawn alien doodles were his trademark until his GT Hustle colorway debuted at NBA All-Star Weekend. Featuring a sea of galactic imagery, the Swoosh is doubled up by revealing Wembey’s own logo etched into a cornfield. If anything, this is just the beginning of Wemby’s rise in the sneaker space.
Photos via Getty Images.
