John Kim There’s always one moment in the Olympics that will forever be ingrained into our memories. Tommie Olsen’s demonstration in 1968, Kerri Strug’s vault in 1996, Phelps running the table in 2008, and Vince Carter’s “The Dunk” in 2000. The Toronto Raptors star had already been sending shockwaves throughout the global hoops community for two years thanks to his arsenal of highlight-reel slams, but once “Air Canada” soared above the head of a 7-foot Frenchman, he reached new metaphorical heights – and a true elite superstar was born. Frederic Weis, the other member of that posterization, was never heard from again, despite being drafted by the Knicks the Summer prior.
Nike Basketball’s timing with these types of events just seem to go their way. On Vince’s feet was the Nike Shox BB4, arguably the most recognizable of the “Boing” era. It carried its own legend from that point forward, leading the way for the entire Shox category to take over the footwear industry for its eccentric design. Footwear design legend Eric Avar, who penned the BB4, wanted to highlight the technology by giving the shoe a rocket-booster look – almost as if the Shox pillars were propping the shoes for lift-off. It certainly did its job once Vince Carter laced him up, and the rest is history.
As an ode to the Shox BB4, Vince Carter, who at the age of 41 is still producing numbers, will be wearing the Shox BB4 for the remainder of the season in the three original Olympic PE colorways of red, navy, and gold. The Hawks take on the Lakers tonight in Los Angeles as well, so keep an eye out for the BB4 to make its potential return.
