This was a fusion of passions. The folks at ESPN the Magazine know all about my sneaker obsession addiction fascination. I’ve pitched a few different angles for a sneaker story for nearly a year before we zeroed in on the former Agent Zero, Magic guard Gilbert Arenas.
The Sneakerchamp has been plastered across sneaker blogs since November for his fine footwear moments, and we wanted to learn more about the decision-making process when the choices are seemingly endless. Arenas obliged.
I caught up with Arenas to talk kicks following the Magic’s 113-106 loss to the Knicks on March 28 in Madison Square Garden. Arenas burned rubber in his Nike Air Trainer Huarache during 43 minutes of play, a sneaker that’s not typically used for basketball purposes. So we discussed a little bit of that.
Arenas and I talked Foamposite coordination, combining sneakerhead sensibility with being a fan, and abiding by the guidelines of the NBA dress code. Let me share some of the information that couldn’t make it into the final cut of ESPN the Magazine‘s Apr. 18 issue.
On Arenas’ selection process…
“At first I was trying to pick shoes that symbolized the city I was playing against, but that was hard because of the colors. When I went to Philly I wanted to wear Allen Iverson’s Reebok Question, but I had already worn them against the Bucks and didn’t want to wear them again.
“There’s no team in Seattle anymore, but I would’ve brought out ‘The Glove’ — Gary Payton’s Nike Zoom Flight ’98. There are a lot of old school shoes I wanted to bring out, but once the NBA put the color code on me, I was like, ‘Shoot!’
“I never planned on wearing any of my shoes. But since I don’t have a contract, I figured I might as well. What’s the point in saving them forever? I took a look into my closet and said, ‘Why not?’”
On the number of shoes Arenas brings on a road trip…
“We have two games on this trip, so I brought four pairs. I have the two I’m going to wear, but if I don’t like one, I have a backup. I’ll practice in a shoe and end up not wearing it. When we played the Knicks on Mar. 23, I warmed up in the Under Armour Micro G that I wore the last game against Cleveland, but switched into the royal blue Air Foamposite One before the game. Mostly, every shoe I wear is the first time I’m breaking them out.”
On color coordination…
“Nike just released those new Penny [Hardaway shoes], the pewter Foamposite One, which I’m wearing next game [against Atlanta]. I wanted to wear them against the Knicks, but I thought it looked awkward with our blue jerseys. The grey stands out too much. But if I wear them with the black jerseys and black socks, the shoe looks a little darker.”
On the philosophy behind Arenas’ collection…
“When I first came in the league, I was big on getting autographed jerseys. Everyone knows I’m a fan first, so if I like a shoe I’m going to wear it. I tried getting the Nike Zoom Kobe VI “3D” shoe that recently came out even though I can’t wear them on the court. I just collect the shoes.”
[Apr. 18, 2011] “Gilbert’s Footwear”
Tags: Gilbert Arenas, NBA, Orlando Magic, Sneakerchamp, sneakers, Style
