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SHOES + NEWS
Sneaker Talk: Mike Conley & Rudy Gay
words & interview_Christopher Cason
Out of all of the surprises the 2009-10 NBA season has brought us in terms of headline material, one of the feel good stories happens to be in Memphis. Coming into the season, there is no one who would have picked the Grizzlies to be in the playoff picture so late into the season.
Thanks to the maturation of their core of Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, and now the surprising leadership of Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies not only possess one of the best starting fives in the league, but also one of the most talented.
After a come-from-behind win over the Chicago Bulls, in which they won a franchise best sixth-straight road game, I had the chance to speak to the Grizzlies Mike Conley and Rudy Gay about their choice of footwear so far this season.
MIKE CONLEY — Memphis Grizzlies Point Guard
How do you like the feel of the Adidas Young Guns?
They’re real comfortable. A lot of other shoes that I’ve worn haven’t fit as good as this shoe. It really fits my foot well. I don’t get to change my pairs of shoes that often, so, they’re pretty durable. I love wearing them. They look good and that’s what I care about.
Are you more big on comfort or style when it comes to what you’re wearing?
For me, it’s about cushion. The style, it would vary. I’m not going to wear something that’s not as good looking. I like to find a good mixture of style and comfort.
Is color real important to you when it comes to deciding what colors are going to go where on your shoe?
Yes! Having too much of a color can ruin a shoe. Sometimes having too little of a color can ruin it. I like the mixture of three and four different colors that are in my shoes and the placement of them is awesome.
You were a Nike guy through high school and at Ohio State. What made you make the switch when you got to the league?
You know, I never wore Adidas before. When I first tried on the shoes, it felt more comfortable playing basketball. I want my feet and ankles to be protected. I just wanted to wear what would keep me healthier and help my performance better.
RUDY GAY — Memphis Grizzlies Forward
What’s been the most comfortable model you’ve played in so far?
The Sharkleys, which I wore last year. This year, the first part of the season, the Sharkalaids with the strap. The most comfortable [now] are probably the ones I just had on. The new Huaraches [2010]. I’ve had my choices. Actually, my first year, I forgot what I played in – my second year, actually. I can’t remember what they were, but they were comfortable too. [Some searching leads us to believe he's referencing the Vis Air Sweet.]
Do you have any preferences when it comes to what materials or cushioning you like, like Zoom Air or Flywire?
To be honest, on the court or off the court?
Both.
Off the court, I really don’t wear much Air Forces or anything like that. I wear Dunks and different stuff. The old school shoes. I really can’t tell you what model I like. I just try to pick what I like. I do actually wear the old Foams. The Pennys. Everybody loves them.
Growing up idolizing players like Penny, who had his own shoe, how does it feel to have your shoes sold in House of Hoops?
It feels good. I just have to keep up the hard work, so hopefully, they keep having them.
Do you and O.J. [Mayo] ever compete with the stuff you guys wear?
We just play off of each other for the most part. If he has something nice, I’ll try to go get it the next day and vice versa.
Tags: adidas, memphis, mike conley, nike, rudy gay, sneaker talk
15 Responses to “Sneaker Talk: Mike Conley & Rudy Gay”
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Man, you’re spoiling us with all these player/sneaker interviews! Good stuff!
The Young Guns are a sharp-lookin’ shoe… can’t wait to try them out!
Great interviews, loving the look of both the Young Guns and Huarache 2010.
The OJ colourway of the Huarache 2010 is really nice, hopefully HOH London will get them at some point so I can see them in person.
the’ve been and gone already, i was hoping to get a pair too
Great interviews. I would like to hear from one of my fav. player though, OJ Mayo.
^ We just had OJ in Issue 29…I’ll post that interview up over the weekend for you
Why didn’t Conley just say “Adidas gave me more money to wear their shoes” instead of spinning that answer?
Because that’s not the case. I like Adidas
that really mike? :/
XD
I wanted Gay’s Huarache’s after the game. The gray was a reflective material that I didn’t notice at first, but both guys were great and talked to me when basically the locker room was clearing out.
Adidas stole ” young guns ” from Nike. Last year when Rudy gay, Daron Williams, and Brandon Roy wore the Nike zoom phenom, their pe’s were a part of the young gun series. Those pe editions had a yg symbol on the crest of their colorways.
Both of ‘em stole it from the Billy the Kid movie
super happy to see my grizz get some attention!!! mike oj and rudy the next big 3!!!
Don’t forget Z-Bo, he’s been dominating the paint.
Should asked Rudy if he can get Nike to release those all white 20-5-5’s he had in college.