words // Nick DePaula
While UCLA's Mens Basketball team has had a rich history and consistent winning tradition through the years on the hardwood, one thing that certainly hasn't been consistent in Westwood would be the Bruins' footwear.
After wearing Converse during the 1960's string of five titles, moving to adidas for the 1970s and shifting to PUMA for a run in the late '80s, the brand still had nearly a handful of brand switches in store ahead. The Bruins played in Converse Cons during the early 1990s, then signed a six-year deal in 1993 with Reebok to nearly close out the decade.
While that deal didn't expire until July 1, 1999, the school negotiated a new 6-year contract with adidas a year early, and announced the new partnership just before the 98-99 season began. Most players wore Reebok during UCLA's final year with the Vector, but we even saw guards like Earl Watson and Baron Davis lace up Nikes during the lame duck Reebok season.
As it stands, the school is now in its 15th year with adidas, and we don't expect that to be changing anytime soon, as the Bruins continue to be elevated as one of the brand's flagship programs.
Take a trip down memory lane below and enjoy a look at some of the best sneakers worn through the years by members of the UCLA Bruins, and stay tuned for more collegiate spotlights all throughout the amazing stretch of spring known as March Madness.
Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar) -- Converse Chuck Taylor Low
Bill Walton -- adidas
Reggie Miller -- PUMA
Darrick Martin -- Cons ERX-260
Tracy Murray -- Cons ERX-260
Ed O'Bannon -- Reebok The Crossover I
Charles O'Bannon -- Reebok Pump Vertical II
Tyus Edney -- Reebok Pump Vertical II
Toby Bailey -- Reebok Avant Guard
Toby Bailey -- Reebok Kamikaze II
Toby Bailey -- Reebok Question
Cameron Dollar -- Reebok Dunkmob
Baron Davis -- Reebok Question
Baron Davis -- Reebok Answer I
Baron Davis -- Reebok Answer II
Baron Davis -- Nike Holistic Uptempo
Earl Watson -- Nike Holistic Uptempo
Earl Watson -- adidas The Kobe
Jason Flowers -- adidas The Kobe
Matt Barnes -- adidas The Kobe
Matt Barnes -- adidas The Kobe
Jason Kapono -- adidas The Kobe Two
Ryan Walcott -- adidas TMac 1
Aaron Afflalo -- adidas Garnett
Russell Westbrook -- adidas Pro Model S
Darren Collison -- adidas Thrillrahna
Russell Westbrook -- adidas TS Pro Model
Kevin Love -- adidas Pro Model 2G
Darren Collison -- adidas Crazy 8 UCLA PE
adidas Crazy 8 UCLA PE
David Wear -- adidas Crazy Light
Shabazz Muhammad -- adidas DRose 3
Larry Drew II -- adidas DRose 3.5 "Year of the Snake"
Travis Wear -- adidas Rose 773
Norman Powell -- adidas Rose 773 II
Kyle Anderson -- adidas Crazy 8 "Blueprint"
