SOLE COLLECTOR: Sneakers

words & images_Nick DePaula

For the first time in Eastbay’s twenty-five year history, they’re selling player exclusive models of the same shoes worn by NBA players on-court. The Nike Air Max Bizness, now available in the colorways worn by both Richard Jefferson of the Milwaukee Bucks and Zach Randolph of the New York Knicks, is also a team model entirely exclusive to Eastbay. It features heel Max Air and forefoot Zoom Air, and while it normally is simply color-blocked conveniently for hoops squads, these two versions include each player’s unique tagging and exact uniform colorways.

Along Richard Jefferson’s Max Bizness PE, you’ll notice his freshly new Milwaukee Bucks colorway of white/deep forest/red, with hits of patent leather along the tongue, toe and heel as well as his ‘RJ’ tag atop the tongue and his jersey number ‘24′ adorning the heel. The white leather upper also features sharp contrast stitching and a tough-to-see tonal Buck print. [Trust me - it's there.]

Z-Bo’s Max Bizness PE is a definite New York look with a black leather upper, varsity royal blue patent leather toe, heel and collar and splashes of orange found throughout. The highlight of the shoe is definitely the NYC skyline along the black leather overlay, as well as the ‘ZBO’ tag that is a play on his #50 jersey.

If you don’t happen to live across the street from a House Of Hoops location, it turns out you can still get your hands on a pair of player exclusive sneakers online these days — even for the shoe’s retail price.

Richard Jefferson:

Zach Randolph: