A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers by Russ Bengtson

"CELEBRATE THE INSEPARABLE STORY OF SNEAKERS AND BASKETBALL in this richly illustrated history of the beloved game told through the lens of iconic shoes. It is the story of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, synonymous with basketball from the very beginning and perfect for the sport's plodding and low-visibility early years. (Celtics players were allotted two pairs at the beginning of the season. If a player needed a third, he had to buy it on his own dime. Even if his name was Bill Russell.) How sneaker brands enhanced and even help create some of the game's greatest stars, from Walt Frazier and his signature PUMA Clydes to the icon of all icons, Michael Jordan, and the rise of Air Jordan. Even how innovations in the game evolved as the sneakers evolved, and vice versa-just look at that sloping back to front and strong base of support in Steph Curry's Under Armour Curry One. A story of who wore what and why, legendary players and visionary shoe designers, brilliant marketing gambits and classic on-court moments in a game that grows more popular every year, here is the ultimate book for hoops fans and sneak obsessives alike"--