9. CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR ALL-STARS

Aside from Jordan, perhaps no one man has been more associated with basketball shoes than Chuck Taylor. The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars are going to celebrate their centennial in a few years as they were first produced in 1917. Taylor himself helped design the shoe that now bears his name and signature. Popular in both canvas and leather, the Chucks have long since transcended the hardwood and has become a popular choice for rockers like The Ramones, Nirvana, and even our own Eraserheads. Since Nike bought Converse in 2003, a stunning number of colors and varieties of the Chucks have popped up in both mid and low varieties. Heck, there have even been Chuck Taylor boots and Chucks with heels. Still, nothing beats the simplicity of the classic Chuck Taylor All-Stars.

10. NIKE MAX LEBRON VII

Let's forget for a moment how LeBron James disgraced himself by leaving Cleveland for Miami with an hour-long TV special. James' shoes have been a hot topic of conversation since he was drafted and before he even played a single NBA game. At no time did everything come together more than in last season's low variant of his signature Nike Max LeBron VII. From the lighter Air Zoom sole, this was James' first shoe using the thicker Air Max covering the entire midsole while also being the second with Flywire. These kicks actually combined the thickness you've come to expect from LeBron's muscled frame that is reflected in his shoes with the lightness and low cut we've recently seen from the Kobe line. It's just a shame that we won't be seeing them in Cavalier colors from now on.

Art by Warren Espejo.