Complex Decisions

Complex Magazine has always been a great source for sneaker info. Whether it's pics of the season's hottest kicks or a feature on the player/rapper/celebrity they are inspired by, they are always on point.

But I was dumbfounded by the latest June/July 2010 issue. The "Top 50 Basketball Shoes Of All Time" list is full of questionable selections. I know any top "whatever" list is usually opinion-based and up for discussion, but there are some choices that make no sense whatsoever.

Here are five dubious choices that I just cannot understand...

Bad choice #5 - Nike Air Maestro (Complex #13 all-time)


How the heck is this shoe even mentioned in the top 13? I owned the original release of this shoe growing up and found it to be a performance beast (the retro was not luxurious - no surprise), but its not even Pippen's best shoe. Hell, its not even the best Air Maestro! C'mon, Complex!

Bad choice #4 - Puma Clyde (Complex #14 all-time)


The Puma Clyde was the first signature shoe ever for a player (Walt Frazier in 1973) and it's ranked #14 behind the Air Maestro? Are you kidding me!? It even says in the Complex caption for the Clyde: "this shoe is easily one of the most recognizable shoes in sneaker history", yet its behind the Air Maestro? Hmmmm.....

Bad choice #3 - Fila Ninety6 (Complex #19 all-time)


Also known as Grant Hill's second year shoe, the Ninety6 is not a bad shoe by any means. I actually found it to be one of the better performing GH models. But this selection by Complex is just another case of this shoe not even being Grant Hill's best shoe (and probably Fila's most popular basketball shoe ever), the Grant Hill 1.

Having worked footwear retail in the mid-90s at FootAction & Foot Locker, I saw GH's rookie year shoe smoke. Everyone wanted them. Surprisingly, on release day I saw these Filas sell quicker than some Air Jordan releases -- and I lived in Chicago! The GH2, GH3 and GH4 never sold as well as the first did.

I found these shoes to be cheaply made & not worthy of their $100+ price tag, but people ate them up. Unfortunately, as Grant Hill's career worsened, so did his shoes.

Bad choice #2 - Nike Air Flight Huarache (Complex #5 all-time)


Don't get me wrong - I love this shoe. It's one of my personal favorites. I would even put it top 10 all-time for hoops sneakers. Rocked by the Fab Five of Michigan, this shoe dropped during the mid-90s boom of hoops sneakers. The technology of this shoe, at the time, was amazing - such a lightweight shoe with that sockliner fit, minimalistic upper and excellent cushioning.

But #5 is just too lofty. Just take a peek at what Complex's #1o is. The Nike Air Force 1. I don't know about you, but top 5 to me means iconic and the AF1 is just that. Swap the Huarache with the AF1 and all is right in the world.

Bad choice #1 - adidas Superstar (Complex #20 all-time)


This is just a flat-out travesty. Forget basketball shoes -- the adidas Superstar is one of the most iconic sneakers ever. Also known as "Shell Toes" because of the shape of the toebox, this shoe was created in 1969 and remains unchanged today.

First rocked in an NBA game by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, made popular by a certain rap group from the 1980s...how is this shoe #20!? I don't know how this shoe isn't a top 5 or top 3 selection.