My Sneaker Essentials: Carmelo Anthony

While some people have fallen off of the Jordan Brand team (you know who you are) Carmelo Anthony’s place on the roster is more solid than ever. With the NBA season starting next month, Melo and the Denver Nuggets will be looking to build on the playoff success they had last year. And when he takes the court, he’ll lace up his sixth signature sneaker, the Jordan Melo M6.

The sneaker, which Carmelo explains is made for on-court performance as well as off-court stunting, includes design cues like the the Baltimore harbor skyline (Melo’s hometown) on the outsole as well as AU79/08, the atomic number for gold that celebrates Anthony and team U.S.A’s Gold medal win in Beijing last year. While Melo was doing press for the new shoe that will trickle into some stores this week, we spoke to him about his 5 favorite kicks of all time, as part of our new column “My Sneaker Essentials.” Hit the jump to see his fave-5 and to get more info on the new Jordan Melo M6…

AIR JORDAN IX

CARMELO ANTHONY: The Jordan IX are my favorite. That’s one of the shoes that I played in, in high school. I never could afford a pair of Jordans so those were one of the first pairs of Jordans I played in because our team was sponsored by Jordan at Oak Hill Academy. I had a special pair. When Quentin Richardson was with the Clippers he sent me a pair of his IX’s because he was on Jordan Brand. They didn’t match the uniform though [laughs], but they were an exclusive.

AIR JORDAN II

CARMELO ANTHONY: It’s one of the shoes that you can wear off the court, on the court, to a wedding, wherever. Also I had a chance to play in them in my second year in the NBA. I had the special white/carolina blue and yellow colorway.

NIKE AIR PENNY 1

CARMELO ANTHONY: I’m a big Penny Hardaway sneaker fan. I like the original Penny Hardaways, not the new models. I was young when I got them, and I could actually afford a pair of Penny’s.

NIKE AIR FORCE MAX (BARKLEY)

CARMELO ANTHONY: I like the old school Barkley’s. The all-black and silver ones or the black and grey with the strap. I still get them when they re-release. I buy sneakers everyday, whenever I’m out and about and I see a pair I’m going to buy them.

NIKE AIR MORE UPTEMPO (PIPPEN)

CARMELO ANTHONY: I was real young when they came out and on the team that I played for, all the older guys wore them. They all bought their shoes and sneakers. At that time they were the hottest shoes in the street.

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JORDAN MELO M6

AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE, October 1. for $120.
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