The 15 Greatest Penny Hardaway Nike Sneakers of All Time

After Michael left the league to pursue his dreams on the diamond, the NBA and Nike were both in search of that next "it" player. Teamed next to Shaq and often labeled Magic Johnson 2.0, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was a no-brainer to get a shot at being the much needed "Heir Jordan". Good choice. Before his signature line even took off, he already had sneakers flying off the shelf just by the strength of his number one on the heel, and his All-NBA game was helping the Magic take over the East. Mike came back, but Penny still had his feet up on the throne and Nike birthing its next classic series of sneakers. To help celebrate his born day, we break down The 15 Greatest Penny Hardaway Nike Sneakers of All Time.

RELATED: The 100 Best Nike Shoes Ever Made

Year: 2009

The sneaker that revived Penny's signature legacy came off the heels of the Jordan x AF1 hybrids that saw some surprising success. Nike cross-bred the first four Pennys and the Foamposite One to make a quickstrike hybrid (marketed as a signature shoe for Penny's diminutive sidekick) that actually had people geeked to get their hands on a pair, regardless of the $190 price tag.

Year released: 2011

We weren't mad when Kanye West and Jeremy Scott started fulfilling our inner-five-year-old needs with the glow-in-the-dark kicks. Nike made a good move throwing the look on its second Anfernee mashup (inspired by the Air Flight One, the Air Flight LWP and the Air Up) and helping jumpstart the theme of the 2012 All-Star sneaker lineup which easily outshined the game itself.

Year released: 1997

Long before the LeBron IV utilized Foamposite panels to mixed reviews, there was the Nike Air Penny III. The Penny III was equipped with near everything from the Nike basketball arsenal — Foamposite, Max Air and Zoom Air — all fitted to one's foot with a seamless inner bootie that supplied supreme comfort. The design may not have been as graceful as its predecessors, but the magic was still there.

Year: 1995

One of the only sneakers Anfernee donned that has yet to hit the shelves again, the sleek Air Lambastes were his go-to shoe in the 1995 All-Star Game. The lowtop joints had almost a racecar look to them — appropriate for Penny's slashing game.

Year released: 1996

The Flight '96s were unlike anything Penny had rocked in his 95-96 campaign but were almost like a modern day P.S. sneaker — more lightweight and closer to the ground than his signature kicks. They helped him push through the grueling summer in Atlanta to help bring home the gold with Dream Team III by an average of 37.8 points a game. Like Jordan's VIIs, Penny's Zoom Flight 96s featured his USA number — 6 — rather than his NBA number.

Year released: 2012

Now that the hype has died down (thanks, Yeezy) we can look back on the "Galaxy" phenomenon with something like objectivity. Nike blessed all the 2012 All-Star footwear with the space theme, but it was Penny's old Foams that hit hardest, in part because of a general Foamposite mania, and also because the sleek sneaks took well to the all-over print style.

Year released: 2010

To be honest, we're not sure whether to congratulate Nike on the whole copper Foamposite thing or scold them for taking so long to come up with the concept. A copper Penny took over 10 years? Come on, now. At least the finished product was unquestionably dope.

Year released: 1995

One. Eastbay didn't really have to put this dude's picture next to the product for you to know who was pushing these kicks. Before Anfernee's first official "Penny" shoe, he laced up in the Air Flight Ones — and the sneakers were so comfortable and the design was so on point then even His Airness donned a pair when he matched up against the Magic and the new up-and-coming face of the league.

Year released: 1996

The Penny IIs were a straight-up masterpiece. Check that flowing support wing, the reflective 3M hits on the piping and the ankle patch, even the way the white midsole made the black upper pop. Combine that with the classic Nike Basketball cushioning system — Zoom in the front, Max in the rear — and this was a sequel that was tough to beat.

Year released: 2011

Sole Collector has had a close relationship with Penny and Nike over the years, and in celebration of the launch of the Zoom Rookie LWP, they were able to put their own touches on each of Penny's signature shoes in a limited-edition collection. Very limited. The OG Penny 1s in a flipped Orlando colorway were the banger.

Year released: 1994 (Penny only)

Back in the '90s, things were different. You didn't just play in Jordans, you had to be chosen. And Penny Hardaway, even early on, was one of those chosen. His "Dark Charcoal" IXs done up with royal blue trim and his No. 1 on the heels were proof positive that the kid was going places.

Year released: 1994

This is our unofficiamany of the retro drops we have seen over the past five years. While not an official Penny shoe per se, it was the first to feature his number 1 — a beta version of the Penny logo. Nike made Pippen a pair too, but they didn't come close to touching the blue and black nubuck and suede upper of the Pennys.

Year released: 1996

While the black Penny IIs were sublime, the Atlantic blue joints were straight-up ridiculous. They had all the same features — the 3M pops, the rippling midsole support wave, the Zoom/Max, the asymmetrical lacing — but that Atlantic Blue suede made all the difference in the world.

Year released: 1995

Penny's first signature shoe set the tone for all of what was to come. The sneaker featured the visible heel Max Air unit with the "1 Cent" logo right above it, a pinstriped tongue (a nod to the Magic uniforms) and a PU support panel. Its great design and black/white/varsity royal colorway made these just as appealing for hoopin' in or rockin' to class, and Lil' Penny on the TV only heightened the appeal.

Year released: 1997

The molded Nike Air Foamposite One was different from anything Nike had ever done before, different from anything ANYONE had done before. Allegedly a design intended for Scottie Pippen, the futuristic Foamposite One wound up being a perfect shoe for Penny. Eric Avar's design took that royal blue perfectly, while the exposed carbon springplate hinted at the technology beneath. The original $180 price point trumped even Jordans at the time, but as soon as Mike Bibby rocked them in the Final Four (how the heck did he get them first?) you knew they were worth every penny.