A Complete Sneaker Guide To 'Hoop Dreams'

Year (of Sneaker): 1986

As the movie kicks off we get a look at an unknown player working on his handles rocking the Converse Weapons that were made so famous by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, among other top pro and college players.

Year (of Sneaker): 1987

Early in the film we see Arthur sitting in the living room rocking New Balances while watching the 1988 All-Star game being played just blocks away from the Agee home. You can't help but think Mike's role in the Slam Dunk Contest, the game itself, and the Jordan IIIs on TV didn't motivate young'n to be the greatest.

Year (of Sneakers): 1982 & 1986

Shortly after Arthur Agee is recruited to possibly attend St. Joseph HS, his hero (and St. Joe's graduate) Isiah Thomas shows up to his basketball camp for some motivation and a chance at some one-on-one. Isiah hits hit with the pump and blows by him in the Converse Mavericks that were a staple in Thomas' game in the mid-80s. Arthur used the Reebok BB4600s as his weapon of choice. The shoe was everywhere in the 80s, from the courts to the hallways — one of Reebok's finest.

Year (of Sneaker): 1986

Arthur's stay at St. Joe's didn't last too long since his game wasn't what the school predicted and forced him to Marshall public school. You can see Agee in the back rocking the Wilkins' Hawks jersey (in Chicago?!?) and Dwayne Wayne glasses but its his boy in front of him rocking the sneaker heat with his Nike Delta Forces. Similar to the Air Force series, the Delta Force used simple aesthetics and a solid build to help match them up with anything — including the Drake sweater from 1988.

Year (of Sneaker): 1988

Gates heads to the bench after playing his heart out but coming up short once again in the high school playoff system due to more complications with his knee. We get a glimpse at his New Balance as he takes a seat after once again failing to earn any hardware for St. Joes.

Year (of Sneaker): 1989

Around the time these dropped, sneakers started to evolve to an even higher cut and crazier colorways. We get a quick look at the Air Flight Highs on an opponent of William Gates who celebrates after knocking Gates's squad out of sectionals.

Year (of Sneaker): 1989

In the film you can tell that Arthur's father played a huge part in his life, especially with a basketball past himself. In this scene Arthur is paying homage to the man in the city (MJ) while trying to gain his father's approval on the court.

Year (of Sneaker): 1987

Throughout the documentary you definitely see that Arthur's game resembles Isiah's with his speed and ability to find the bucket through traffic. While being interviewed for the documentary Agee divulges his man crush for the Piston's guard and even admits to borrowing Zeke's childhood nickname of 'Tuss,' scribbling it all over his Cons.

Year (of Sneaker): 1989

It's also no secret during the documentary that Agee's family is struggling bad with money but somehow little homie gets hooked up with a pair of "Cement" IVs and decides to customize them himself with a marker. We're guessing he didn't see 'Do The Right Thing.'

Year (of Sneaker): 1988

With the team having a sub-par practice Coach Pingatore calls on his leader, Gates, to pick up the leadership and make sure the players are working hard and knowing their roles. While the kids sit in the stands during the motivational speech we see that a few of William's teammates are laced in the then super-high-end New Balances. And don't miss the guy higher in the stands in Brooks.

Year (of Sneaker): 1989

It has been a few decades so some of you might be a little too young but before Jordan was winning Dunk Contests and turning dunks into posters every night, Converse had a line up of All-Stars to endorse the brand and they were a staple in the streets. During a scene we catch Arthur rocking the ERX 250s (which were a big college team shoe at the time) while having a game of one on one with one his boys.

Year (of Sneaker): 1990

Would Gates have had a NBA career we could talk about today if it wasn't for his knee? Who knows, but at the time it seemed like he was capable of doing a lot of damage on the floor but unfortunately it was to his knee. During an off-season tournament William tweaks his knee that he has already had two surgeries on and we get a look at his fresh Nike Utlra Force Mids. The shoe was little brother to the Air Force Vs and its crazy what constituted as a mid 20 years ago — we'd gladly take these back.

Year (of Sneaker): 1989

Before Chris Webber and the Fab Five changed the games fashion style it was Larry Johnson and crew that had everyone wanting to dress like them. During their 27-0 perfect regular season in 1990-1991, the UNLV team favored the Nike Air Force STS, which featured an unusual high-cut silhouette, elephant-print trim, and large branding on the heel and tongue. These were a must for anyone who was about that life when they first dropped and before we had Jason Markk you had your toothbrush and some Windex. Keep 'em clean son.

Year (of Sneaker): 1974

The Cortez is as OG as a Nike sneaker gets. Towards the end of the movie Arthur's dad, Bo, hoops up with his son rocking a pair of the classic runners.