The 10 Biggest Sneaker Stories of 2012, Told in GIFs

Recap.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

2012 was filled with crazy stories, from the 25 Most Surprising Things in Sneakers to the years of anticipation for the Air Yeezy II, and finishing up with the now traditional Air Jordan XI December release (which went as planned). We're already anticipating 2013 being a good year for sneakerheads but we want to take one more look back at The Biggest Sneaker Stories of 2012...in GIF form.

Air Jordan XI Rumors

Not Available Interstitial

10. Air Jordan XI Rumors

Date: January

We've come to expect the Air Jordan XI to release around Christmas every year and this year was no different. It began with rumors in January of the Black and Red Air Jordan XI MJ wore during the playoffs, which is just cause for...

Then we heard that it was going to be the Columbia Air Jordan XI!!! All White Everything, Boyeee!!!

Then there were rumors that both colorways were going to release and we got all Gandalf...could it be true?

and it turned out to be the Playoffs colorway that, which made us realize Jordan Brand and our wallets were seeing eye-to-eye...

because we were actually able to give gifts this year. Now we're hoping Jordan Brand can hook us up with some of those Air Jordan XI colorways We Wish Would Release.

Nike Galaxy Foamposites

Not Available Interstitial

9. Galaxy Foam Hype

Date: February

Nike created a ton of buzz for the All Star Game releases for Orlando in early 2012. The Galaxy theme was unlike anything we had ever seen before, especially the Foamposites. We were pretty much like...

then when we got a pair, we Instagrammed, Tweeted and Facebooked...You mad, bro?!?

then somebody offered to trade their car for a pair on Craigslist...

Rick Ross Signs With Reebok

Not Available Interstitial

8. Rick Ross Signs With Reebok

Date: March

In March it was announced that Rick Ross had signed an endorsement deal with Reebok. At the time, we hadn't seen Reebok making the major moves they were at the end of the year. So we were kinda like...

but we knew Ross was thinking...

and then we saw him in some Reebok Questions weeks before they dropped...

Nike Announces Twitter RSVP System

Not Available Interstitial

7. Nike Announces New Twitter RSVP System

Date: April

There is no doubt that online releases were getting out of hand at the beginning of 2012. It seemed impossible to land any release from NikeStore.com and camping just made lining up equally impossible. Then Nike announced the perplexing new Twitter RSVP System...

We were ready to ax the system after our first couple of tries...

and then we actually were able to cop!

 

Nike Air Yeezy II Release

Not Available Interstitial

6. The Air Yeezy II Release Rumors

Date: May

No doubt the second Air Yeezy was one of the biggest stories of 2012. Early on in the year, a Black Friday release was rumored and hypebeasts started preparing...

But Kanye was like...

Then in June, the Nike Air Yeezy II launched and was surrounded by mass hysteria, which of course resulted in...

and...

The Reebok Shaqnosis Is Set To Return

Not Available Interstitial

5. Reebok Shaqnosis Return Rumours

Date: May

Rumors around Reebok bringing back the Shaqnosis started early in the year. Then we saw the samples hit the sneaker blogs and were like...

Then Swizz Beatz hopped on Twitter and clarified that the images were just a sample and would not be produced. Instead, the original makeup would be making a return...

Supreme Teams Up With Nike Sportswear

Not Available Interstitial

4. Supreme x Nike Sportswear

Date: November

Supreme always brings the heat but up until this year they were limited to just the SB department of Nike. Rumors started circulating that they were working on an Air Force 1...

then we saw the camo version and we pretty much were like, here, take it all...

then we rocked them for the first time...

Nike Air Yeezy II Colorways

Not Available Interstitial

3. How Many Yeezy II Colorways Are There?

Date: November

Late this summer rumors of a third Nike Air Yeezy II colorway started being heard and we thought...

Then we started really thinking...

So we asked Erin Kelly in the art department...and after a little of this...

...she came up with these 10 Yeezy II Colorways We Wish Would Release.

Finish Line Restocks the Air Jordan XI Concords

Not Available Interstitial

2. Finish Line Randomly Restocks Concords

Date: November

Cyber Monday it seemed like everyone was spending all their hard-earned money in the true American way, from their couch.

Then out of nowhere our friend hits us up...

...Finish Line had announced a surprise release. The Air Jordan XI Concords had been restocked.

Immediately...

Then we tried getting a pair...

and all we saw on Twitter for the next three days was our homies...

The Air Jordan XX8 Was Unveiled

Not Available Interstitial

1. The Air Jordan XX8 Is Unveiled

Date: December

For the first time in a very long time, the signature Air Jordan sneaker was somewhat of a surprise unveiling. Nobody had seen much of the Air Jordan XX8, so when the rumors circulating that the Jordan event planned for NYC that night was going to be the new signature model, we hopped online, "New Jordans about to be unveiled!"

Then when we saw them...

and we knew Tinker Hatfield was thinking...

then Russell Westbrook unveiled a new colorway on Christmas Day and we're like...

Latest in Sneakers