A Complete Sneaker Guide To 'White Men Can't Jump'

Image via Complex Original

It has been exactly 20 years today since one of the greatest basketball films first released in theaters — White Men Can’t Jump. Nothing says classic cinema like Ebony and Ivory combo guard hustlers trying to make it in America, Rosie Perez doing her thing, and timeless early '90s kicks. If you haven’t already checked the film you better jump on a torrent Netflix right now so you can follow along, otherwise check through the pages to see what Nike Flights, Forces, Jordans, adidas, Reeboks, and Converses reigned supreme in ’92 when the film dropped. Click on the gallery to view our Complete Sneaker Guide To ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ and let us know your favorite scene from the movie as well as your favorite kicks.

Nike Air Command Force

Year (of Sneaker): 1991

The Air Command Force took the hightop culture to the next level, and the fact the sneaker wasn't exactly a staple in the suburbs made it even more perfect that a hustler like Billy Hoyle would rock the David Robinson signature shoe throughout the flick. You remember the scene when Sidney Deane pumped up his kicks after Billy wagered five stacks that he could dunk and failed miserably? Dude finally hammered one down at the end against the The King and Duck, but he still lost out on them D's motherfucker, D's — Rosie Perez.

Nike Air Flight Lite

Year (of Sneaker): 1991

Sidney Deane was notorious for worrying more about how his game looked than the final outcome, and with the Nike Air Flight Lite he kept things proper. The shoe kept things going with the extreme high cut silhouette, great design, and branding from The Swoosh. The shoe was known for being on the feet of former Knickbocker Gerald Wilkins as well as Scottie Pippen during his run to the Bulls first title.

Air Jordan VI "White/Maroon" 

Year (of Sneaker): 1991 

The Jordan VI was iconic for so many reasons, transforming the signature line to a completely brand new look different from the III, IV, and V — also helping the line become so universal that the sneaker was rocked on the playground by adults and kids alike. Sidney Deane wasn't shy about wanting to keep his family in the finest, and during one of the opening scenes we get an early look at that when his woman walks up with his seed rocking a pair of baby Js. 

Air Jordan VI "Black/Infrared"

Year (of Sneaker): 1991

Before the Fresh Prince was a style icon there was Kadeem Harrison from A Different World who played Sidney's sidekick in the movie. Kadeem was known for always being up-to-date on his kicks and how could a hoops flick be relevant without the latest Jordans? A little bit of this, a little bit of that and with the stroke of a pen the Jordan VI is born. Aside from the heel tab that was inspired by Michael Jordan’s Porsche, this Jordan makeup was more of a Tinker Hatfield showcase including something from most of his designs; Translucent soles, Visible Air in the sole (Tinker’s baby), and it wouldn’t be a Jordan without new additions like the two-hole pull on the tongue which allowed for easy entry.

L.A. Gear Catapult

Year (of Sneaker): 1991 

Back in the 90's L.A. Gear released a few sneakers with, um, interesting tech, and 20 years later the Catapult still is one of the most memorable basketball sneakers from the era. During a scene early in the movie we get a look at a pair on the Venice Beach playgrounds during Billy and Sidney's shoot-out encounter when Billy gets the best of Deane twice. The Karl Malone signature kick would be a dope look for a comeback but a lawsuit with Nike over patent technology may prevent that from ever happening — in the meantime, try eBay.

Air Jordan V "Fire Red"

Year (of Sneaker): 1990 

The Jordan V took only a few elements from the first four Jordans and that’s how Tinker Hatfield wanted it. He was inspired by the World War II Mustang fighter plane, which is most evident when it comes to the "teeth" on the front of the midsole. Hatfield thought of Jordan’s game to be one of the same with how an airplane strikes: "Floating around the edges of the game and coming out of nowhere to attack.” Walter's game wasn't exactly that, getting ate up by Sidney on the way to the hole, but daps and pounds nonetheless for hooping in one of the greatest sneakers of all time. 

adidas Artillery

Year (of Sneaker): 1991

After Sidney gets played by Billy, the two decide together they are unfuckwitable enough to start running other people on the courts of L.A.. One of their first victims, Raymond (played brilliantly by ex-NBA player Marques Johnson) brings the Artillery on and off the court trying to rob a bodega to front the cash for the pick-up game and hooping in the classic adidas basketball sneaker. The shoe featured a slim cut (for the early-90s) and the Torsion support system perfect for lighting up opponents in the lane or after you felt cheated. 

Nike Air Ultra Force Mid

Year (of Sneaker): 1990 

Kind of funny what passed for a mid back in the early 1990s. While waiting around for a game to start, we catch an unknown player wearing a pair of neon-accented Ultra Force Mids, a takedown of the classic Air Force V that was worn by all types of players. They're hard to miss.

adidas Basketball Mid 

Year (of Sneaker): 1990 

Eventually everyone gets burned, and you knew from the jump that after Sidney got played by Billy there would be revenge. Halfway through the flick, with Billy's savings on the line, Sidney conspires with one of his boys to take them down and during the flop we get a look at Robert rocking a pair of rare adidas Basketball Mids. (Yup, they were actually called the "adidas Basketball." Brilliant.)

Nike Air Solo Flight '90 

Year (of Sneaker): 1989 

The Flights were king in early in the decade, and having a pair for the game and for kickin' it was a must. In the NBA most guards were taking their foes to flight school in a pair of these and although they were missing the Visible Air unit that was a staple in most Swoosh basketball sneakers at the time it was one of the first sneakers to feature the stitched label on the inside of the tongue and that now-classic script "Flight" logo. Word to his mans in the Chucks, too.

Nike Air Force V Low

Year (of Sneaker): 1990

The Air Force Vs got a lot of love on the courts for rec use, college play, and especially in the league. The low-cut hoop shoes catered perfectly for team use thanks to a variety of colorways. During the Brotherhood two-on-two tournament, one part of Billy and Sidney's greatest competition plays in a pair of Air Force V Lows. Kyle Lee Watson Willie's game is flashy and the tropical-flavored kicks are on point, but that isn't enough to get the $5,000 check. 

Converse Pro Conquest 

Year (of Sneaker): 1991 

Bird, Magic, MJ — 20 years later and their names still ring out in the streets but what about Bernard King? By '91 dude had been through major knee surgery and made it out the other side to regain his All-Star form. Converse had a solid following and with Bernard's name attached to the Pro Conquest they had one for those who fought through.

Reebok Pump Omni Zone

Year (of Sneaker): 1990

As soon as we saw the orange basketball-inspired Pump, a street legend was born, word to Pee Wee Kirkland. The refined ERS-cushioned silhouette spawned the Omni Zone series, giving the chunky Pump a sleeker, more up-to-date feel. When Dee paused to Pump up his Omni Lites before winning the '91 Slam Dunk contest, a star was born. Before then, though, a few legends like The King and Duck were taken down.