The 25 Best Sneakers of the 2012 NBA Playoffs

Image via Complex Original

25. Converse Defcon

Player: Lou Williams  

Converse hasn't made the same type of noise on the court since Wade left for greener pastures. The Defcon has been its best effort since, featuring Converse's ConTain Fit technology and a lightweight support system to keep Williams from slowing down on the break. 

24. adidas adiZero Shadow 

Player: Serge Ibaka 

One of the most underrated sneakers in the middle of one the best basketball release years in the past few decades, the adiZero Shadow made it all the way to the NBA Finals. adidas has closed the gap between itself and Nike with straight performance products and designs that aren't overthought. Ibaka chose the Shadows as his weapon of choice keeping him light on his feet and second in playoff history for blocks per game. 

23. Under Armour UA Micro G Torch 

Player: Marquis Daniels 

Under Armour has been aggressively inserting themselves in basketball the same way they did with football last decade. Brandon Jennings and Kemba Walker might be the future, but it's always good to have a vet hold it down with the brand in the playoffs and the Micro G Touch in Celtic Green got just enough camera time to help build more credibility for the brand. 

22. Li-Ning BD Doom Custom "Knickscape" 

Player: Baron Davis 

These joints look like a novice's first shot at customizing kicks, but the fact B. Diddy rocked them in The Garden in possibly one of his last career games earns them a spot on the list — respect *Ali G voice*. 

21. Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Poison Dart Frog - Lakers" 

Player: Kobe Bryant 

The little brother to the Christmas version Kobe VIIs (more on those later) and the second installment of the "Poison Dart Frogs" looked dope on Bryant's feet with the Lakers road jersey as Kobe fell short in his latest attempt to catch Mike.

20. Air Jordan Retro XII Low "Black Patent" 

Player: Kawhi Leonard 

Leonard has been flashing dope kicks on the court since his days at San Diego St. specializing in rare Jordans. In the first round against the Jazz, Leonard broke out the smooth murdered-out low top XIIs with hits of red and white calf socks straight out of Urkel's top drawer. 

19. Nike Air Foamposite One "Metallic Red" 

Player: Nick Young 

Nick Young went h.a.m. in the playoffs, rotating some major heat including the red Foams that dropped after Valentine's Day and ended up being part of Lob City's massacre of the Grizzlies in Memphis. 

18. Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 

Player: Rajon Rondo 

Rondo abandoned his usual Hyperfuses and went back to his trusted Huaraches he rocked in his college days at Lexington — perfect for speedy guards to burn up and down the court or get off the floor with ease. Hey, they worked for Kobe.

17. adidas adiZero Crazy Light 2 

Player: Jrue Holiday  

The Sixers might be the most diverse sneaker squad in the NBA — Nike, Converse, Li-Ning, and adidas grace the feet of the team's core players. Holiday has been a big fan of the latest and greatest from the Three Stripes, donning the sequel to the Crazy Lights released just in time for a playoff push.  

16. Air Jordan 2012 PE 

Player: Ray Allen 

Not too many players have more exclusive Jordans than Jesus Shuttlesworth. During the Celtics second-round matchup, Jordan laced Allen with a pair of black and green 2012s to keep Ray strokin' from the perimeter and save his aging legs as much as possible. 

15. Air Jordan X "Stealth" 

Player: J.R. Smith 

After J.R. Smith fled China for NYC, he immediately reminded us of the three things he was great at: bringing needed energy off the bench, jacking threes that made you sick, and rotating dope sneakers to post on the blogs. 

14. Nike Air Foamposite One "Royal Blue"  

Player: Nick Young 

Young rockin' the "Royal Blue" Foams might not be as iconic as Bibby in '97 during the Final Four, but we have to tip our hat to the kid for hoopin' in one of the greatest sneakers ever. 

13. Nike Zoom Kobe VII "Cheetah" 

Who: Kobe Bryant 

Kobe broke out the Christmas kicks in Round Two versus the Thunder to try and continue his title reign with some help from a holiday miracle. Yeah, that didn't work out so well.

12. Jordan Fly Wade II EV PE 

Player: Dwyane Wade 

After Mike himself hand-picked Dwyane to be the face of the Air Jordan 2010, his signature series has evolved nicely. His player-exclusive playoff edition IIs might be Wade's best sneakers to date with a slim and quick cut and basic colorblocking — just a clean design and accenting to help D3 go off for 25 and 5 on any given night. 

11. adidas Top Ten 2000 "High Energy" 

Who: Iman Shumpert

If there was one trend we noticed this past season, it's that the bright colorways were king. Nike took the edge with its All-Star series, but The Three Stripes wasn't too far away with a few colorways like the 'High Energy" Top Tens rocked by Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert. 

10. Nike Air Penny IV 

Player: Nick Young 

Nick Young of the Clippers went Arenas during the 2012 Playoffs, always pulling something new out of the vault, Young had sneaker blogs on daily watch to see what he would rock on court next — the Penny IV was just one of his many gems. 

9. Air Jordan Retro III "Black/Cement" 

Who: DeJuan Blair 

We already named these the greatest Jordans of all-time earlier this year, the fact that over 20 years later they're still so functionally dope on the court — 'nuff said. Too bad we can't say the same for DeJuan — doghouse status.

8. Nike Air Flight One "Orlando"

Player: Delonte West 

When Delonte West is kind enough to take time off from freestyling in fast food drive thrus he is actually a hell of a ball player with some pretty dope kicks. His go-to sneaker in 2012 appeared to be the "Orlando" re-release of Penny's second unofficial signature shoe (these were first), the Air Flight Ones. 

7. Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite PE "NBA Finals"

Player: LeBron James 

The Swoosh continued to keep breaking out new colorways for its biggest star (sorry Kobe) on what felt like a nightly basis, but none as important as the "NBA Finals" player exclusives that had The King seeing red and finally showing no mercy at the right time. Is "NBA Finals MVP" clutch enough for you?

6. Air Jordan Retro VIII PE 

Player: Ray Allen  

Sugar Ray has been getting hooked up with player editions from MJ’s crew for a minute now. Allen rocked his sick pair of VIIIs that matched perfectly with his Celtics green. When you hit 2,700+ trifectas, good things are bound to happen. Practice that jumper, son. 

5. Nike Zoom KD III Sample "3M" 

Player: Nick Collison

Nick Collison isn't exactly a regular when it comes to busting out something crazy on his feet, but during the Conference Finals he rocked a pair of unreleased "3M" KD IIIs that had sneakerheads everywhere wondering how HE of all people got his hands on a pair. It's good to know the right people.

4. Nike LeBron 9 P.S. Elite PE

Player: Lebron James

The Elite 9s are hands-down James' best postseason sneaker to date. And this all-black pair with the minimal red accents are definitely in need of a release to celebrate The Chosen One finally getting his ring. C’mon.

3. Nike Zoom KD IV “White/Gold”

Player: Kevin Durant

2012 has been all about chasing the gold, whether it was getting a makeup of gold-accented kicks for the playoffs or medals at the Summer Olympics in London. Durant’s KD IV line has taken off in terms of popularity compared to his previous three models thanks to the heads at Beaverton, Oregon keeping it fresh and most importantly under $100. We hear the people talking and we hope Nike does too, sneakerheads need to get their hands on the white and gold NBA Finals KD IVs. Elite status.

2. Nike LeBron 9 "MVP" 

Player: LeBron James 

Congratulations to Nike's Employee of the Year. After getting crowned with his third MVP award, LeBron James got hooked up with a sneaker to celebrate the accolade. He wasn't finished, though — not by a long shot. 

1. Nike Air Zoom Generation “First Game”

Player: Nick Young

It’s hard to believe it has been almost a decade since an 18-year-old kid from Akron, Ohio laced these up in his first attempt to help save a franchise from the slums of the standings and bring pride back to a city that was in desperate need. Nick Young broke out Bron’s first NBA kicks against the veteran Spurs who were in the midst of blacking out and just destroying everyone in their path. Just like someone else we know.