Image via Complex Original
Sometimes it's not just about the sneaker. When the right sneaker is worn by exactly the right person at exactly the right time, it becomes something completely different — a capital-M Moment. We went through the 2012 archives and picked out the 30 dopest looks for the year including some of your favorite artists and a few other surprises. Click on the thumbnails above to check out The 30 Best Celebrity Sneaker Moments of 2012 and see who came correct.
Yeezy II - Nate Robinson
30. Nate Robinson Balls In Both Colorways Of The Air Yeezy II
When: 9/2012
Where: California
Nate hooping in Yeezy IIs was one of the dopest sneaker moments in 2012 — he would have ranked higher if he had actually done it in a game. There's always 2013, homie.
Nike Foams - Whoopi
29. Whoopi Goldberg Makes The View Watchable With Foamposites
When: 9/2012
Where: The View in NYC
Okay, The View is the worst, but you should have been checking to see what kicks Whoopi rocked from time to time. She's coached the Knicks (in film) and she rocks Foams on air — Whoopi is kind of a G.
Supra S1 - Weezy
28. Lil Wayne Supports Supra And His Country
When: 10/21/2012
Where: San Francisco, CA
Weezy F belted out the National Anthem at the World Series in sneakers from the company that pays him. Carter IV what?
Zoom Galaxy - Penny
27. Penny Hardaway Keeps Dropping Heat With "Galaxy" Zoom Rookies
When: 6/2012
Where: Unknown
Even thought it's been years since he left the game, Penny's shoes still created mass hysteria like no one else's in 2012.
Jordan 4 Military - AI
26. Allen Iverson Is No Longer Reebok For Life, Just Ask Jordan
When: 6/14/2012
Where: Unknown
Reebok had gained a lot of popularity with streetball influenced shoes in the late '80s and early '90s, and when they signed A.I. fresh out of G-Town you knew he was going to carry the brand to new heights. Out of the league and out of money, The Answer was spotted chillin' in a pair of Jordan IVs this past summer. You couldn't at least have rocked "Concords", Bubbachuck?
Reebok Answer - Schoolboy
25. Schoolboy Q Has The Answers At SXSW
When: 3/14/2012
Where: Austin, TX
The Questions were getting all the hype for its rumored return but Schoolboy Q pulled out The Answer Is and destroyed the competition in Austin making every sneaker blog pay attention to his Twitter and Instagram feed quick.
Jordan 1 Black Royal - Kanye
24. Kanye West Switches Back To Jordans
When: 12/24/2012
Where: Los Angeles, CA
The Yeezy II hysteria was real but months after the release Kanye went back to the basics — Yeezy jumped back into Jumpmans.
Nike Supreme Low - Frank Ocean
23. Frank Ocean Dons OG Supreme x Nike Dunks On Red Carpet
When: 9/6/2012
Where: Los Angeles, CA at MTV VMAs
There was a lot of talk about Frank and how he would move forward with his career but he didn't even stutter, the same style and class that made him the king of crooning. A new level of casual.
adidas JS Instinct - ASAP
22. A$AP Rocky Poses In Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals Instinct Hi
Date: 1/12/2012
Where: Unknown
A$AP was so early on these we had to call our connects at adidas to see what was up.
Lebron 9 Christmas - Cruz
21. Victor Cruz Salsa Dances In "Christmas" LeBron 9s
Date: 2/7/2012
Where: City Hall in NYC
"Hey Victor, you just won the Super Bowl. What are you going to do next?" LeBrons x salsa dancing in NYC is why Cruz is the people's champ.
Nike Flyknit Trainer - LeBron
20. LeBron James Endorses Nike Flyknits At The Olympics
When: 7/30/2012
Where: London
"Hey LeBron, will you pose as Scuba Steve with us?" The kicks were dope though.
Reebok Shaqnosis - Swizz
19. Showtime! Swizz Beatz Brings Back The Reebok Shaqnosis
When: 11/18/2012
Where: Los Angeles, CA
Can these f**king release already?!? Shouts to president Swizzy for giving the people what they want.
Jordan XI - Boyz II Men
18. Motown Philly Back Again In Jordan XIs
When: 1/6/2012
Where: Jimmy Kimmel Live
Please tell us this was a #ThrowbackThursday post? Dope to see Boyz II Men show love to the Jordan XIs after they were rumored to help roll them out in '96.
adidas Leopard JS - Rihanna
16. Rihanna Bodies The Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals JS Leopard Tail
Date: 4/15/2012
Where: Coachella, CA
That chick is straight going for it — thank you, Jeremy Scott. Hi Rihanna.
Ewing in Ewings
16. Ewing Rocks Ewings At His Old Sanctuary
When: 12/19/2012
Where: NYC
The king of NYC had a big year and reppin' his old squad in his old kicks was a class-act move.
adidas Detroit Player - Big Sean
15. Big Sean Shows Off His adidas Originals Pro Model “Detroit Player”
When: 11/13/2012
Where: GQ Man of the Year Party in Los Angeles, CA
Rocking your own sneaker on the red carpet is the epitome of stunting, oh God — Three Stripes, money — whoa.
Reebok Question - AI
14. The Answer Brings Back The Question
Date: 5/24/2012
Where: Philadelphia, PA
We were glad to see Reebok bring back its greatest basketball shoe of all-time and to see the release get AI back into the news for positive reasons, get invited to a Philly playoff game, and treated like the legend he was in that building. That tattoo though, sigh.
Yeezy II - Federer
13. Roger Federer Has Yeezys, Too
When: 6/19/2012
Where: London, England
It makes more sense than you think with the Air Tech Challenge II sole but either way, Roger's street cred went up after this one.
Jordan 4 Oregon - Chi
12. Chi McBride Debuts "Oregon" Jordan IVs
When: 12/7/2012
Where: Unknown
"I can't believe this dude just asked for a pair of kicks." Chi McBride looked so appalled when someone grabbed a snapshot of him rocking the unseen "Oregon" Jordan IVs. But yeah, Chi still gets all the heat.
Nike 180 Volt - Rihanna
11. Rihanna Topless Is Hot, Air Force 180s Too
When: 11/25/2012
Where: London
Real talk, how many times she gonna wear these damn 180s? Who are we kidding, we're looking for the sideboob too.
Nike Denim LeBron X - LeBron
10. LeBron James Debuts "Denim" LeBron Xs
When: 11/8/2012
Where: Atlanta, GA
You could tell LeBron was having fun with it after he won his first ring and finally felt the pressure lift — never had he sent out shots of his kicks before corporate and then rocked 'em the same damn night to the club.
Yeezy II - Ye and Jay
9. The Throne Reigns Supreme In Yeezy IIs
When: 9/2/2012
Where: Made in America Music Festival in Philadelphia, PA
"You serious Ye? Two more Yeezy II colorways?" it's just rumors...and by rumors we mean stories we make up hoping Nike hears our cries, but we have salute hip-hop's royalty for rocking the hottest show in one of the craziest sneakers of all time — something like Jordan in his prime.
Jordan XI - Garnett
8. Kevin Garnett Is Spotted In Jordan XIs And It's Not 1996
When: 10/10/2012
Where: Milan, Italy
Young Garnett was a huge fan of the iconic XIs when he first entered the league, rocking the "Concords" and "Columbias" during his rookie campaign. Fast-forward 16 years and KG still has an appreciation for arguably one of Mike's finest footwear models. We wonder how the people at Anta signing Kevin's checks felt about that. Like anyone in a suit would ever confront Kevin Garnett.
Nike Air Mags - Brian Wilson
7. Brian Wilson Hits The Clubhouse in the Nike Air MAG
When: 9/14/2012
Where: San Francisco, CA
Crazy haircuts on the reg, Segways around the ball park on the reg, four-figure sneakers on the reg — f*ck Kenny Powers.
Jordan 3 Cement - Kim & Kanye
6. Kanye and Kim Get Mushy On Instagram With Jordan IIIs
When: 4/21/2012
Where: NYC
When Kanye and Kim went public we were a little fearful Kim might try and change 'Ye, but it was actually Mr. West teaching the baddest b*tch in the game a thing about the sneaker game. Yeezy taught you part two. (Three-J photo with the baby size in 2013?)
Galaxy Foams - Wale
5. Wale Proves Again Why He's The King Of Foams
When: 2/13/2012
Where: Unknown
We knew this was bound to happen before he even posted it. Mr. Foamposite himself was blessed a few weeks early with the most hyped Foamposite release (which was right up there with the Yeezy IIs for craziest releases in 2012).
Jordan Spizike Bordeaux - Spike Obama
4. Spike Lee Laces The President In Jordans
When: 1/19/2012
Where: Unknown
Having a Jordan named after you is pretty amazing all by itself, but being able to present it to the president at his crib — 3hunna. And trust, the Prez needed some new kicks.
Yeezy 2 - Jay-Z
3. Jay-Z Chills At The Beach With Yeezy IIs
Date: 4/9/2012
Where: Caribbean
Nothing says I'm the greatest like having the most sought-after sneakers in history months early and at the beach — Beyonce is alright, too.
Jordan 28 - Jordan
2. Michael Jordan Co-Signs the Air Jordan XX8
When: 12/10/2012
Where: Charlotte, NC
The XX8s were revealed to some mixed emotions and people claiming MJ himself would have never have hooped in these — tell that to the 20-somethings on the Bobcats who admit he stills gives them ass whoopings on a regular basis.
Jordan 6 - Jay-Z
1. Jay-Z Overlooks The Barclays Center in Air Jordan VIs
When: 10/4/2012
Where: NYC
Mike won his first ring in these and Jay-Z accomplished one of his dreams in the iconic Js. No better feeling than overlooking your city and being able to say you made it — the sixes just added to the triumph.
