The 10 Most Surprising Sneaker Stories of 2013

In 2013, the sneaker population got their hands on a number of Oregon Ducks-themed Nike products. But University of Oregon athletes weren't able to avoid controversy surrounding selling their player-exclusive sneakers. Back in November, the Oregon basketball program identified and suspended players who sold Nike clothes and shoes that the school provided. After they were caught, the two players agreed to pay back the amount of money they received for the sold gear and promised to donate it to charity.

2013 was the year where we saw many Jordan sneakers returning to the original "OG" branding. The coveted OG shoes replace the retro Jordan Jumpman branding with the original Nike Air labels from when the shoes were originally released. This year many of the Air Jordan I releases sported the OG branding and the biggest of all the OG releases was a pair of the Air Jordan III that launched in commemoration of the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

At the beginning of the year, Washington Wizards star player John Wall announced that he was switching from Reebok to adidas. The switch wasn't as dramatic as it seemed because adidas has owned the Reebok brand since 2005. The split also seemed to be pretty amicable. Wall said in a statement, "[adidas has] changed the game with new technology and style and I can't wait to be a part of it".

After parting ways with Kanye West, Nike needed to act fast to sign a new hip-hop star and Drake was the obvious choice. The Toronto rapper announced during a Portland concert that he had joined the iconic Jordan Brand family. Drake even previewed a few of the OVO versions of several Air Jordans on Instagram.

In the spring of 2013, Nike announced that tennis legend Andre Agassi was renewing his partnership with the brand. Agassi has been aligned with Nike for over 25 years and first joined the brand in 1988. While the new partnership is focused on helping youth become more active and realize a passion for sports, Agassi's signature sneakers also made a comeback. Two colorways of the Air Tech Challenge II dropped this year, with more possibly in the works.

Kanye West's highly anticipated Nike Air Yeezy II "Red October" was thought to never see a release, until it mysteriously appeared on Foot Locker's online launch calendar. After the sneaker retail giant confirmed a December 27 release date exclusively online, the retailer quickly redacted its tweet announcing that it had been cancelled with no further explanation. There's always 2014?

Under Armour scored a huge win in the NBA when it signed Golden State Warrior guard Stephen Curry this year. The deal pulled Curry away from sportswear giant Nike, and making Curry one of the biggest stars to wear basketball shoes made by Under Armour. A couple of Under Armour's current NBA athletes include Raymond Felton of the New York Knicks and Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons.

LeBron James' 2013 signature Nike sneaker rarely saw time on the feet of the Miami Heat superstar for the beginning of this year's NBA season. When asked by ESPN why he hadn't been wearing the LeBron XI on court, James specifically had a problem with the fit of the shoe. "It has been a frustrating process. But obviously, I know that Nike wants to do what's best. They're not going to put me out there in harm's way. So we're redefining the shoe to fit what's best for my foot." LeBron told ESPN in December. The player is fully committed to wearing his latest signature shoe now, and sales of the sneakers have already topped the LeBron X model.

Earlier this year, Rick Ross spit a questionable lyric on the song "U.O.E.N.O" that alluded to date rape. After an uproar from the public and several femal activist groups, Reebok acted quickly and ended its endorsement with the rapper. A month after the backlash died down, Ross was seen meeting with Reebok executives. Despite the separation, Ross even performed at the Reebok's Las Vegas party and still shows love for the brand.

Kanye West shocked the sneaker world in December when he announced the end of his tenure with Nike. Kanye then took his talents to adidas, where he said he would have more creative control over his designs and make a bit more money on the sales of his products. This was a no-go for Nike because the sports company only gives royalties to athletes. Money aside, West was also angry at Nike for not giving his highly anticipated Air Yeezy II "Red October" a release date. Adidas was more than willing to invest in West, allowing the rapper to design men's and women's apparel, as well as shoes for the brand. Expect to see West's adidas designs sometime in Fall 2014.