The 20 Best Retro Basketball Sneakers of 2013

There is no denying that 2013 was a damn good year for basketball retros, The best brands huddled in their big conference rooms and pulled out their expensive projection screens, They read up on all of the blogs and forums screaming at them to re-release the kicks everyone grew up on and are constantly checking eBay for. And heads ended up getting a lot of sneakers re-released that they've been asking to drop for years.

FILA put out a couple of bomb-ass retros, Reebok completely annihilated the competition, and Nike and Jordan did what Nike and Jordan do best. There were also a few gems out of left field that left people speechless. Yes, this year was a damn good year, so let's reflect on the 20 Best Retro Basketball Sneakers of 2013. To be fair, we judged these sneakers from a basketball perspective, and put them in the proper context.

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When they re-released: April

Any shoe worn by the big three during the Chicago Bulls' historic run during the 1995-'96 NBA season should be considered classic by scripture. But the Nike Air Way Up wasn't just worn by one of them, they were worn by both Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

When they re-released: August

Jerry Stackhouse was a beast coming out of North Carolina in 1995, hooking up with the Sixers and getting a signature shoe his rookie season, the FILA Stackhouse. 16 years later and he' still roaming around the NBA somewhere, who knows, and FILA decided to bring back this amazing shoe as the Spaghetti.

When they re-released: June

The Bulls vs. Knicks rivalry of the '90s was brutal, but oh so exciting. A big part of this was the play of Knicks center Patrick Ewing while rocking his very own Ewing Athletics Focus sneaker. And as the very first NBA player to form his own sneaker company, it's major that Ewing was able to have a huge year in 2013. This is because it brought back this dynamic shoe in its original form and added some crucial new colorways.

When they re-released: March

One of the most futuristic releases of the early 2000s came in 2001 with the Nike Hyperflight. The super-sleek, super-light basketball shoe looked like some alien boots from 2013. Fast forward 12 years and they're right where they belong, dropping some new colorways with the same glossy finish and exquisite flair.

When they re-released: May

Reebok DMX technology was ahead of its time in the '90s, and people didn't fully appreciate it. Thank God the people over at Reebok brought back one of the most influential basketball shoes of the day—with Allen Iverson's Answer DMX 10. The blue and red patent varieties were particularly welcome. Thanks for everything, AI.

When they re-released: January

Shawn Kemp wasn't just known for raining his spunk all over the women of the world. The six-time NBA All-Star also had a mean shoe game. Especially the funky, yet delightful looking Kamikaze II that dropped in 1995. And now, these winners are back with the white/black/green OG and a couple more modern color schemes. Reebok definitely knew what they were doing dropping all these bombs this year.

When they re-released: August

Kobe Bryant's dunk contest win when he was just 18 years old was impressive, but everyone remembers the Adidas EQT Elevation, his first signature shoe, that he wore during the competition. Kobe has moved on to Nike, hence the name change to the Crazy 97. Adidas is re-living Kobe's early career with this retro, prompting some discussion on who has made better kicks for Kobe.

When they re-released: November

You would never let your grandmother beat you in basketball, would you? Well, the Grandmama that rocked these Converse Aerojams would beat the fucking piss out of you in a game of one-on-one. Larry Johnson's first signature shoe came in 1993, a year after his successful All-Star and Rookie of the Year campaign, and was Converse's first real big break in the '90s. React Juice forever.

When they re-released: December

The first colorway of the Air Jordan XII may very well have been the best—with those "taxi' details just peeking out from the midsole. They were the first Air Jordan to feature Zoom Air. And they just re-released this past weekend, making them an instant cop.

When they re-released: December

Even though there are seven other Kobe signatures released (or being released) by Nike to mark Kobe's return (and, er, his unceremonious six-week leave of absence), the Kobe 1 returned and showed how his legacy (with Nike) started. These are also the sneakers Kobe wore when he dropped 81 points on the Raptors. Ironically, or not so much, these are the sneakers that Kobe laced up for his comeback against, guess who, the Raptors.

When they re-released: June

One of the most memorable "love or hate" shoes hypnotized everyone in 1995. The Reebok Shaqnosis had a unique design that probably made it his most memorable shoe ever. Luckily, Reebok's strong push for retros this year brought them back onto feet.

When they re-released: March

Grant Hill was thought to be the next Michael Jordan. Thus, his deal with FILA, not one of the big three, was a bit of a shock. But his second signature shoe proved that he had one hell of an influence on NBA basketball enthusiasts. That influence, 17 years later, is still healthy as the FILA 96 came back with a vengeance.

When they re-released: May

When the Air Jordan V "Grapes" came back to life in 2006, they caused absolute hysteria. Maybe it was because Will Smith wore them without laces, or because they're an awesome sneaker. Either way, the Grapes dropping in 2013 was a good thing for everyone who enjoys a fly pair of kicks.

When they re-released: April

Back in the 1992-'93 season, Shaquille O'Neal's presence as a rookie in the paint was purely an anomaly to defenders. It was pretty easy for Reebok to realize the force he would be for years to come, offering him the company's first signature basketball shoe ever, the Shaq Attaq. Equipped with Pump technology and lightweight body, Reebok continued its 2013 dominance by bringing these, and Shaq, back.

When they re-released: October

Dikembe Mutombo's infamous post-block finger wag is as synonymous to the big man as his 1993 signature adidas shoe. The two combined are what built the House of Mutombo, after all. And 20 years later, they're perfect for swatting flies and blocking Twitter followers while rocking these beauts.

When they re-released: October

The shroud. Ah, that beautiful shroud. When the Nike Air Zoom Flight Glove was introduced in 1998, they were met with a lot of uncertainty with the hidden laces and the zippered shroud. But people ended up flocking to them like GP playing defense on the best player on the opposing team. Now, that beautiful shroud is back in 2013 with OG colors and a special makeup with Sole Collector that still has the streets abuzz.

When they re-released: February

People get emotional over the Air Jordan III, and for good reason: It's the sneaker that brought Mike's signature line in its definitive direction. The classic white and cement (really elephant print, though) of the Jordan III will forever go down as an iconic colorway. Heads were blessed with a retro of the original all the way down to the Nike Air logo on the back.

When they re-released: October

Allen Iverson's first signature came back with a vengeance in 2012, but when Packer Shoes created the "For Players Use Only" people didn't know just how good they got it. A special St. Vincent St. Mary's make-up was done for LeBron James and the Lakers color was executed for Kobe when he was in between deals with adidas and Nike. Both shoes were literally for those players' use only. Until now.

When they re-released: February

When this guy, this guy and this magazine all think the black/royal Jordan I was the shoe of the year, who can argue?