Image via Complex Original
Of all the perks that come with being a celebrity, the one that we’d probably enjoy the most is the abundance of free sneakers. Whether they’re one of the lucky few who get seeded straight from the brand or just have a reliable connection, it’s no secret that celebs stay laced for the low.
That’s why it’s awesome whenever we see NBA players and music artists sharing the wealth with their fans and followers, giving away sneakers straight from their collections. It’s definitely the sort of trend we can get behind, and it actually happens more often than you might think. Look back on some of the most notable occurrences in 10 Times Celebrities Gave Away Their Prized Sneaker Collections.
Gilbert Arenas
When: 2011, 2013
Sneakers: Assortment of100+ pairs
In 2011, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas capped off a season of stunting with a very generous giveaway. “Agent Zero” gave away more than 100 pairs of heat with a trivia contest that took place on his now-defunct “Sneaker Champ” Twitter account.
Then, he did it again in 2013 with his “Jersey and Shoe Giveaway,” although details on that are hard to come by since he’s deleted his Instagram page.
Nick Young
When: November 2014
Sneakers: Nike Air Yeezys, Jordan Retros, Nike Sportswear
“Swaggy P” took an easy, yet awesome, approach to his sneaker giveaway, choosing to leave a box full of sneakers on the side of the street. Although he wasn’t completely clear about which kicks would be given away, there was some serious heat pictured, so it’s safe to say whoever ended up finding the box got a pretty amazing, early Christmas gift.
Wale
When: November 2014
Sneakers: Air Jordan III “True Blue”
Although Wale didn’t actually give away a full collection, this gesture was so cool that it deserves a spot anyway. Late last year, he put up an Instagram post telling fans to use a #WaleWizards hashtag, with one lucky attendee getting the rapper’s signed sneakers delivered straight to their seat. He ended up blessing a young fan with one of the best Jordans of all-time.
Trinidad James
When: December 2014
Sneakers: Mostly Jordans
When it comes to sharing his love for kicks, Trinidad James is one of the most passionate rappers out there. Late last year, he proved that he’s one of the most generous, too, when he gave away more than 50 pairs of new and lightly worn kicks to those who needed them the most. Fans were instructed to donate their own pairs to the Salvation Army in exchange for one from James’ personal collection, making this one of the best celebrity giveaways yet.
Richard Hamilton
When: December 2014
Sneakers: Jordans, Nike Basketball
As a former Jordan Brand athlete, you already knew that whatever Richard Hamilton had up his sleeve was going to be good. In 2014, he invited friends over for a sneaker giveaway unlike any other we’ve seen since. Hamilton issued the challenge of carrying as many sneakers as one could without dropping a single pair. If they did, the kicks stayed with “Rip.”
John Geiger
When: December 2014
Sneakers: Jordans, Nike Sportswear, unreleased Zoom Revis
Although he’s not exactly a household name, there’s no denying that John Geiger has earned celebrity status amongst sneakerhead circles. To wrap up 2014, the man behind the “Misplaced Checks” gave away a ton of heat through Instagram, although the post has since been deleted.
Kendall Marshall
When: March 2015
Sneakers: Jordan Retros
This recently signed Philadelphia 76er gave retro ’heads a treat when he took to the ‘Gram to show his appreciation for Jordan Brand’s generosity, and offered up a pile of kicks to his fans that included “Chicago” Xs, “Hare” 1s, and “Stealth” XXs. The point guard even took the time to sign pairs for the lucky winners.
Ray Allen
When: July 2015
Sneakers: Jordan P.E.s and Team Jordans
The NBA’s all-time three-point leader surprised us earlier this year with a scavenger hunt of sorts in Connecticut. “Sugar Ray” personally hid select kicks from his collection at landmarks throughout the state, leaving followers with clever hints along the way. The giveaway came to an end after a couple of weeks, but it was a fun way to mix things up while it lasted.
DeMarcus Cousins
When: July 2015
Sneakers: Jordan Retros, Nike Basketball, Nike Sportswear
DeMarcus Cousins decided to go with a good-old-fashioned lottery for his giveaway. Well, sort of. The Sacramento big man gave his followers a ton of heat, including “South Beach” LeBrons and “Toro Bravo” Jordans. Best of all? He even offered worldwide shipping for sneakerheads abroad.
DJ Clark Kent
When: Ongoing
Sneakers: Too many to name
Hip-hop and sneaker legend DJ Clark Kent does his giveaways a little differently. He captions each on-foot shot with “one a days,” a phrase he tags quite literally. Many of the sneakers end up stashed at random locations, lying in wait for their new owner. The coolest part of the whole thing is that Clark remains humble, rarely posting about the actual giveaways themselves. Salute.
Check out 10 times celebs had their own amazing sneaker giveaways. Gotta be prepared for the next time one of these stars is feeling generous.
