words & images // Zack Schlemmer
This week's Kicks on Cards collection is an early 90's heavy assortment with four out of the five cards coming from 1992 or earlier. Up first is "Plastic Man" Stacey Augmon skying for a dunk over Dikembe Mutombo in the Nike Air Force 180 High from 1991, complete with Nike's answer to the Reebok Pump system with the "Air Fit" system in the ankle. This is one of only three shoes to use the short-lived Air Fit system, along with the Air Pressure and Air Command Force.
Next up is a shoe that's a favorite of many from 1991 and needs no introduction, the Air Jordan VI, worn by Michael himself in the Black/Infrared colorway. To finish out the early 90's section of our lineup, we see Isiah Thomas in a nice pair of Pistons colored Asics lowtops and Sean Green (don't ask me who he is) in the Nike Air Force V low.
Ed O'Bannon in the Nike Air Max Uptempo from 1996 is the only representative from later in the 90's. The Air Max Uptempo is the first basketball shoe to use full length visible Air Max and was worn by any number of pro and college players. This shoe recently retroed in the original White/Black/Mystic Teal colorway amidst the Air Jordan XI Concord hype and has gone mostly unnoticed. I definitely got my pair, but if you missed this all-time classic Nike basketball shoe, head over to nikestore.com where they are still available from size 7 to 10.5, or check your local shops.
Stacey Augmon -- Nike Air Force 180 High
Michael Jordan -- Air Jordan VI
Isiah Thomas -- Asics
Sean Green -- Nike Air Force V Low
Ed O'Bannon -- Nike Air Max Uptempo
