The Best NBA All-Star Weekend Sneaker Drops of All Time

Calum Marsh
·5 min read
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Early one morning during last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, I happened upon an interesting sight: a line of several hundred people in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. It turned out to be a pop-up to launch that day’s big Jordan release: the Air Jordan 13 “Playoffs,” a black-and-red throwback classic. The shoe was actually relatively easy to buy at retail, and sat on most store shelves for the duration of the weekend or longer. But that didn’t stop many sneakerheads from braving the early morning Utah cold to secure their pair. That’s just how seriously sneaker fans take All-Star Weekend releases.

The “Playoff” 13s weren’t grails, but many other kicks dropped during the league's midseason break have gone on to become some of the biggest and most coveted shoes ever. As the All-Star festivities kick off this weekend in Indianapolis, there is no doubt there will be the same level of excitement and anticipation for the game, the parties, and the bevy of sneaker drops—which thus far include the revived Converse Weapon and beloved KD 4 Galaxy. Here are our picks for the best sneaker releases in All-Star Weekend history.

Off White x Air Jordan 5 “Muslin”

Off White x Air Jordan 5 “Muslin”

$753.00, StockX

First released in February 2020, during the All-Star Game in Virgil Abloh’s native Chicago, the Off White x Jordan 5 “Muslin” ranks among the best of Abloh’s many, many acclaimed collaborations with Jordan Brand. Making clever use of black mesh and translucent netting, the shoe remains faithful to the original Jordan 5 design while updating it a manner that feels extremely modern—and extremely Virgil.

Air Jordan 6 “Infrared”

Air Jordan 6 “Infrared”

$309.00, StockX

A back-to-basics re-release of the original Air Jordan 6 colorway from way back in 1991—MJ's first championship season—the certified classic “Infrared” Jordan 6 has remained in high demand since its return during All-Star Weekend in 2019. Rebuilt with premium materials, like the deluxe black nubuck across the upper, it’s one of the most beloved Jordans ever—for good reason.

Nike Air Foamposite “Galaxy”

Air Foamposite "Galaxy"

$1419.00, StockX

Arguably the most sought-after All-Star release ever, the Nike Air Foamposite One “Galaxy” dropped in 2012 during the ASW in Orlando, as part of a larger “Galaxy” pack of space-themed sneakers inspired by the city’s Kennedy Space Center. It’s hard not to love the inviting blues and purples of this intergalactic colorway, which has a retro feel straight out of the ‘90s. But it’s the glow-in-the-dark outsole that really kicks this shoe's desirability up to a whole other echelon.

Puma LaMelo Ball MB.01 “Rick and Morty”

LaMelo Ball MB.01 “Rick and Morty”

$466.00, StockX

Puma isn't known for the kinds of basketball shoe releases that sell out instantly and command huge prices on the aftermarket. But that’s exactly what transpired with the debut of this bold-hued spin on LaMelo Ball’s excellent performance shoe, inspired by the popular Adult Swim cartoon Rick and Morty. Released during All-Star Weekend in 2022, it remains the hottest LaMelo shoe to date.

Reebok Question “All-Star”

Question Mid "All-Star"

$300.00, StockX

Allen Iverson made All-Star Game history back in 2001, when he led the East to a shocking 21-point comeback with 15 points in the final nine minutes. He did so wearing his original signature sneaker, the Reebok Question Mid. The model was already several years old by that point, but as AI later explained, he had been “really feeling” it again in the lead-up to the game. The All-Star edition of the sneaker was re-released by Reebok in 2021 as a nod to that historic moment.

Adidas Yeezy Quantum

Yeezy Quantum "Barium"

$154.00, StockX

Leave it to Kanye to come up with the strangest possible way to launch a new line of Yeezy sneakers: giving them away for free around Chicago during All-Star Weekend, while driving around in one of his souped-up tanks. The Quantum would be made available in both a lifestyle and performance model, and while it never reached the level of sneakerhead-frenzy success as the Yeezy 350s, it was still an excellent (and underrated) silhouette with a very memorable release.

Nike Zoom Hyperdunk “Blake Griffin”

Hyperdunk 2011 "Blake Griffin"

$300.00, StockX

Blake Griffin’s explosive, car-leaping performance at the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is rightly remembered as one of the most exhilarating in the competition's history. Designed in honor of Griffin’s victory, the “Blake Griffin” Hyperdunks are built with enough Zoom Air cushioning to make you believe you could jump over a Kia, too.

Adidas Adizero Rose 1 “Simeon”

Adizero Rose 1 "Simeon"

$170.00, StockX

When Derrick Rose debuted the All-Star edition of his OG signature sneaker during the All-Star game in 2011, you couldn’t miss it: the bright yellow colorway, a reference to the colors of Rose’s alma mater Simeon High School, cemented it as one of the most striking shoes on the court. Adidas re-released the now-classic silhouette in 2020—again during All-Star Weekend—to celebrate Rose’s legacy.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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