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Latest Posts

Adidas Basketball - The Comeback No One Saw Coming

Adidas, one of the biggest brands in the game, have had some hits and misses when it comes to basketball.

Sep 6, 2024

The Rise of Chinese Sneaker Brands in The NBA

Chinese sneaker brands like Anta, Li-Ning and Peak are making huge waves in the NBA.

Jul 7, 2024

Nike’s Perfect Shoe - Why It Makes Billions

The Nike Air Force 1 is easily the most successful shoe of all time. We look at how Nike created the perfect shoe.

Mar 10, 2024

Inside Nike’s Most Controversial Lawsuits

Back in the day, when people heard the words “Nike lawsuit”, they used to think ‘sweatshop’ and ‘worker exploitation’, but after Nike...

Nov 18, 2023

Top Under Appreciated Nikes

There are some amazing kicks that for one reason or another, never made it through the ranks to join the likes of Air Max 1s and 90s....

Nov 14, 2023

Mizuno Contender Kintsugi

The Mizuno Contender is here, and it’s important, inspiring and beautiful. The Osakan brand brings us another quality sneaker; built to...

Nov 2, 2023

Why And1 Failed

Basketball in the 90s was peaking; the popularity of the NBA was growing worldwide at a rapid rate under the watchful eye of Commissioner...

Oct 21, 2023

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Hey, I'm Kieran

An Australian with Irish heritage, I've called London home since 2007, but my passion for sneakers stretches back to the 80s - the prime of NBA basketball. Growing up watching and playing basketball, 80s and 90s NBA is a big part of my life, with Larry Johnson’s Cons Aero Jets from 1993 being my all-time grail.

My work can be seen on the BBC, The Sole Supplier, Offspring, Sneakerjagers, The Urban Syndicate, Sneaker History, and the YouTube channel ‘Nacho Average Finds’. I’m also a proud alumnus of the Fashion Institute of NYC, with a Certificate in Sneaker Essentials.

If I'm not reading and writing about sneakers, I'm teaching my kids how to clean theirs.

Get In Touch >

Coming Up

Flint 13s. Back again. And again.

First releasing in 1998… the Flint 13s are back. Again.

It looks like it’s a full size run at this point, from infant to adult. It was one of the first Jordans I bought my son, and they’re perfect. They go with anything, they’re comfy, and best of all for the little ones, they’re durable. Oh, they’re reflective too… so for all the safety conscious parents out there… there’s a point you can use to justify the purchase to your partner…

Releasing Aug 1 in the UK

Worth A Follow

ProZECH

A fellow “old-head” and footwear nut – ProZECH keeps us entertained online with his Kicks Khronicles Podcast. As a presenter for Crep Collection Club, Kicks n Coffees and Sneak Spply, he’s never short of snackable content to fill our feeds.

He speaks from the heart, always takes a positive outlook, and has a passion for sneaker history that’s matched by few others in the game. If you haven’t given his pod a listen yet, he now wields a back catalogue of over 100 episodes. Get listening.

Check out @prozech >

Catch Me On Instagram

Follow @allthatsneaks >

The Air Max 95 ‘Anatomy of Air’ is even beter in person. Just a pity they run small and I have to shift these beauties. Although, sometimes it’s about the hunt. And it means I get to hunt again. That’s a good thing. ⚔️🛡️

The design is inspired by the human body with layered, muscle-like panels around the upper 💪🏻 I didn’t realise til I got them in-hand that they had twisted rope laces which apparently is a nod to DNA strands 🧬 As always, the gradient looks sharp on 95s and this pair is no different. The off-white midsole and lace loops work really well and the sole… OMG the sole… with the tendon-like imagery. So sharp.

#Nike #AirMax95 #AnatomyOfAir

What's old is new again 🫧 Finally my own Olympic Jordan 7s. The last time I wore some, I was playing pick-up games in high school back in ’92, and they were my sister’s hand-me-downs. This time though, I don’t have to double-up on socks. Garish to some. Classic to others. I love them. I picked up this used 2012 retro-release pair for £30, gave them a little clean and re-paint of the midsole and we're off to the races 👏🏻 They look as good as they did when MJ wore them in the 92 Barcelona Olympics as part of the Dream Team 🇺🇸🏀Absolute perfection. 👌🏻 #jordan #jordan7 #olympics #airjordan #nike nikeair

Well these grew on me. The Nike SB Dunk Low “Tourmaline” (aka “Rodeo”) is one of 2025’s standout drops — a tribute to the legacy of Black cowboys and their impact on rodeo culture.

Decked out in vibrant green tourmaline suede with brown leather, Monarch orange piping, and a translucent red outsole, it hits hard with a blend of bold color and Western soul. Love the rope laces, cowboy-boot-inspired stitching, the star-stamped heel, and lasso-style Nike branding. So frigging cool.

Love an insole graphic too. So that's nice. And it sits atop a Zoom Air unit for comfort. Even the packaging goes all-in, coming with a custom bandana printed with cowboy and cattle artwork.

Released in May 2025 as part of Nike’s Black History Month collection, the “Tourmaline” celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of Black pioneers in the American West — honoring the history, artistry, and grit that shaped rodeo culture.

#nike #nikeair #nikesb

Vintage futuristic. Love my Baltic Blues 💙

10s. So comfy. And one of the best outsoles of any sneaker, in my opinion. 👌🏻

Reimagined 🐘

#nike #nikeair#airjordan #whitecement3s

Cap 🧢 Coffee ☕ Kicks 👟👟

#london #kingscross #nike #airmax #airmax1 #balticblue

🏀 The year - about 1988. The sneakers - Aerosports. This was the most dangerous court 😂 COVERED in dust 😂 And the sidelines had about three inches before you hit a brick wall 🧱 🤕 Still, loved every second of it. Except that foul. I still don't think that was a foul.

Life’s a bit hectic these days with work, kids, school holidays, life admin and the rest of it… but when I lace up my sneakers and hit the court, it’s just so bloody refreshing.

I’ve loved this game since I was 7. Played through high school, all the way into my 20s. Now at 43, I’m still out there — just with some slower spin-moves…

Nothing beats the sound of a swish 🏀

33 years I've been thinking these were my Converse Aero Jets. I was wrong.

I was, in fact, wearing my British Knights Control Hi. Oof. What a pair. I felt like more than a knight. I felt like a King. Alright, that's over the top, but bloody hell I loved these sneakers.

They had Dymacel. Dymacel for goodness sake.

Don't know how my parents managed to fork out for these back then, as they must've been $100 at the time. I did look after them though, and besides this photo, I'm sure I wore them strictly for basketball purposes only.

The mixtures of leathers, the two-tone midsole spray, the BK badge... And of course... THE DYMACEL 🤤

Dymacel, by the way, was a diamond-shaped silicone cushion that was embedded in the sole to “absorb impact and enhance rebound”. Not sure what impact it was absorbing from my measly 10-year-old frame… but it was BK's big attempt to compete with the likes of Nike's Air (see the midsole window), Reebok's Pump and Adidas' Torsion. And similar to Converse’s React, the gel cushion provided a comfortable ride.

BK was founded in 1983, and they launched the Dymacel tech in 1991 when the NBA was really hitting its stride. Their first pro athlete endorsement was Derrick Coleman, and what a player he was. Solid, agile, no messing around. Mid-range jumpers, hook shots, and of course the famous finger-waving dunk on Shaq. He was a great all-rounder for his size. There were some similarities between Coleman and me… well, apart from me playing for Parade College, and him playing for Dream Team II and all that…

🥤 It me 👟👟

@cocacola @the_urban_syndicate

An all-time favourite in my collection... Nike Air Max 90 x Dave's Quality Meat. 🐷🔥

From the bacon-inspired colorway to the crazy comfort, they're built different. Premium quality.

@123dortiz 👏🏼

Reimagine 💭...

Back in '88, I was 7 years old and my eyes were locked on MJ and his White Cements. Wanted them bad. 🤤

So, 37 years later, finally got my hands on the Reimagined pair. A perfect nod to the OGs. Took a while (and a friendly Depop price) to make it happen, but worth the wait. ⏳

All Sneaky Sprayed and ready to go 🏀�👟

Growing up in Melbourne, basketball was a way of life for me. From the age of 8 through to my early 20s, you could always find me on a court - whether it was in my backyard, local school or park, or Diamond Valley Stadium. (For about $1 a pop at the time).

My whole family played. Even my dad was still out there in his 50s. It was strong in our family. 💪🏼

I played hard every time, once even taking 5 charges in a single game. My back, knees and ankles remind me about it daily. And I just need to keep working on my strength to try to get back on-court again. It's a slow and steady process, but I'll get there.

I’ve won premierships, represented my high school, made game-winning free throws and dropped 17 points in a game once (5 of those were threes—yes, I still remember 😅). I still remember it all. 🏀

But maybe what stuck with me most was the ritual - the feeling - of getting a new pair of sneakers each season. My mum would take me, and it always felt like a new beginning. I still try to pass that same feeling on to my boys today.

And every Saturday, walking into the stadium to play, I’d be checking out everyone’s sneakers.

I’ll never forget when my brother bought me my first Jordans - Playoff 13s. Pure magic. The comfort, the stitching, the hologram 🤤 I used to clean them after every single game 🫧🧴And I still have my Jordan 11 Breds from 2001. Some things you just hold onto.

Now living in London at 43, a world away from those courts in Melbourne, basketball and sneakers still give me so much joy. They were a big part of how I grew up, and I love it.

Larry Johnson was one of my favourite players to watch in the 90s. Explosive, strong and a great sense of humour. The Hornets back then played so well as a team, all playing their positions... LJ, Muggsy, Curry, Zo, Gill... All great players doing their jobs.

Jordan 1 'A Star is Born'. 💫

Perfect pair for a trip to Italy 🇮🇹

Wanted them for a LONG time. They're here and I love them.

🟢⚪🔴

Comfort. Jordan 2 X @shelflifestore 🇿🇦

@custardshopofficial socks unseen... but they're there 🙈

Ewing was a mountain of a man. Skilled in the post, rebounding, and such a clean jump shot. And to have John Starks and Action Jackson delivering the ball night in night out. Great to watch. 🏀

As for the sneakers... Another 90s beauty. They were just built different back then.

The Patrick Ewing Empire sneakers, released in 1995, were part of the Ewing Athletics line, which was founded by NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing in 1989.

Boy they came out with some 90s fire 🔥

#patewing #patrickewing #knicks #newyork #newyorkknicks #ewing #ewingbrand

LOVE THESE. Arctic Blue Air Max 1. Cop that blue. Jeeeeeez.

#arcticblue #airmax1 #nike #nikeair #airmax #airmax1 @the_urban_syndicate

One take... for the first time ever. 🏀

#london #basketball #airjordan33 @nike @nikelondon @mitchellandness

My happy place 🏀

Might be 43... but still want to put on some J's* and have a shootaround.

*(Oh... And ankle and knee support these days too 👴🏼)

Also, shout out to the Mitchell and Ness Billy Hoyle inspire shorts.

#london #basketball #airjordan33 @nike @nikelondon @mitchellandness

Poor ol Pandas 🐼. Getting a rough ride for essentially being one of the freshest looking, historically significant, versatile sneakers out. When they released, everyone wanted a pair. Great. Then EVERYONE had a pair. Oh no.

Someone was talking about them recently and it triggered me to write a quick piece about them…

The Dunk is a classic.

The Nike Dunk series originally released in 1985, the same year as the Jordan 1, with two-tone colourways representing college basketball teams. Although black and white weren’t released at the time, they landed in a sweet spot in 2023 where every man and his dog wanted their sneakers to stand out. And what better way to do that, than with a classic silhouette in black and white?
They’re versatile, affordable and stylish, and are consistently available. How can you hate that?

I like rare pairs as much as the next sneakerhead – but the Panda has received a lot of flack for essentially being an accessible, reliable sneaker that looks good on men, women, adults and kids.

Love it or hate it, it’s a solidified classic and looks to be here to stay.

📸 @nike

#nike #nikedunk #pandadunk

1968 Puma Suede 🟢⚫⚪
All-time classic. Had to keep it simple.
@dokumentpress @rossoism_projects

Love my Nike Air Raids. Gotta get these out when we're heading into the minuses 🥶 Thought I'd take a few pics to share the details of this incredible pair. The Kente print, the straps, the fusion of street style and rugged durability. Comfort, flair and warmth. Exactly what I want in a winter sneaker. 🤩

#nike #nikeair #nikeairraid @the_urban_syndicate

Absolutely swear by these @teva Reember slippers. Well packaged, fast delivery, and they're so bloody well made. 100% recommend. Fits true to size. 👏🏻 My last purchase for 2024... Literally 11.59pm on the 31st of December, while I was tucked up in bed 🤣👴🏼

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all things sneaker design & history.