And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 1 of 2

[Shoe Session – 12.26.11] - And1 kicks immortalized in (toy) plastic – Part 1 of 2

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls 
Images: Spawn.com (McFarlane toys – Basketball action figures); various sources

Greetings, And Juans!  Merry Christmas to everyone and may you have had a meaningful celebration of the season.  As a Christmas treat for all you And1 fans out there, I’m posting below a blog article that I’ve been wanting to come out since early September.  Having asked my fellow And1 Ph administrator Luis A. aka L.A., I finally decided to post this write up about And1 shoes being made into plastic form courtesy of action figure company McFarlane Toys.

As most of you basketball fans know, McFarlane Toys produced action figures of popular NBA players since 2002 under the McFarlane Sports Picks (MSP) line.  It features lifelike renderings with minimal/limited articulation of selected NBA players, with accurate jersey and uniforms including the player’s distinct shoe for that particular NBA season.  That being said, popular basketball shoe producers such as And1 was able to have certain shoe models produced as part of the featured player’s action figure counterpart, and I have posted some of the action figure pictures below alongside the shoe model for your viewing pleasure.

First up, the inaugural year of McFarlane Sports Picks (Series 1) in 2002 featured erstwhile And1 brand endorser Kevin Garnett in the KG Select Mid.  I’ve also included a Youtube video (click HERE) of the And1 advertisement for the said shoe model.

 

During the 3^rd wave of MSP, another (former) And1 endorser was included in the line-up, then-Knick Latrell Sprewell.  Sporting his trademark cornrows, ball cocked back for a two-handed tomahawk jam, and wearing the And1 Spree Mid, this was one of my most favorite McFarlane basketball figures  (2^nd only to Gary Payton).

The following wave, former Pacer Jermaine O’neal was included in the Series 4 line-up.  While he was not an And1 endorser, it was just interesting to note that since he was basically a repaint of the same Kevin Garnett mold from Series 1, he was also wearing the And1 KG Select Mid but in IND colorway.

Series 5 of the McFarlane Sports Picks line featured two former And1 endorsers, Ben “Big Ben” Wallace of the Detroit Pistons and Coney Island native Stephon Marbury who was then playing for the Phoenix Suns. 

Former Defensive Player of the Year Big Ben Wallace rocked the Desire Mids...

...while former NBA All Star Stephon Marbury was seen using the Quest Mids.

That’s it for now.  Continuation of this article will be posted on December 28.  Stay tuned!

Happy (belated) birthday, Latrell “Spree” Sprewell and Ben “Big Ben” Wallace!

[And1 Baller Birthday – 09.27.11] - Happy (belated) birthday, Latrell “Spree” Sprewell and Ben “Big Ben” Wallace!

Inks: FLASH aka g_sk1lls

Images: Various (NBA / GettyImages.com / various sources)

Former NBA player (1992-2005) Latrell Sprewell celebrated his birthday last September 8 (born 1970, 41 this year). He played for 3 NBA teams in his professional basketball career (Golden State, New York, and Minnesota).

Sneakerheads remember his stint with the NY Knicks most prominently due to his And1 kicks which matched his brash, energetic play and ultimately gave NBA-cred to the And1 brand back in the late 90's-early 2000's.

Among his most memorable And1 pairs include Finger Roll Mid, Mad Game Select Mid, Taichi Mid (various CWs), 2Chi Mid, and of course, the Spree Mid (which also came out in Lows.)

For those who no longer remember the player simply known as "Spree", his career highlights include 4 All-Star game selections, was All NBA 1st team in 1994, and also made it the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team the same year.

Spree's shots in And1 kicks below:

(And1 Finger Roll)

(Battling down love versus "The Glove" in And1 Spree Mid)

(And1 Mad Game Select Mid)

(And1 Taichi Mids)

Another September birthday boy is former four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee, Ben Wallace (born September 10, 1974, now 37). Known for being one of the most feared shotblockers and rebounders for the Detroit squad that won the NBA title back in 2004, Big Ben repped And1 proudly in the No Pain, No Game training series as well as having his own signature pair, the And1 Chosen Mids.

Still currently playing for the NBA team Detroit Pistons (second stint), Big Ben also plied his wares for Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, and Cleveland Cavaliers. His most memorable And1 pairs include the Rekanize Mid, 2Chi Mid, and of course, the Chosen Mid.

Big Ben's shots in And1 kicks below:

(And1 Rekanize Mid)

(And1 2Chi Mid)

(And1 Chosen Mids)

It is interesting to note that both players played in the NBA finals while wearing And1 (Spree and the NY Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 lockout-shortened season, while Big Ben won against the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in 2004).

Happy, happy belated birthday, And1 ballers!