Magic Johnson Shoes: The Weapon that Conquered Basketball
Let’s hop in the time machine back to when basketball was more than a game. It was a fashion craze led by stars like Magic Johnson.
In the ’80s, Magic and his Showtime Lakers blew up, and so did his Converse Weapons shoes. They went from sports gear to cultural phenomenon, mixing sports, style, and street cred.
From the energy of the NBA courts to the vibe of the urban streets, Magic Johnson shoes were a crossover hit. So lace up as we rewind to when Weapons ruled the game.
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What were Magic Johnson shoes?
Back in the day, Magic Johnson’s shoes were a huge deal. His Converse Weapons ruled the basketball courts in the 1980s just like he ruled the game.
The Weapon came out in 1986 and was next level for Converse. It had a chunky leather high-top design and cushy padding that made it super comfortable. It took the best parts of older Converse, like the Chuck Taylor and Dr. J models and made them even better for balling.
At the time, Magic’s Lakers and Bird’s Celtics were legendary rivals. Converse was smart and made a “Choose Your Weapon” ad campaign with sneakers in Lakers and Celtics colors. This wasn’t just about shoes-it was about culture.
Magic’s purple and gold Weapons became super popular from LA streets to NYC courts.
Converse had a winning strategy back then of getting top players like Isaiah Thomas and Bernard King to wear Weapons. But then Nike came and changed things up by focusing on just Michael Jordan. Even though the Weapon was hot, when Air Jordans hit, they kind of took over.
Nowadays, Converse brought the Weapon back with the CX line. They use new tech but keep the classic look. With help from designers like Rick Owens, they want to make the Weapon cool again for OG fans and new sneakerheads.
Magic didn’t stop with the Weapon though. He had other shoes like the MX Thrillin and his affordable Magic 32 line. He wanted all ballers to get quality sneakers, not just rich kids. His shoes were about more than style-they showed his values.
Even now, decades later, Magic Johnson’s shoes still matter. The Weapon may not be the hottest anymore, but it’s still an important part of sneaker history. As old-school sneakers make a comeback, the Weapon could rise again.
Magic Johnson Shoes in Popular Culture
Magic Johnson’s shoes didn’t just change basketball – they changed fashion too. His sneakers were huge in the ’80s and ’90s, going from sports gear to daily streetwear.
Magic’s shoes like the Converse Weapons were major fashion icons back then. Their bold colors and chunky look matched the vibe of the times. The purple and gold colorways copied the Lakers’ colors and became super popular not just for balling but also on the streets and in hip hop culture.
The Weapon was especially synonymous with the ’80s style. Its big, sporty look went with the oversized, bright clothes that people wore.
It wasn’t only athletes rocking Magic’s kicks either. Singers, actors, celebs were repping them too, making Converse even cooler. People wore them to red carpet events, in music videos, on TV shows-they were so popular.
Magic took his shoes from the court to the streets to pop culture stardom. Even today, his sneakers represent a legacy bigger than just basketball.
What was Magic Johnson’s shoe size?
In basketball, the huge size of some players’ shoes matches their big personalities on the court. At 6’9″, Magic Johnson had the feet to fit his tall frame, wearing a size 14 (UK 13.5 / Europe 47) shoe.
Magic Johnson VS Nike
Magic Johnson’s deal with Nike that never happened is one of those sports stories that makes you just shake your head. Back when Nike was still pretty new, they came to young Magic with an offer of stock options that could’ve made him an owner. But Magic turned them down for a regular cash deal with Converse instead.
How much did Magic Johnson lose from Nike?
Looking back now, it’s easy to say Magic lost out on a fortune from Nike. Best estimates say the stock he could’ve gotten might be worth $5 or 6 billion today! But that’s only if he held onto every share for 30+ years as Nike blew up globally. Realistically, who knows how much he actually missed out on.
Why did Magic Johnson reject Nike?
Well, at the time Nike didn’t have the cash to match what big brands like Converse would give him. Magic was young and wanted that secure money upfront, not risky stock in some start-up company. Can’t blame him for going with the sure thing.
Does Magic regret not signing with Nike?
Nowadays, Magic has admitted he feels some regret when he walks into Nike stores, thinking “man, I could’ve owned this place.” But he also says he knows it made sense to take the Converse deal with what he knew at the time and where he was in life.
It’s real easy to play the “what if” game and say Magic missed out on billions from Nike. But nobody can predict the future perfectly. Even though he didn’t become a sneaker mogul with Nike, Magic took the lesson and used it to build his own business empire later on. So in the end, things still worked out OK for Magic!
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Kenya Lee
