{"id":567497,"date":"2023-03-26T16:18:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T13:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/low-cut-sneakers-gain-traction-on-court\/"},"modified":"2023-03-26T16:18:12","modified_gmt":"2023-03-26T13:18:12","slug":"low-cut-sneakers-gain-traction-on-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/low-cut-sneakers-gain-traction-on-court\/","title":{"rendered":"#Low-cut sneakers gain traction on court"},"content":{"rendered":"
DENVER (AP) \u2014 The squeaks from the sneakers on the court sound the same. But these are far from your classic Chuck Taylors or vintage Air Jordans. Or any version of high tops at all.<\/p>\n

The iconic shoe designed to extend slightly over the ankle has pretty much fallen out of favor in the lanes across basketball.<\/p>\n

Glance down at the footwear the players are lacing up for March Madness<\/a> and many are wearing a version of a low-top sneaker (with the occasional mid-cut throw in).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a way to put their fastest, most comfortable, foot forward, especially since studies are inconclusive on whether high tops actually do what they were intended to do \u2014 prevent sprained ankles.<\/p>\n

As Colorado guard Kindyll Wetta points out, \u201cwe get our ankles taped anyway, so I don\u2019t feel like I need the extra high-top support.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also fashion to consider and “low tops,” TCU guard Damion Baugh said, “just look better.\u201d<\/p>\n

High tops had been a familiar sight since the dawn of Converse\u2019s Chuck Taylors a century ago. As the legend goes, Taylor walked into the company’s sales office looking for footwear that didn’t hurt his feet. The result was an All-Star sneaker that would eventually bear his name \u2014 featuring a high, canvas collar \u2014 and land Charles H. \u2018Chuck\u2019 Taylor in the Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a>. He helped spark an industry \u2014 Converse had an estimated 80% share of the market<\/a> at one point.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, there have been many styles and models of high tops \u2014 from Nike\u2019s Air Force 1 to the Reebok Pump to the iconic versions of Air Jordans. The thought behind them was simple \u2014 protect the ankle from rolling, almost like a hiking boot.<\/p>\n

But the injury data on low tops versus high tops has proven<\/a> inconclusive.<\/p>\n

Dr. Howard Osterman, the team podiatrist for the Washington Wizards and Mystics, recently gave a lecture on the history of basketball shoes. He discussed various sneakers, including Walt \u201cClyde” Frazier’s signature line with Puma (a low top) and George \u201cIceman\u201d Gervin’s Nike shoe \u201cBlazer” (high top) through the modern day.<\/p>\n

Osterman’s best advice after his deep dive into footwear?<\/p>\n

\u201cFind a shoe that’s comfortable,\u201d he said. \u201cThe shoes don\u2019t necessarily make you a better player, but they certainly can create irritation and other problems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matt Powell, a shoe industry analyst who tracks the latest trends through his consulting firm, believes the surge in low top popularity mirrors the soaring demand for comfy running sneakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a lot of the brands have done is they\u2019ve tried to make their basketball shoes look more like running shoes, so they\u2019re more on trend with what\u2019s selling,\u201d Powell said. \u201cThe player is looking for a shoe that\u2019s as light as it could possibly be, and still protect their feet. So that points you to the low top.\u201d<\/p>\n

The late Kobe Bryant gets a big assist for the popularity of low tops. He once helped launch a lower-profile shoe.<\/p>\n

These days, NBA standouts such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic and LeBron James have shoe lines with versions of a low top.<\/p>\n

On the women’s side, Nike recently announced that WNBA standout and Oregon record-setter Sabrina Ionescu has a new low-cut shoe line called \u201cSabrina 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the best shoes are low tops,\u201d TCU guard Mike Miles Jr. said. \u201cAll the comfortable shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the first things Gonzaga forward Anton Watson does when he steps on the court is size up his competition.<\/p>\n

Their shoes, anyway.<\/p>\n

And if you happ<\/a>en to be wearing a nice pair, he will let you know.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve got to say something like, \u2018Where did you get those? I\u2019m gonna need a pair of those,\u2019\u201d said Watson, whose team beat UCLA to move on<\/a> to the Elite Eight.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s tried high tops in the past, but they felt too cumbersome.<\/p>\n

Tennessee guard Jordan Walker grew up wearing high tops but has worn a lower version in college.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents wouldn\u2019t let me wear low tops \u2014 it\u2019s no ankle support and all of this,\u201d Walker said. \u201cI had to wear ankle braces with the high tops. So I get to college, and I got to express my freedom a little bit and go to the low tops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overhearing the shoe question, Tennessee coach Kellie Harper weighed in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh tops,” said Harper, who helped the Lady Vols to three straight national titles as a player. “I\u2019m a high top girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harper added they don\u2019t make high tops the way they did in the 1990s. She played in a scrimmage with her team recently and put on some high tops. Harper noticed they came up only about three-quarters compared to what she used to play in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were making fun of my shoes because they were going way over the ankles,\u201d Harper said.<\/p>\n

Creighton center<\/a> Ryan Kalkbrenner wears a mid-cut shoe \u2014 or so he thinks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what the difference is between three-quarter and traditional. Honestly, I just know mine are a lot higher than most of my teammates,\u201d Kalkbrenner said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t even tell you the name of the shoe.”<\/p>\n

As for those old-school high tops, Baylor forward Jalen Bridges has just one thought.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know how people used to play in those,\u201d Bridges cracked. \u201cThis new generation of hoopers, we just like low cuts.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writers Teresa M. Walker and Arnie Stapleton, and AP College Sports Writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP March Madness coverage: https:\/\/apnews<\/a>.com\/hub\/march-madness and bracket: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ncaa-mens-bracket and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP_Top25<\/a><\/p>\n

Originally published <\/span>