Daniel HuggettThe 2021-22 campaign was one of the most successful for Texas Men’s Basketball in recent memory. The club finished 4th in what was widely considered the toughest conference in the country, and won it’s first NCAA Tournament game since 2014. But while the wins and losses may have been impressive, this blog is mostly concerned with another important element of the team; the sneakers worn by it’s players.
Before each game this season, the UT Basketball social media team has given fans a close-up look at what sneakers various players were rocking on court. While in previous season the players have mostly stuck to burnt orange, white, and black shoes, this past year saw the Longhorns sport kicks of seemingly every color imaginable. This was likely due to the large influx of transfer players brought in by first year head coach Chris Beard. With so many new players from across the country joining the team, it’s understandable that they’d each bring a diverse shoe collection with them to the 40 Acres.
This article will attempt to rank the top 10 sneakers worn by UT Basketball in the 2021-22 season. A variety of factors have been considered in these rankings, such as rarity, resell value, age, and of course, personal preference from the writer. Additionally, while this list will only feature sneakers worn by players, it should be noted that many members of the coaching staff brought their A-game when it came to the shoes they wore in warm-ups and while on the bench.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 sneakers worn on court by Texas Basketball throughout the course of the 2021-22 season.
All images via @TexasMBB on Twitter and Instagram.
10. KD14 “TB Promo”
Worn by: Multiple Players
Release Date: 2021
Color Description: Desert Orange/White
Style Code: DM5040-801
Retail Price: $150
Fans of Texas Basketball know that UT’s relationship with Kevin Durant is second to none. While that association has paid dividends in more ways than one, one of the most notable has come in the form the burnt orange KD sneakers that are routinely distributed to the basketball team. As one of the first notable shoes to be worn by the squad this season, fans spotted players rocking these burnt orange 14s during practice and for media day activities. They would later go on to be worn in a variety of games by multiple players, such as Andrew Jones and Marcus Carr.
9. Nike Kobe 11 “3D”
Worn by: Devin Askew
Release Date: 7/27/2016
Color Description: Cool Grey/Total Crimson-Chlorine Blue
Style Code: 836183-084
Retail Price: $160
The first of many (spoiler alert) Kobe’s on our list, transfer point guard Devin Askew wore these kicks in a rout of UT Rio Grande Valley early in the season. Longtime sneakerheads will know that the 11s are notable for being the last pair of sneakers that the late Kobe Bryant wore in his illustrious NBA career. Drawing on a unique aesthetic design that creates an optical illusion of sorts, this particular shoe pays homage to a similar colorway that appeared on one of the Mamba’s earlier sneakers; the Zoom Kobe VI.
8. Nike KD12 “Peach Jam”
Worn by: Christian Bishop
Release Date: 7/18/2019
Color Description: Teal Tint/Red Orbit-Photo Blue
Style Code: CK1195-300
Retail Price: $150
Despite being one of the new guys at Texas, Christian Bishop was quick to adopt the shoes of one of UT’s most famous alumni; Kevin Durant. The transfer forward wasted no integrating himself into to the sneaker habits of the team, and rocked the colorful “Peach Jam” edition of the KD12s early in the season. Made to commemorate the yearly Nike summer league tournament of the same name, the shoes feature a vibrant color scheme that made them stand out on court.
7. Nike KD VI Elite “Superhero”
Worn by: Marcus Carr
Release Date: 5/9/2014
Color Description: Turbo Green/Vivid Pink-Night Shade
Style Code: 642838-300
Retail Price: $200
Although the KD VI is often viewed as one of the more popular models in Kevin Durant’s line, it’s not often that you see players opt for the “Elite” version of the shoe over it’s regular counterpart. Marcus Carr apparently looked to buck that trend, and wore the “Superhero” colorway of the sneaker in his second game as a Longhorn. While Texas would ultimately lose that contest against the then top ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, Carr would go on to act as a super hero in many of UT’s biggest games throughout the year.
6. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “EYBL”
Worn by: Devin Askew
Release Date: 8/29/2020
Color Description: Forest Green/Metallic Red Bronze-Speed Yellow-Forest Green
Style Code: CD4991-300
Retail Price: $180
The Kobe 5 is often cited as one of the most iconic shoes in the late Kobe Bryant’s signature shoe line. As such, it’s only fitting that at least one colorway of this notable model would make its way onto our list. Worn by apparent Kobe aficionado, Devin Askew, the “EYBL” colorway pays homage to Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, a circuit comprised of some of the top AAU squads in the United States.
5. Kobe VI Protro “Kay Yow”
Worn by: Christian Bishop
Release Date: N/A
Color Description: Pinkfire/White-Metallic Silver
Style Code: DJ3596-600
Retail Price: N/A
While pink sneakers are typically associated with October, that didn’t stop Christian Bishop from wearing these Kobe 6s in a November matchup against the San Jose State Spartans. While the shoes were reportedly going to receive a 2021 release, this drop never materialized and they remained exclusive to NCAA and professional athletes. The eye-catching nature of these kicks along with their exclusivity cemented them as one of the top 10 sneakers worn by a Longhorn this season.
4. Nike Zoom Kobe VI Supreme “Rice”
Worn by: Devin Askew
Release Date: 3/5/2011
Color Description: Moss Green/Green Apple-Black
Style Code: 446442-301
Retail Price: $150
The oldest sneaker by a noticeable margin on this list, the Kobe VI “Rice” originally released over a decade ago in the year 2011. As such, it is a fairly rare occurrence to see a pair still in circulation, let alone being worn on court in a high level college basketball game. While the shoe was originally made to match the colors of Rice High School in New York, Devin Askew paired them with UT’s burnt orange uniforms in a road win against the TCU Horned Frogs.
3. KD14 “Texas”
Worn by: Avery Benson and Tristen Licon
Release Date: N/A
Color Description: White/Desert Orange
Style Code: N/A
Retail Price: N/A
While Texas fans were mostly content with the burnt orange KD14s featured earlier on this list, many wondered if we’d also see a Longhorn-branded pair make an appearance later in the season. The existence of such a sneaker was eventually confirmed in the Longhorn’s home matchup against Oklahoma State. During which, backup forward Avery Benson debuted a pair of KD14s that featured UT’s iconic steer head logo on the tongue. While this predominantly white pair of Durant’s never saw the widespread adoption by the team that it’s predecessor did, it’s existence alone was enough to rank it highly on this list.
2. Nike Lebron IX “Big Bang”
Worn by: Christian Bishop and Marcus Carr
Release Date: 2/18/22
Color Description: Total Orange/Metallic Silver-Team Orange-Mango
Style Code: DH8006-800
Retail Price: $240
Christian Bishop and Marcus Carr debuted the “Big Bang” 9s against TCU, in what would go on to be the final win for Texas Men’s Basketball in the historic Frank Erwin Center. Despite the fact that they were not the correct shade of orange, these kicks looked great when worn with the Longhorn’s home white jerseys. Carr would also go on to rock these 9s in the NCAA Tournament, and was wearing them when he hit an incredible half court shot in UT’s first round victory against Virginia Tech.
1. Zoom Freak 1 “Skills Academy”
Worn by: Devin Askew
Release Date: N/A
Color Description: N/A
Style Code: N/A
Retail Price: N/A
Being a top ranked high school player has it’s perks, one of which is receiving invites to elite camps and tournaments. Events such as the Nike Skills Academy also usually bestow their participants with exclusive footwear, which is likely how Devin Askew acquired this rare pair of Zoom Freak 1s. This shoe is so uncommon, that aside from a few articles and images detailed information on them is scarce. This sneaker’s rarity and mystique, coupled with it’s unique aesthetic, earned them the top rank on our list.
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