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How much of a basketball shoes popularity is because of the athletes who wear it and how much is due to the image of the athletes who wear it?That might be the toughest fact and fiction to separate, this delineation between the person and the perception created by advertising agencies. Just know that every time you buy a pair of sneakers it means youre buying into the story that surrounds it.Were here to celebrate those tales and pay tribute to the best of the basketball shoe commercials. These are the ads that captured moments and even movements, ads that excelled in storytelling.They revealed personalities -- or even created entirely new ones. Some of the best ads make minimal reference to either the person or the product but still manage to convey ideas and themes.Thats why these selections tend toward the cultural breakthroughs rather than the product advancements. These are the ads that stuck with us long after the soles of the shoes wore away.10. Converse: Theyre EverywhereThis captures a moment in time, because the music is sooo 80s. So is the fashion ... and thats actually the point. This sneaker commercial was the first to recognize that basketball shoes were becoming fashionable attire. Converse made the staid canvas Chuck Taylors hip by producing them in a variety of bright colors, and sneaker couture was on its way, with Dr. Js, Magic Johnsons and Larry Birds approval.9. Nike: Swimming Pool?The next time you see the outspoken modern version of LeBron James endorse a presidential candidate or clap back at Phil Jackson, think back to his early Nike ads in which he had no speaking lines. What a wasted opportunity. With The LeBrons ad campaign, James put his personality -- or personalities -- on full display. A basketball shoe commercial in which the endorser doesnt wear basketball shoes. Thats the mark of an athlete becoming a brand. This ones the best of the bunch because of Wise LeBrons mocking of the old heads, Business LeBrons smooth dive and the Kool & The Gang Summer Madness soundtrack.8. Nike: FreestyleIf youre going to appropriate, might as well do it right. This ad owes a tremendous debt to the And1 Mixtape campaign that made streetball so cool, with the common-object percussion from Stomp mixed in. Pulling from Nikes stable of NBA stars helped legitimize the movement.7. Nike: BarbershopThis Nike series captured the black barbershop vibe long before the Barbershop movies. We also need to celebrate George Gervin, who never had his own shoe line but kept providing key assists in other shoe campaigns (rather ironically, for a player known more for his scoring than passing). In this ad the Iceman delivers his signature line: One thing I could do was finger roll.6. Nike: Lil Pennys Super Bowl Party Chris Rock was brilliant as Penny Hardaways puppet alter-ego in this series, bringing sizzle to the soft-spoken real Pennys shoe commercials. While theres never been a better closing line than That was Tyra Banks, fool! (in response to Penny ruining Lil Pennys stoplight mack to the supermodel by driving off), the apex of these ads was the star-studded spot that ran during the Super Bowl and was immortalized in a Jay Z lyric.5. Nike: I Am Not A Role ModelNo other shoe commercial launched national debates like this in-your-face manifesto from Charles Barkley. Society freaked out about his proclamation that he was not a role model, conveniently overlooking the part where he said Parents should be role models. To disagree with his premise is to disagree with the notion that parents should play the most important roles in a childs life. Love the starkness of the black-and-white photography and the aggressiveness. Hes throwing elbows at the camera, and thus the viewers. Take that.4. Converse: Choose Your WeaponHow many commercials played a central role in the relationship of two central figures in NBA history? The story goes that after years as rivals, Magic and Bird finally got a chance to spend quality time together while shooting this commercial and realized they made better friends than enemies. But whats the story behind Magic wearing his jersey and the limousine having California plates? Did Magic wake up, put on his uniform and tell the chauffeur to drive from L.A. to Indiana so he could challenge Bird to a game? A final question: how many other sneaker ads inspired a music video set to Loverboys Working for the Weekend?3. Air Jordan: Mars Blackmon PostcardsMy favorite of the Mars Blackmon ads because its the most subversive. At the time NCAA rules prohibited the use of names and images of professional athletes in commercials that ran during the NCAA tournament (wary of acknowledging the fact that its OK for players to have endorsements, I guess). So Nike got around this hater-based regulation by having Mars shout out his man Money -- and everyone knew he was talking about Michael Jordan due to the previous Mike and Mars ad campaigns. This also might be the first documented example of sneakerheadness: look at all of the kicks in the room in the opening shot.2. Converse: Weapon RapIn retrospect it shouldve been called Crossroads. This ad marks both the emergence of hip-hop into mainstream culture (even Minnesota-born Kevin McHale had a nice flow in his ad) and the beginning of the fall of Converse. With Dr. J, Bird and Magic, Converse players won seven of 10 Most Valuable Player awards 1981 to 1990, and most of the leagues top players still wore the shoe when this ad ran in the 1986-87 season. Erving (who regrettably didnt appear here) retired after the season and within a few years Jordan and Nike dominated the NBA.1. Air Jordan: Let Your Game SpeakThis was the culmination of two decades of Michael Jordan and Air Jordan, a testament to their iconic status and to every prior commercial that embedded them in our minds. Jordan dominates the ad even though he only makes a brief appearance at the end. By then the impacts already been made, because at some point you realize that every player in the spot is re-enacting Jordan moves. His motions had become as recognizable as the silhouette. The music crescendos and then tapers off as Jordan smiles his approval at the kid doing The Shrug. The handoff to the next generation is complete. Mission accomplished. Air Max Tavas Black For Sale . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Air Max Tavas For Sale .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.bestairmaxtavas.com/ . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Cheap Air Max . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Air Max Tavas Mens . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. ' ' '