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Converse

Latest Converse Reviews

Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX Performance review 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Basketball Shoe: Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX

This is Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s basketball shoe for the 2023-24 season, and an above average, low profile, reactive performance model. Release Date: 2023 Price: $120 Converse has been a low-key sleeper in terms of basketball performance ever since their acquisition from the Swoosh. This doesn’t mean they are out of the game, they’re just
Converse All Star BB Prototype CX

Converse All Star BB Prototype CX Review

The Converse All Star BB Prototype CX has a long name which is inconvenient to say out loud, but it does have some promise performance-wise. Colorway: N/A Release Date: September 19, 2022 Price: $120 If you want a basketball performance sneaker with a long name, then the Converse All Star BB Prototype CX is the one for you. Jokes aside,
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Flyease

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Flyease Review

The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Flyease is the most recent shoe to license Kizik hands-free technology to create an easy entry casual sneaker. We’ve reviewed all the previous Flyease models. Chris reviewed the Nike Glide Flyease and our writer Ryan, born with cerebral palsy, compared the pros and cons of the first two Nike Flyease sneakers. All have fulfilled
Converse All Star BB Shift

Converse All Star BB Shift Review

The Converse All Star BB Shift looks to be the next, better model from Converse basketball. The last one was terrible, though, so it isn’t that hard to top that. The tech specs aren’t clear yet, but we’re hopeful these will perform at a good level. Converse has so much history behind it and is iconic in its own right.
Converse All Star 91

Converse All Star 91 Review

The Converse All Star 91 may not be remembered by a lot of people, especially the newer generation, but it sure was a product of its time. This was Dennis Rodman’s first official signature sneaker. At the time it was amazing that the entire Chicago Bulls Big 3 all had their own shoes. Dennis was the definitely the man on
Converse All Star BB Jet

Converse All Star BB Jet Review

The Converse All Star BB Jet looks nice from afar but begins to disappoint the closer you get. We want to like these, but this ain’t it. Colorway: White/Solar Red/Black Release Date: September 2021 Price: $110 The Converse All Star BB Jet looks nice from afar but begins to disappoint the closer you get. And don’t even get us started

Converse Basketball Shoes

Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX Performance review 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Basketball Shoe: Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX

This is Converse All Star BB Trilliant CX is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s basketball shoe for the 2023-24 season, and an above average, low profile, reactive performance model. Release Date: 2023 Price: $120 Converse has been a low-key sleeper in terms of basketball performance ever since their acquisition from the Swoosh. This doesn’t mean they are out of the game, they’re just
Converse All Star BB Shift

Converse All Star BB Shift Review

The Converse All Star BB Shift looks to be the next, better model from Converse basketball. The last one was terrible, though, so it isn’t that hard to top that. The tech specs aren’t clear yet, but we’re hopeful these will perform at a good level. Converse has so much history behind it and is iconic in its own right.
Converse All Star BB Evo

Converse All Star BB Evo

The Converse All Star BB Evo, the 2nd generation of Converse’s reemergence in hoops, is here. It’s an evolution of the original Converse All Star Pro BB. Chris thinks the changes are for the better and even says they might be potential bad boys on court.

Converse G4 Hi First Impressions

Since Draymond Green’s debut of the Converse G4 in low top form, along with Converse’s announcement of the shoe (and the initial leaks of the sneaker), we’ve seen quite a bit of interest in these performance basketball sneakers. While Converse did provide some details, there are still questions yet to be answered. We’re here to address them with an initial

Converse All Stars

Converse Skate Shoes

History of Converse

Converse is a true American original. Converse was founded all the way back in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. Mills had been a manager at a footwear manufacturing firm and decided to open his own footwear company named the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February of 1908.

The company originally specialized in winterized rubber-soled shoes, for men, women, and children. The company was an immediate success, but it wouldn’t be until 1915 when they started producing athletic shoes.

Two years after the company’s foray into the athletic market, Converse would create what is perhaps the most iconic shoe ever. In 1917, the Converse All Star basketball shoe was introduced. Shortly after, in 1923, a man by the name of Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse complaining of sore feet.

The Converse All Star was one of the first shoes specifically designed to be worn when playing basketball. Chuck Taylor was a basketball player and provided valuable input on the design of the sneaker. Within a year, his suggestions were implemented and the definitive Converse All Star was born. It featured enhanced flexibility and support and included a distinctive star-shaped logo on the patch that protected the ankle. Taylor’s signature was also added to the logo and the shoe was renamed as the Chuck Taylor All Star.

Chuck Taylor was hired as a salesman and traveled across the country conducting basketball clinics and selling shoes. Taylor’s free basketball clinics continued for nearly thirty years in high school and college gyms and YMCAs around the United States.

In 1922, Taylor introduced a new marketing tool, the annual Converse Basketball Yearbook. This yearbook highlighted the best players and teams in the country and the greatest moments of the sport. He even selected his own list of All Americans. He was basically a hoops YouTuber before YouTube. The publication was also a great tool to promote the clinics and the Converse All Star basketball shoes.   

Converse Bought by Nike

During the 1970s, Converse bought its biggest competitor, PF Flyers, which led to a monopoly in the shoe market. Both brands were forced to separate later due to an antitrust lawsuit. Converse had dominated the basketball market up until that time and now watched as several competitors burst onto the scene including Puma, Adidas, and Nike.

Converse regained some popularity during the 1980s as casual footwear, but the brand became overdependent on the “All Star” brand, whose market collapsed by 1989–1990. By the year 2000, Converse slipped into dire financial trouble. Converse filed for bankruptcy on January 22, 2001.

In July of 2003, Nike purchased Converse with plans to revive the brand. By November 2012, Converse had disappeared completely from the NBA, Udonis Haslem, being the last NBA player wearing Converse on court.

Converse reentered the performance basketball market in 2019 with the launch of the All Star Pro BB. Since then, Converse has signed Kelly Oubre Jr., Draymond Green, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as signature athletes.