A Tribute to Timmy
Thank you, Timmy. Thank you from the basketball community. Thank you for your stoic professionalism and expressionless competitiveness. Thank you for being the consummate winner and teammate. Thank you for reminding the world that there are still accomplished athletes that do everything the right way. Thank you for being the antithesis to Kevin Garnett and giving me battles and storylines to follow so closely. The league bid farewell to yet another first ballot HOFer in the conversation for being the greatest.
Tim Duncan left with no fanfare, no Players Tribune soliloquy, no sentimental press conference. He left the same way he spent his entire, illustrious NBA career — quietly. He was never the standard bearer for a best selling signature sneaker, but he deserves WearTesters attention nonetheless. I can attribute my two favorite on-court mindgames to the Big Fundamental: blank staring in response to anyone saying something to me, and quietly offering friendly advice to my opponent after a play (works every time!) Sound off on your Tim Duncan memories and appreciation!
U.S. Soccer, NYC F.C. & adidas Partner to Build 50 Soccer Fields in New York
New York is known for its outdoor basketball courts. Where young athletes escape to the gritty competitiveness and physicality of the outdoor game. In countless other major cities across the world, soccer fields play that same role. The U.S. Soccer Foundation, New York City F.C., the city of New York, and adidas have partnered to invest $3 million dollars into building 50 all-weather synthetic soccer fields over the next five years across the five boroughs. Sports unite communities and cultures and the soccer fields will provide another medium to promote health and social skills for young people in underprivileged areas. The fields will be built on existing park space, in empty lots and on rundown city properties. This is a major and exciting step in the development of soccer in America. What do you think?
The Future is NOW for Footwear
We all know that additive manufacturing has been hyped up by tech magazines, investors, school systems, and that one friend you know who loves science. We’ve seen the rigid 3D printed footwear that looks to be straight out of a fashion concept show, prone to fall apart after three wears. We’ve heard all the chatter about the sustainability aspect of knit uppers, and the ability to knit with recycled materials. But, for those that haven’t been watching closely, nearly every major footwear brand now sells footwear with some form of a 3D printed outsole/midsole, as well as ever-expanding lines with knit uppers. Nike has the Zoom Superfly Flyknit with a 3D printed sole plate; Under Armour has recently debuted the Architect model with a 3D printed midsole as well as knitted uppers to its running lines.
adidas has turned heads with its laser sintered Futurecraft model that ran alongside a marketing campaign pointing toward the future of domestic manufacturing and rapid customization. Now, the brand has released a Boost model with an upper constructed of repurposed material from the garbage found in our world’s oceans using adidas’ Tailored-Fibre Technology, in partnership with Parley. The shoe is a representation of our obligation to protect our planet, and the opportunity to make a difference in the consumer product space. Even New Balance has joined the fray with the Zante Generate, with a midsole designed and printed entirely in house at its Massachusetts HQ. NB is claiming that more models are coming with the option for further customization and tailoring to the consumer.
It’s important to note that while knitted models are now in full scale production, additive manufactured models are still in limited quantities. We are amidst a revolution in the way footwear is made and personalized for the athlete and consumer. As brands push for innovation, what’s next?
I love these posts. Keep up the good work!
Glad you enjoy them! Appreciate you leaving a comment!
Final play, pick and roll. Young cats do NOT know how to defend. You might as well have put that Tim Duncan was the antithesis to Kobe Bryant, everything you wanted in a teammate as well. I never knew that I needed a 3D printed shoe, and am still wondering why anyone needs one. I love Adidas, but do not place those fields in gentrified neighborhoods, put them where ever the “hood” has moved….enough with rewarding those who do not deserve rewards, especially by moving out the poor and disenfranchised, which brings me to this, no mention of Mark Parker’s comment on #Blacklivesmatter?! Funny, I’d love to see if MJ is ready to give Donald Trump a pair of Air Jordan’s, especially since “republicans buy sneakers too…,”we cannot duck the truth, this country is in a very interesting place, and the athletes whose shoes you are discussing here, are about to be a part of the conversation that begs the question, what took Nike so long to make a statement on anything regarding Black lives?!
The GOAT lives!
The pick and roll is money for sure, but where I play most guys know how to stifle it with ICE, especially at the end of the game. Good point on Tim Duncan in contrast to Kobe…I was thinking more of their temperament and emotions on court, but at least KG was a beloved teammate with his priorities straight.
I don’t think the fields are destined for gentrified neighborhoods, of course that is just what they are ‘saying’. We’ll have to keep an eye out for if they stick to the underprivileged youth ideal.
This country is in a very interesting place…buckle up.
Tim Duncan is such a great ornament to the game of basketball. The best player of his generation and the greatest power forward to step on the court. It’s been incredible to see the words expressed by his fellow players, coaches, GM and fans over the past week. It’s good to know that solid, fundamental basketball can still be appreciated at the highest level. I don’t support the San Antonio Spurs, but I can sure as hell honor one of the greatest to ever do it. I salute you Timmy, thanks for being more than a player.
Thanks for being more than a player. Well said.
I can see that you appreciate the game of basketball and respect those that are the best at their craft. It has definitely been fun to read about him post-retirement. I recommend The Vertical podcast with RC Buford, 30 minutes of awesome insight.
Yes! Heard that, Buford was obviously emotional about losing Timmy. Just reiterated the fact that Duncan, more than a franchise player, gave the staff there a career of success. That’s something you don’t hear often, haha.
TD is one amazing player, who competes every night,
Where San Antonio Spurs and Duncan are like bread and butter and go together,
I guess I was right when I saw him wearing the Crazyquick, a power forward wearing a low to ground shoe meant for quick guards,
Two thumbs up to Tim Duncan!!
Unless 3D printing can introduce something really awesome in terms of performance, it will stay in the shadow for now, along with the fact I think price is also an issue.
In a close game, priority must be given to bringing down the ball 1st, so a very good ball handler is needed to avoid getting the ball stolen,
Next I guess is some motion offense,
Very seldom do I see people run pick and roll in pickup games, unless you guys been playing together for sometime.
Yeah he wore the Crazy Quick’s ALOT in his final years. They have great flexibility and are low to the ground, but almost no cushion for those old knees!
I can see the 3D printed midsoles coming along for fast prototypes for athletes, or trying new things and pushing boundaries without having to slog through a new manufacturing process, often overseas.
A well run motion can definitely lull a team to sleep and get an open shot after a few run throughs. If I’m not going for a Paul Pierce elbow step back….I like to feed my big man at the elbow, run to him for a hand off while the wings cut back door….but I play on a college campus so everyone knows each other well and is entirely basketball fluent.
The pick and roll is used so often that most teams stifle it very well unless you have shooters drawing the floor open.
3D printing hasn’t proved a purpose for many applications yet apart from prototyping like said. For shoes, maybe it can be ideal for outsole/midsole integration and interfacing, but current production methods have proven more than sufficient and are perhaps more efficient as a whole.
For shoes, there’s not really an ideal shape or geometry that’s impossible to achieve through molding. Pretty sure the Superfly Flyknit’s plate could’ve been done with molding but perhaps without the finish. The UA Archetype was a mere exercise on what could be done on a much more intricate level, but it doesn’t prove to do anything exceptional.