So if you didn’t hear, NBA All-Star weekend is marking the return of the modern H.O.R.S.E. competition. Well actually it’s called the Degree “Battle of the Game Changers” featuring Stephen Curry and John Wall. Wait, what?!? We all get the corporate naming, the last H.O.R.S.E. contest was actually named G.E.I.C.O., but only having two guys in it is sorta blasphemous and disrespectful to the reigning two-time champ Kevin Durant.
So let’s revisit the Durantula’s championship kicks. In 2009 Durant’s competition was O.J. Mayo and Joe Johnson playing in an outdoor half court setup. Rocking his signature Nike KD 1 that year, the competition was honestly lackluster. What we got out of it is that these guys didn’t really practice trick shots and KD should have been in the regular All-Star game that year. His bright orange kicks for All-Star weekend were really the star, well and the H.O.R.S.E. trophy also (if this happened today he award would have it’s own Twitter account).
In 2010, Durant was voted into the actual All-Star game but he still had time in his busy schedule to defend his title in G.E.I.C.O. H.O.R.S.E. as well as be an assistant in the Rookie/Sophomore game. This year Nike laced him up with different pairs of the KD II for H.O.R.S.E. and the actual game. His pair for was actually a special P.E. pair with the upper in 3M and prancing horse on the tongue.
Besides the fact that he should be defending his title, KD should be in this years competition so we can see some sweet P.E.’s for the contest. Well here’s to hoping Under Armour and adidas lace up Curry and Wall appropriately. Maybe Harden will make a guest appearance.
Nick Engvall
Aaron Nojima