The sneaker that helped cement Vince Carter’s legacy is making a comeback.
The year 2000 was all about Vinsanity. Vince Carter was in his third NBA season and redefining what a dunk meant. That year, he would cement himself as the face of the legendary move.
Known for his explosiveness and athleticism, Carter was one of the brightest young stars in the NBA. Come the All-Star break, he would seal his fate as the king of the dunk by winning the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest. Yes, the famous performance, where he left Steve Francis and his cousin Tracy McGrady in the dust with his acrobatic displays. If you didn’t know Vince Carter then, that ASW changed everything. But that was only the beginning.
The Summer after that NBA season, Carter would have the honor of representing Team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This was a massive moment for Carter, who finished that season with the Raptors averaging 27.6 points a game. Between winning the most exciting Dunk Contest of all time and leading the Raptors to their first-ever playoff series victory, Carter was becoming one of the league’s brightest stars. That success carried over to that Summer in Sydney, as well.
On the path to Gold, Carter averaged a team-leading 14.8 points a game. He was the most reliable scorer on a team loaded with NBA Superstars. Of course, the most memorable moment of the Summer came when Carter posterized French center Frédéric Weis. The moment exemplified Carter’s game and became one of the most iconic photos in basketball history. He did this all while wearing his signature shoe.
Designed by Bruce Kilgore, the Nike Shox BB4 arrived during the infancy of the Nike Shox line. In truth, the sneaker fit Carter’s explosive game, making it one of the best signature shoes on the market. The BB4 saw Carter continue his reign as a human highlight reel. It also saw Carter win the biggest accolade of his career: the Gold Medal in Men’s Basketball at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
The BB4’s legacy is built on Carter’s epic performances, yes. It is also built on the fact that it is an encapsulation of an era for Nike. Not only because of its use of Shox technology, but because of the colorways and the classic high-top look. All in all, it was the perfect sneaker for Vince Carter to achieve these extraordinary feats of basketball.
The Nike Shox BB4 returns this weekend on August 28th via SNKRS and participating retailers like JD Sports.
