The 10 Best Non-Jordan Performances in the Air Jordan XIII

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RELATED: The 10 Best Non-Jordan Performances in the Air Jordan XII
RELATED: The 10 Best Non-Jordan Performances in the Air Jordan XIV

Doug Sibor contributes to Sneaker Report, Complex Media, and Bleacher Report, and can often be found shuttling between Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and TD Garden. If you wish to discuss sports, sneakers, reality TV or acceptable meats to use as pizza toppings, follow him here.

1.

Gerald Wallace Charlotte Bobcats Air Jordan XIII

No. 10 - Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats

Stats: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Game: 1/26/2011 vs. Phoenix Suns

Gerald Wallace is at his best when he can use his tremendous strength to get to the rim, and on this night he had no problem cutting to the basket all night against the lankier Grant Hill. Hill was unsuccessful in his attempts at keeping Wallace away from the rim as the Bobcats’ swingman shot a very efficient 8-for-13 from the field, with a number of those shots coming at close range. Wallace was also able to corral four offensive rebounds as well, tied for the most of anyone on either team.

2.

Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets Air Jordan XIII

No. 9 - Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

Stats: 36 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 blocks
Game: 4/19/2005 vs. Portland Trailblazers

On the last night of the regular season, the Nuggets wanted to enter the playoffs on a good note. It took a remarkable effort from Carmelo Anthony to get it done, who rallied his team from a 14-point halftime deficit due in part to his Air Jordan XIII. Melo hit a barrage of midrange jumpers from all spots on the court, keeping Denver in the game as until his teammates could rally and aid the cause. And rally they did, as they stormed back with a 34-point third quarter to take the lead and then held on through the fourth quarter for a four-point win.

3.

Nate Robinson Chicago Bulls Air Jordan XIII

No. 8 - Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls

Stats: 35 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Game: 4/11/2013 vs. New York Knicks

Nate Robinson has bounced all over the NBA during his career, but he may just have found a home in Chicago and the undersized, springy point guard is an ideal fit for the Air Jordan XIII. In this late season game against the Knicks, Robinson was on fire against his former team as he led the Bulls to an overtime victory against the Knicks by rising up at the rim and both converting a couple easy baskets as well as getting to the free throw line.

4.

Jason Kidd New Jersey Nets Air Jordan XIII

No. 7 - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets

Stats: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists
Game: 2/7/2005 vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Kidd managed to record his 62nd career triple-double on this night—logging a game-high 49 minutes through the overtime. The point guard was able to both facilitate for his teammates (Vince Carter scored his 10,000th career point in this game) while simultaneously piling up impressive numbers for himself, a staple of his Hall of Fame career.

5.

06_anthony-1 copy

No. 6 - Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

Stats: 31 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Game: 2/27/2005 vs. New Orleans Hornets

The Nuggets were scuffling all night, badly in need of a spark as they trailed by 11with 10 minutes to go. Carmelo Anthony rallied his team, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter alone to bring the Nuggets all the way back for a tough road win. Melo repeatedly took the ball to the basket, getting to the line 10 times alone during the fourth quarter and making every single free throw he attempted.

6.

Jake Shuttlesworth Denzel Washington He Got Game Air Jordan XIII

No. 5 - Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington)

Stats: 5 points
Game: 5/1/1998 vs. Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen)

The fact that a has-been old man like Jake Shuttlesworth (who has been in prison for at least five years) can hang with a top-tier college prospect like his son Jesus is simply remarkable. Jake’s back-to-basket, drag out game helped as he battled his much more spry offspring. While Jake did lose the game by a healthy margin in this dramatic battle from He Got Game, it’s remarkable that he was even able to score at all given the vast differences in age, fitness and height.

7.

Jason Kidd New Jersey Nets Air Jordan XIII

No. 4 - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets

Stats: 28 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists
Game: 4/7/2005 vs. New York Knicks

The Nets were no longer the dominant force they had been a few seasons earlier when they made consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, but that didn’t mean that Jason Kidd was going to allow them to fall out of the playoffs entirely. Leading the charge in his Air Jordan XIII, Kidd notched career triple-double No. 66 as he led the Nets to a crucial win at home over the rival Knicks. The shifty Kidd shook defenders and knocked down key shots to seal the win after the Knicks had cut a 27 point third quarter Net lead all the way down to seven.

8.

Bootsy Thornton St. John's Air Jordan XIII

No. 3 - Bootsy Thornton, St. John's Red Storm

Stats: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
Game: 3/11/2000 vs. University of Connecticut Huskies

Thornton was a vital member of the St. John’s team during his time in New York, scoring points in bunches for a Red Storm unit that shocked the Big East when it won the conference tournament in 2000. Thornton was at the center of it all, hitting a flurry three-pointers and leading his team in scoring in the championship game against UConn. For his outstanding effort all tournament long, the shooting guard was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

9.

Nate Robinson Chicago Bulls Air Jordan XIII

No. 2 - Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls

Stats: 34 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steals
Game: 4/27/2013 vs. Brooklyn Nets

Playing without star point guard Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls were expected to be easy fodder for the Brooklyn Nets in round one of the playoffs. Nate Robinson decided that wasn’t going to happen, as the diminutive point guard exploded for 34 points off the bench to lead his team a triple-overtime win. He ripped off 12 consecutive points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls made a late 14-0 run to tie the game. His inspired play helped the Bulls to a nearly-insurmountable 3-1 series lead, and set the tone for the rest of the series.

10.

Ray Allen Boston Celtics Air Jordan XIII

No. 1 - Ray Allen, Boston Celtics

Stats: 20 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Game: 2/10/2011 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

It will be just one shot for which this game is remembered. Ray Allen wore the Air Jordan XIII to bury the 2561st three-pointer of his career about 10 minutes into the first quarter, setting the all-time record. It’s a record that will be difficult to break, given the incredible consistency and high level Allen has maintained throughout his entire 17-year (and counting) NBA career. Ray even added one more for good measure in the fourth quarter, but it would not be enough on this night as the Celtics fell to the Lakers.

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