Today in Performance Sneaker History: David Robinson Scores 50 Points for Navy in Converse Star Tech

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

During his days in the NBA, David Robinson was one of the most intimidating figures in the paint. The 7'1" center had one of the most successful pro careers of all time, playing with the San Antonio Spurs from 1989-2003. The Admiral is a two time NBA Champion and won the MVP award in 1995. But years before being selected first overall by the Spurs in the 1987 NBA Draft, David Robinson was making waves at the Naval Academy.

On March 12, 1987, Navy faced Michigan and fell short with a final score of 97-82. However, David Robinson's offensive performance would be etched into Navy record books forever. Shooting 22-37, Robinson had a total of 50 points on the night along with 13 rebounds. It was stellar showings like this that impressed San Antonio and led to one of the most successful NBA franchises of the last two decades.

At the time, Converse had a strong place in the basketball footwear world. David Robinson chose the Converse Star Tech, which was a high-top model endorsed by pros like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Julius Erving. The classic style was re-released in 2011, but has since become difficult to track down.

RELATED: The 50 Most Influential Sneaker Sponsorships in Sports History

RELATED:
The Sneakers Worn for the 50 Best Basketball Performances in NCAA History