Although the Seattle Supersonics franchise moved to Oklahoma City back in 2008, the defunct squad is experiencing somewhat of a revitalization thanks to a handful of sneaker retros. Both Reebok and Nike will be digging into their archives this year to release two famous models from Seattle standouts Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.
The tandem of Kemp and Payton came close to winning an NBA Title in the '90s, but their attempts were thwarted mostly by a fellow sneaker icon from Chicago. However, they did manage to achieve a number of noteworthy milestones, including breaking and NBA record on January 15, 1997 against the Toronto Raptors. Eleven different Sonics players tallied steals that night, which made for a total of 27 in one game, a record that has yet to be matched.
While it's difficult to pinpoint exactly which sneakers Kemp and Payton wore during this record-setting game, it's right around the time they were donning what are perhaps their most infamous models: the Reebok Kamikaze II and the Nike Zoom Flight 98 (aka 'The Glove'), respectively. The good news for hoops fans is that both of these sneakers will be returning in 2013.
Reebok has slated the Kamikaze II for a mid-January release, officially hitting retailers this Thursday.
Meanwhile, Payton's Gloves don't yet have a definitive date, but are expected during the summer. Stay tuned for more details on the Zoom Flight 98.
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