Chapter 4

Demigod is also half human

When the Shox VC series started The fourth generation began to lower the price from the original 1,480 RMB to 990 RMB, and then Shox VC 5 became the swan song of the series. The fall of Carter’s signature shoes seemed to be as unexpected as his previous take-off. But even if he lands in the mortal world, he is still the omnipotent "demigod".

Among the Shox VC series and even all Shox basketball shoes, the most comfortable style I have ever worn is probably the Shox VC 4. For this sneaker, due to the price reduction and Carter’s own wearing demands, Nike gave up its radical approach of continuously pursuing visual impact in Shox technology, and instead returned to the previous Zoom Air combined with heel Shox, similar to Shox BB4 Properly configured.

And in the heel, the innovative 6-pillar structure also gives Shox VC 4 more personality and style than ordinary mid-to-high-end Shox basketball shoes. A sense of technology.

In addition to returning to simplicity in technology, Shox VC 4 also has considerable changes in design style. Aaron Cooper, who loves technology style, was transferred to Europe, and Tracy Teague took over the design of the Shox VC series. Compared with Aaron, Tracy's design is more restrained. Basketball shoes full of retro charm such as Air Force 25 and Zoom LeBron 6 are his masterpieces, and Shox VC 4 adopts a similar simple and classical route.

In addition to the changes in technology and design of sneakers, Carter himself also left the cold Toronto wearing Shox VC 4, and the New Jersey Nets became his In the new team, here, he, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson formed the famous "Trident" in the Eastern Conference. Jason Kidd, the old-school Flight hero, initiated the fast break, and the other two representatives of Flight in the Shox era completed the aerial attack. As a matter of fact, shots like this became a regular column in the top ten NBA games every week.

Although Shox VC 4’s “retreat to advance” strategy has given it a good reputation, it is obvious that Carter and his Shox VC The series is no longer the top brand that Nike relies on, and the appearance of Shox VC 5 is therefore particularly low-key.

While using the same combination of Zoom Air in the forefoot and 6-post Shox technology in the heel, Shox VC 5 uses AF, or Advance Fit. The inner cage structure, which was previously used on Steve Nash sneakers Zoom Drive AF, can greatly increase the comfort of the shoe body.

However, because Tracy Teague uses a non-adjustable elastic band on the upper of the Shox VC 5, it is not suitable for many people with relatively high feet. For Asian consumers, the comfort of Shox VC 5 is slightly affected by the strong pressure on the top of the foot.

Interestingly, Shox VC 5 is also produced by Tracy Teague, but Shox VC 5 seems to emphasize more modern design than its predecessor. The interlacing of the lines makes it far more aggressive than the heavy sword without edge Shox VC 4. In addition to Carter himself, Joe Johnson is also a loyal believer in Shox VC 5. He even wore the national team's Shox VC 5 to the 2006 Osaka Men's Basketball World Championships. Unfortunately, Shox VC 5 ended up being the swan song of the Shox VC series, as many rumors at the time had said.

In 2006, amid rumors that the Shox VC series would be terminated, a pair of shoes with the VC personal logo, and the use of Zoom Air and 4-post Shox The sneakers were launched in a low-key manner, and the price was further reduced from 990 yuan to 930 yuan. Even before it was launched, some domestic media exposed spy photos of it under the name Shox VC 6. But for countless Carter shoe fans, the final reality is cruel - Shox Leapers, the name undoubtedly declares that Shox VC 6 will no longer exist.

Perhaps out of reminiscence of past glory, or perhaps out of the dignity that a superstar should have, Carter is actually very concerned about this pair. He was not keen on Team Shox sneakers, which were quite advanced in terms of design and technology. In that year's competition, he still wore Shox VC 5 in most games.

2007 All-Star version of Shox Testify "Shawn Marion" PE

In addition to Shox Leapers, later releases Shox Testify is in a similar situation - traditional technology configuration, simple shape, mid-range pricing, and of course the VC's personal logo. In addition to Carter, Nike also launched other player colors with the personal logos of second-tier Flight family stars such as Andre Iguodala during the same period.

In early 2007, Nike launched the Shox Spotlight, the famous basketball shoe with built-in Shox. With the main focus on outfield durability, the designer wrapped the six pillars at the heel of this Shox sneaker with translucent rubber to form a built-in effect similar to a visible air cushion. The actual performance is no different from the exposed structure of traditional Shox. . Coupled with the Zoom Air in the forefoot, Shox Spotlight returns to the configuration of Shox VC 4 and 5 in terms of technology.

In terms of styling, Shox Spotlight has an extremely rough and retro design, which is exactly the same as the Air Force 25 of the same period. . Perhaps influenced by this unique pair of built-in Shox sneakers, Carter finally replaced his Shox VC 5. Accompanied by the Shox Spotlight, he went to the 2007 All-Star Game. It was his eighth All-Star selection. It is also the last time...

At this point in the article, Carter has truly begun to fall from the sky to the earth, and his Shox VC sneakers have become a thing of the past. But a great hero will never be knocked down easily. All he needs is to change a way or angle of victory, or just a new pair of sneakers...

Saying goodbye to the Shox Spotlight and the All-Star halo, Vince Carter, who has just turned 30, seems to have prematurely begun his fall from the sky to the earth.

"His style of play when he was young was too harmful to the body",

"The career of a dunker is so short",

"He might Retire at the age of thirty-three or four"...

The harsh media and fans who follow the trend are no longer optimistic about this game. A former All-Star voting king and a national idol in the post-MJ era. Similarly, his career in sneakers has also become homeless due to the decline in commercial value...

At that time, no one thought that we would see him wearing Shox again today, more than ten years later. Sneakers, spread your wings and fly.

Chapter 5 The Final Stubbornness

In a way, Carter is Shox, and Shox is Carter. From the moment they soar into the sky, the fate of the two has been tied together.

When one is prosperous, both are prosperous; when one is lost, both are harmed.

In 2006, Nike launched the Elite TB series in the basketball shoe category. The designer replaced the midsole technology with different midsole technologies without changing the upper. Let sneakers achieve different performance effects. This sounds quite similar to the "top sole" popular in the field of sneakers today, but it is actually more sincere. After all, the development cost of the sole is much higher than that of making a new upper, and its Huarache upper has indeed become a practical pioneer on the field after being equipped with different technologies such as Zoom Air, Shox, and Max Air.

In 2007, in the second year of the Elite TB project, Vince Carter, who had lost his signature shoes, put on the model equipped with forefoot Zoom Air and heel The four-column Shox Elite 2 TB - pragmatic, pure and low-key, seems to represent Carter's state of mind at this time.

In the 2008-09 season, Nike released another pair with the VC logo after Shox Leapers and Shox Testify. Shox team shoes, Shox Gamer. The sharp-edged shape makes people vaguely see the shadow of the former Shox VC series, and the buzzer-beating buzzer beater of his old club also proved that Vince Carter’s peak moment is far from over.

In the summer of 2009, Carter was traded to the Magic, the Eastern Conference champion last season. The latter hoped to use Carter, who was still in great condition, to match Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and other star players on the team achieved a championship impact. But in the end, star Dwight Howard's slow growth and head coach Stan Van Gundy's pampering of Jameer Nelson made it difficult for Carter to find his place in the team's chaotic tactical system.

And during this year, the sneakers under his feet, Shox Vision, just like Carter's short career in Orlando, did not leave too much impression on people. What a wonderful thing to remember. But no one thought that it would kick off the return of Shox basketball shoes to our field of vision many years later...

In the Magic After more than one less-than-successful season, Carter was traded to faraway Phoenix, joining a Western Conference team for the first time in his career. Although he did not achieve any outstanding results with the Suns, perhaps the "miraculous doctor" showed up. Carter at least gained the "health" that he had lost for a long time in his career at the American West Arena.

During this season, Carter's shoes have also undergone considerable changes. During the last period of time with the Magic, Carter wore a sneaker called Shox BB Pro. From the name, we can obviously see that it may have some relationship with the classic shoe Shox BB4. In fact, it While adopting a new upper, the outsole of Shox BB4 is completely grafted. Unfortunately, at this time, neither Carter nor Shox have the same influence as 10 years ago.

After moving to the Suns, maybe it was out of personal preference, or maybe Nike also realized that Shox sneakers were at the end of the road. In short, Carter I took off the Shox and put on a pair of mediocre but much more stable Air Max Hyperdunk 2010.

In the early days of the Hyperdunk family, Nike would launch its derivative models equipped with full-length Max Air every year to satisfy insider players and large cushions. The needs of enthusiasts - but Carter is not a big guy and has rarely worn large cushions before, so obviously this is his compromise...

Compromise on business and injury Pain, time,

But he never compromised on fate.

Chapter 6

The Gentle Rebel

If you succumb to fate, maybe this time Carter, like most veterans who have suffered from injuries, declining statistics, but have a glorious past, will take a basic salary to wander around for a ring, and slowly leave people's sight...

But Carter is not like that. He traveled to Dallas, Memphis, and Sacramento just to find the fun of basketball, to prove that he can still be the protagonist on the court, and even to prove that Shox basketball shoes are Dignity once lost.

On the other side of Carter's gentle nature is his determination to never give in to his fate.

At the end of 2011, Carter signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks with a starting salary of $3 million, starting a new season. journey.

In terms of sneakers, Nike Air Max Hyperdunk 2011 has naturally replaced Nike Air Max Hyperdunk 2010 and become Carter's new favorite. This is also the Hyperdunk family. , the last large-cushion shoe model starting from Hypermax, Air Max Hyperize, etc.

In addition to Air Max Hyperdunk 2011, Carter also wore Hyperfuse 2011 in a few games this season. Since the first product was launched in 2010, Hyperfuse It became a team shoe with a slightly lower positioning than Hyperdunk. However, the relatively conservative technology and the emergence of other series made it terminated by Nike after 2014.

As the overall age of the team increases, both Carter and another veteran of the team, Dirk Nowitzki, have gradually lost their ability to stand alone. Although they can still occasionally shine on the court with their skills, experience and determination, in more and more confrontations, the Mavericks' veterans have gradually become somewhat powerless.

While he is getting further and further away from the championship, Carter has become more and more rigid in the choice of sneakers. Various large-cushioned sneakers with excellent protection have become his Constant choice. During the 2012-13 season, Carter wore two Max Air sneakers, the Air Max Hyperposite and the Air Max Hyperaggressor.

The former can be understood as the successor of the Air Max Hyperdunk series in terms of positioning. In addition to the full-length Air cushion, Foam foam material is introduced to create a more high-end upper effect, and the Air Max Hyperaggressor is a mid-to-low-end Team sneaker that is so low-key that it is easy to be ignored. In addition to the small Max Air in the heel, the shoes Overall there aren't many selling points.

In the 2014 playoffs, in Carter's final journey with the Mavericks, although he did not lead the team further, he still made it in the season. The zero-degree angle three-pointer when facing the Spurs in the latter game was enough for him to bid farewell to his Dallas years with his head held high. However, it is a pity that as one of the most classic moments in the late career of Carter, this shot was missing a pair of classic sneakers.

Throughout the 2013-14 season, Air Max Body U became the most photographed shoe on Carter's feet. In terms of positioning, Air Max Body U can be regarded as the continuation of Air Max Hyperaggressor. It has solid practical performance and lacks bright design. It is almost silently put on and off the shelves. Apart from veterans and newcomers, there are only newcomers in the endorsement lineup. A capable second-tier star like Zach Randolph who can't sell a few pairs of shoes...

In the summer of 2014, Carter was not as many people imagined. , joined a certain championship team as a "championship puzzle", but signed with the Grizzlies with a three-year, 12 million contract. Although the Grizzlies are good, they are obviously not candidates for the championship. Carter still Following his happy-go-lucky heart but refusing to follow the crowd.

In his first year with the Grizzlies, another pair of mid-range Team sneakers that seemed a little too low-key became Carter’s choice, the Air Max Premiere, even for the most fanatical Carter. Fans or Nike shoe fans may have a hard time remembering this name today...

In the 2015-16 season, Carter joined the Grizzlies. In the team's second season, although the team's results were only mediocre, Carter's sneakers finally bid farewell to the lifelessness of the previous years this season and began to make some interesting attempts.

In most games this season, Carter’s shoes are still the regular Air Max Premiere, but from the end of 2015 to the beginning of 2016, in conjunction with the team’s retro team In some games on the server, Carter has chosen the all-red Trey 5 III and Shox Gamer. The latter's return to the game can't help but recall Carter's most classic back dunk during his time with the Nets.

In his final season with the Grizzlies, the Air Max Audacity 2016 became Carter’s main shoe. In the context of Nike's focus on lightweight performance, large-cushion basketball shoes have gradually declined in recent years. Once Nike's ace family, now only the Audacity series is left to support the mid-to-high-end market.

However, it was during the period when Air Max technology was at a trough in basketball shoes that the rise of Anthony Davis allowed people to see large-cushion basketballs in the dark. shoes for a bright future. But watching Carter turn back time again wearing Air Max Audacity 2016, we can't help but wonder, where is the future of Shox?

In the summer of 2017, Carter, whose contract with the Grizzlies expired, was once again faced with the choice of retiring or pursuing a championship ring at the end of his career, or Still flying as you have for nearly 20 years? This time, Carter once again chose the least utilitarian option, signing with the Kings for 8 million a year. He is like an elegant and perfect dancer, focusing only on owning his own piece of sky.

After the start of the season, Air Max Dominate has become Carter's regular shoe. It is worth mentioning that even after bidding farewell to Shox, Carter still enjoys the popularity of large-cushion sneakers. Exclusive PE treatment, such as on the Air Max Dominate and many previous Max Air sneakers under his feet, you can see VC's personal logo and the abbreviation of his daughter Michelle Kai Carter's name.

In addition, he has also switched to React Hyperdunk 2017 in a handful of games. And when Carter wore Shox Vision back in training and games, a pair of Shox shoes that were not very successful at the time, we didn't realize that the real craziness was about to come.

On February 23, 2018, during the Kings’ game against the Thunder, Carter wore his classic signature shoes Shox VC 4, although Carter was no longer wearing them at this time. He was a superstar who had everything he wanted in the skies of New Jersey. This pair of "stock" sneakers did not last the entire game and unfortunately came apart, but the emotion behind it was enough to awaken our feelings for Carter and Shox sneakers that had been dormant for many years.

Prior to that, foreign media had indeed revealed that Carter had suggested to Nike to re-engrave Shox VC series signature shoes. material".

No one will doubt the authenticity of this news, because too many people are still immersed in the dream of flying created by Carter. Moreover, for Vince Carter, the greatest dunker in history, his final destination is the sky. Why should the "demigod" worry about where he will end up in the mortal world?

Chapter 7

Imperfection

is

Perfection

In addition to wearing Shox VC 4 in the game, Vince Carter also wore another Shox old shoe endorsed by him during the Kings, Shox Vision.

Old shoes have appeared one after another, and Carter himself revealed to the media that he was discussing with Nike about re-engraving sneakers, making everyone look forward to those "demigods" Shox sneakers can make their comeback as soon as possible.

And, on April 1, 2018, when the Kings lost 96-112 to the Warriors at home, Carter completed the 1,400th game of his career.

On July 26, 2018, Vince Carter signed a one-year contract with the Eagles at the veteran's minimum salary and began his new wandering.

It can be said that signing with the young Eagles instead of joining a playoff team or even a championship team when the competitive state is still good reflects Carter's calm and relaxed character of enjoying the game. On October 18, 2018, he started the game between the Hawks and the Knicks and scored 12 points and 2 rebounds, becoming the second oldest starter in the opening game in NBA history after Robert Parish.

After joining the Eagles, the sneakers under Carter's feet are also full of highlights. For example, in the game against the Hornets on November 7, he wore the Shox Spotlight, which was born in 2007 and accompanied him on the last All-Star trip of his career. It seems now that this pair of built-in Shox sneakers still has many design highlights. Moreover, Shox Spotlight and Shox Spotlight Low, which were released at the same time that year, are also the only basketball shoes with built-in Shox in the history of basketball shoes.

Of course, although Shox Spotlight is of great significance, neither the weight of the product itself nor its compatibility with Carter himself is enough to represent Vince Carter's legendary career. And on November 12, 2018, before the game between the Eagles and the Lakers, he finally put on the pair that best represented his peak moments and the classic product of flying, Shox BB4.

Unlike the previous "returns" of sneakers such as Shox VC 4 and Shox Spotlight, Carter's return to Shox BB4 is by no means a whim of his, but represents that this The pair of revolutionary pieces that completely changed the history of basketball shoes in 2000 are about to return.

And in the games after the game against the Lakers, Carter has been wearing Shox BB4. This is a preview of the return of the classic, and it is also Reunion with one’s own youth.

In addition to the regular color matching, Carter also wore special versions with Raptors dragon claw elements during that season. Although he has left the Raptors for more than ten years, the names he used to be called by fans such as "Canadian Air Force", "UFO" and "New Flyer" have resurfaced in everyone's minds with the appearance of these sneakers. .

Moreover, Carter was still very skilled at this time. Although due to age, his playing time has decreased compared with his youth, but in the limited playing time, his elegant His skills and the occasional display of his glorious days in the air can still make fans forget the passage of time for a moment.

As the most famous Sneakerhead among today’s NBA players, P.J. Tucker’s love for sneakers is well known. In the 2018-19 season, he specially wore a pair of sneakers. The first edition of Shox BB4 pays tribute to Carter, a legendary superstar who is over 40 years old, and invites VC to sign the sneakers after the game between the two sides.

On September 21, 2019, the Eagles officially announced that the team officially completed the contract extension with 42-year-old Vince Carter. And this season will also be the "last dance" of Carter's career. Of course, from the Raptors to the Nets, to the Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Kings, and finally the Hawks, Carter left his footprints in too many places, but after drifting, he was able to wear his best clothes. It is also a kind of completion that the beloved sneakers have completed their curtain call.

In the summer of 2019, Nike officially re-engraved Shox BB4. This is also the third re-engraving of Shox BB4 in history. While many classic colors have returned, Carter has also put a number of bright PE colors on the court, which seems to show that Shox BB4 can still be as dazzling as it was 20 years after its birth.

Will this goal be the last time Carter scores in his 22-year career?

At this moment, I really can’t tell whether I don’t want this to happen, or I hope it will happen

Regardless of whether the 15 games that still exist in theory exist, Vince Carter, the greatest sky artist in NBA history, the popular king who saved the league's ratings in the post-Jordan era, and the former top basketball spokesperson for the Nike brand, has all reached the end of his career.

Perhaps, this is not a beautiful and warm farewell as people originally expected, but the chaotic and hasty ending will not affect his greatness at all.

Waving is a farewell and the beginning of the next reunion. I hope that in the near future, Carter can continue his love for basketball and our admiration for him in other capacities. I also hope that those equally gorgeous Shox VC series will even There are also PUMA and AND1 sneakers that will meet us again in the near future, for Carter and for the memory that belongs to the sky.