Which NBA Star Deserves a Signature Sneaker?

As the years go on in the NBA, more and more promising talents become bonafide basketball superstars. But as talented and as world-beating as some players may end up becoming, not all of them end up winning championships. However, in a world where sports stars are celebrities in their own right, sometimes the only sign an NBA player needs to know he's made it is to have a shoe to call his own.

In terms of the bigger sportswear brands, the landscape of signature athletes remained relatively unchanged for a good amount of time. However, shifts were already being seen during the tail end of last year. John Wall (though previously a signature athlete with Reebok) dropped his first signature under Adidas last October. Kyrie Irving was officially added to the Nike Basketball family of signature athletes when his first shoe released this earlier this month. Forthcoming signatures from Damian Lillard (Adidas) and Stephen Curry (Under Armour) are dropping very soon as well.

While the present may be a great time for signature shoes, the fact remains that athletes with their own signature lines possess a mix of stellar on-court performance and marketability. With that in mind let's look at some NBA talents who seem fit to eventually carry their own brands.

The Sneaker Colorway That Should Go Away in 2015

I've always found it interesting how sneaker culture puts a premium on colorways and the stories they tell. I think it's great how a simple combination of colors can reference a country, a moment in history, or something in the ever-changing world of popular culture. However, like any story, a colorway done way too many times loses its impact every time a new shoe bearing the same hues comes out. Don't get me wrong. There a few colorways out there that are timeless. But at the same time, there are few that were better off as a one-and-done. And with that in mind, the color scheme I want to see gone this year is the "Red October"/Tonal Red look.

When an all-red version of Kanye West's second shoe with Nike dropped out of the blue last year, the internet went crazy. The hype was at its usual levels but it soon reached fever pitch when Nike released them online without any prior warning. Lucky sneakerheads picked them up, while thousands of Kanye Stans were left salty and bitter. Since then, Nike and other brands have tried to recapture that lightning in a bottle moment by pumping out sneakers in tonal red colors. And with the lines between streetwear and high fashion almost nonexistent at this point, even luxury footwear brands got in on the action as well.

It's gotten to a point where almost every wannabe sneaker designer throws the colorway up on a pair of customs. Sadly, with news of an all-red Foamposite and a "Red October" SB Dunk in the works for this year, it looks like this trend is going to suffer a long, drawn out death.

The Sneaker I Want to See Less of in 2015

When a sneaker becomes popular, you can expect the brand behind the model to pump out colorway after colorway until the shoe gets run into the ground. Those in the know have seen it happen dozens of times before with tons of sneakers. With the spirit of Christmas in full swing, I might as well take some time out to write a little sneaker-related Christmas wish, and that's to see less of the Nike Roshe Run in 2015.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Roshe Run and what it stands for - an affordable, comfortable lifestyle runner. It slowly gained traction after a quiet initial release a couple of years ago, but after countless colorways and material change-ups, I'm left with thinking the Roshe has run its course. If it's as much a modern classic as what myself and other bloggers and writers in the sneaker community love to hail the Roshe Run as, then it should be treated as one. Instead of new colors season after season, it would be nice to see one or two "essential" looks available all year round. When you only have a couple of colorways in the market, there's less model fatigue, and it gives Roshe collectors more incentive to hold on to their shoes.

What shoe would you like to see less of next year? Let me know in the comments section!