Throwback Thursday - Nike Big Nike
Posted by Matt Halfhill | May 29, 2008 The Mid 80’s were big for Nike, and I mean really BIG! That being said it would only be appropriate to shine some light on one of the most overlooked shoes. Ironically, “Big” is this sneaker’s middle name - Nike Big Nike.
The Nike Big Nike was first introduced to the public alongside the Nike Dunk in 1985 for the 1985-86 basketball season. While the Dunks were part of the memorable “Be True” advertising campaign, the Nike Big Nike was endorsed by the NBA’s biggest player. By biggest, we mean literally. Standing at 7′7″, rookie Manute Bol stepped foot into the league wearing the Nike Big Nike and was featured in many Nike print ads for the sneaker. What Manute accomplished in the Big Nike is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. The towering rookie lead the league and set a record for the most blocks by a rookie with 397 blocks! His height and limb length made him more of a specialized player than anything since his 220lbs body was thrown around by the league’s big men in the paint. He is the only NBA player to block more shots than he has made and still holds the record for most blocks per minute in NBA history. The shoe is quite similar to the Dunk in the silhouette, but has a more aggressive look. The shoe has sharper lines and corners at the toe box, side panel, and read of the shoe. The big “NIKE” on the back let’s everyone know what brand of shoes you are wearing in case they missed the swoosh. Take a look after the jump and if you wouldn’t mind seeing these return, leave a note. Let’s be honest, shouldn’t the Dunk get a little bit of a break? |
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Nike Big Nike - Throwback Thursday
Manute Bol wearing Nike Big Nike (photo from Boston Globe)
May 29, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Oh My GOD!
Matt, seriously kid, where the hell are you getting these shoes in immaculate shape. I am beginning to wonder if you have a relative at Beaverton.
I FOR SURE would scoop these if Nike brought them back and released them only in varsity colors. The Nike Dunks have been WAY overdone, and honestly I like the look of this shoe more to be honest. The top of the shoe near the ankle looks more like the AJ1 than the Dunk high too.
Another great Thursday once again Nice Kicks!
May 29, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I have to be honest, I have never seen or heard of those shoes before. I know that throwback thursday has had some major heat, but this is a true true true throwback…something og, something not ever brought back, and something that few of us have probably ever seen or heard of.
oh yeah, count me in for a pair or two if they did these in team colors too. Though these are just 2 colors they look better to me than 2 color dunks.
May 29, 2008 at 10:49 pm
ya these massive heat…i would definiatly cop a pair…i like these orange and whites but id really like to see other colors in these….if they do realease hopefully the price tag on these isnt to massive!!
May 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Man I know you had to reach DEEP DOWN in your archives for these! I look forward to Throwback Thursday every Thursday. Thought you were running out of material on us though man.
May 29, 2008 at 10:55 pm
^ haha,
I still have some material in line, but its getting stretched thin. I may have to start vintage hunting again
I apologize for not having a throwback last week - was on the road all day between Austin and Houston.
May 29, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Classics
May 29, 2008 at 10:58 pm
these are pretty nice…but honestly when i saw the pic a little bigger i realized why they were never brought back..
the dunks have these on lock. good replacement though
May 29, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I’m friggin shocked! :0
May 29, 2008 at 11:13 pm
clean az fuzz
May 29, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Watch out for these in the SB line…
May 30, 2008 at 12:12 am
if nike dunks and terminators were combined, they would make this shoe. Also, this guy has the longest legs that i have ever seen. WTF!!!
May 30, 2008 at 12:23 am
Matt these are dope…
i know these would be a huge seller if retroed…
i wanna how how your shoes are in such condition, through all these years.
May 30, 2008 at 1:00 am
Man Matt you have a lot of shoes I’ve never seen!!!!
How many you got 200-300 or more!!!!!!
May 30, 2008 at 1:04 am
^ I have a few, but just ones that I REALLY like. My wife is started to get sick of the shoes though since I have them in virtually every room of the house.
Thanks for the comments everyone. This is one of my favorite pairs of shoes to never get retroed. I would go bizurk if Nike brought them back, but I would only want to see them brought back right in team colorways.
Thanks for the comments everyone - this is my favorite day of the week too
May 30, 2008 at 2:10 am
is it me or do these look like a high top court force kinda?
May 30, 2008 at 3:41 am
Wow! Those kicks are old school, for real! I never have seen comparison pics of Good Ol’ “Chocolate Chopsticks” vs normal-sized people. That dude is a skinny giant. Watching him play was always painful since that guy did not have any offensive game. That’s such a shame being he was so tall in the NBA. If memory serves correct, I believe he was a Sixer and played with the Chuckster. Manute really was a swattin’ machine.
May 30, 2008 at 5:08 am
i’m really feelin these. i would def cop if they were retroed in the right colorways. it’s like a AJ1/dunk/terminator.
May 30, 2008 at 6:50 am
bring them back nike.
May 30, 2008 at 6:54 am
these look great seeing as i have wide feet. where to cop if they arent released sorry i skimed thru the paragraph. nice post man love the shoes. oh yeah just got my first pair of jordans yesterday!
May 30, 2008 at 7:18 am
I agree with E-MAN, these look like a Terminator/Dunk combo. That last pic with Manute and the ref looks unreal. Good stuff.
May 30, 2008 at 7:45 am
BRING THESE BACK!!!
these should be retroed for ‘09
May 30, 2008 at 8:18 am
man these things are hot,,,no joke,,release them agian they will sale like hot cakes!
May 30, 2008 at 10:59 am
yo yo. theze look like jay 1s… thats all i can see.. were they released b4 or aftr?
May 30, 2008 at 11:01 am
oh… they were released the same year… they look just like jordan 1s cept toe cap n lace protector.
May 30, 2008 at 11:07 am
Wow! These really bring back memories…I played ball for Gauchos in NYC and the whole squad had these…needless to say that got wrecked! NIKE please bring these back!!!
May 30, 2008 at 11:56 am
dude looks like a giraffe and that bitty uniform ain’t helping! the sneaks are cool tho
May 30, 2008 at 12:05 pm
did you scoop these up on ebay? i swear me n you watch the same auctions
May 30, 2008 at 1:17 pm
This pair I did get on ebay, but I this was MONTHS ago. Recently there was a pair on there same color and same size.
May 30, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I Love em they should be retroed for sure. Then kinda of remind me of the Jordan I’s.
May 30, 2008 at 2:51 pm
dese kicks are tight
May 30, 2008 at 4:04 pm
these are HOTT!!! i think they should come back but keep the dunks too….i love em
May 30, 2008 at 4:08 pm
BRING BACK THE SKYLARKS FOR THROWBACK THURSDAY PLEASE!!! I BEG YOU!!
May 30, 2008 at 4:10 pm
these remind me of terminators more than anything. definitely a nice classic shoe.
May 30, 2008 at 7:37 pm
So that’s the name of those. There’s a picture of my dad at a family reunion with the exact same shoe. I thought they were Air Jordan Is (since he had like all of em), but he always said they were not. I wish he still had these.
THIS SCREAMS AIR JORDAN I.
May 30, 2008 at 8:55 pm
i would love to see these on shelves i want a pair i like these better than dunks i think these are nice i think i like them better than af1’s
May 30, 2008 at 8:56 pm
dunk x terminator x “nike air” AJ1
these are sweet, i would love to see them retroed, but u know nike would orverdo them like they have with every other retro, so they should let them be…
May 30, 2008 at 9:08 pm
look just like the jordan 1
May 30, 2008 at 10:11 pm
wow these r really nice id like 2 see them again
May 31, 2008 at 1:09 pm
WOW!
But yes, the Nike Dunk needs a serious hybernation from the sneaker world.
Jun 3, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Wow thats all i have to say.
these look like they just came off the production line.
Hey Matt
just wondering do you have anything within a size 10.5-12 range that is vintage?
Jun 3, 2008 at 9:18 pm
And yea the dunk deff. needs a Hugh break
im talking 3-5 year break come on.
lets just hope nike thinks about retroing these
Jun 4, 2008 at 10:44 am
These were my first b-ball sneakers (if not my first nikes)!!! day-umn!!! i had them in white/navy (or some type of blue). wow it’s crazy to see somebody remebering them. one love
Jun 4, 2008 at 10:46 am
BRING EM B A C K ! ! !
Jun 5, 2008 at 2:27 pm
yo of course these look like the first jordans, these are based off the dunks and the dunks were based straight off the first j’s
Jun 5, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Nice to see the evolution of these to what we have now…
Sep 23, 2008 at 10:56 pm
nke def needs to retro these joints!!1
Jan 26, 2009 at 10:05 pm
please bring back! these look FRESSHH!!!
Feb 13, 2009 at 6:02 am
man i need these. but like most ppl said, let them be, dont mess with them
Apr 19, 2009 at 10:06 am
Well they retroed them 4 Lady’s! I have a pair & I love them! Personally I think they’re better den dunks!
Apr 30, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Had a couple of pairs of these in the 80’s - both white with grey - best shoes I have ever had. Would LOVE to get a pair today.