Posted by Matt Halfhill | Oct 16, 2008
1989 was a defining moment in Nike Basketball. The division set out to design models specific for two kind of players on the court The forceful big men got the sturdy and solid Force shoes while the quick moving, high flying players prepared for Flight.
There were many great sneakers from this time both on the Force and Flight side of the line, but one that always stood out and caught my eye was the Nike Air Force STS. Maybe it was the super high cut, or the gigantic tongue logo, or maybe it was the elephant print on the side of the kicks - whatever it was, I was hooked.
Lately Nike has been reissuing many basketball sneakers from this era, but somehow, despite the presence of elephant print, this is another model that has been overlooked. For those who were wondering (and taking notes) this is yet another shoe worn by David Robinson not to return. The Admiral laced up in the Air Force STS in his rookie year in San Antonio.
Speak for yourself, would you like to see the Air Force STS return? |

Nike Air Force STS

Nike Air Force STS

Nike Air Force STS

Nike Air Force STS

Nike Air Force STS

Nike Air Force STS

David Robinson wearing Nike Air Force STS
Oct 16, 2008 at 10:52 pm
dammnnn these are …juss daammmn. wish i cud get mah feet in these
Oct 16, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Matt, what’s with Throwback Thursday coming in at midnight on Friday AM
INSANE pair! I have always loved the STS and yes, the elephant print makes me extra horny for them. They are bringing back the ultra force this fall right? The STS pwns all of the Force kicks from 1989 if you ask me, but I am still waiting to see the Air Force V.
LONG LIVE THE HIGH TOPS!
Oct 16, 2008 at 10:54 pm
these are clean though…
Oct 16, 2008 at 10:59 pm
speechless. dammit Thursday is the best day of the week, I swear. Nike bring these back and I will buy for sure!
Oct 16, 2008 at 11:00 pm
ridiculous! I love how Throwback Thursday always shows something that I ain’t never seen!
And yes, if these came back I would cop. That elephant print is a sick touch to the kicks.
Oct 16, 2008 at 11:19 pm
For me it was the combination of the high cut and elephant print.I wont be surprise if nike retro these but i prefer Nike air command Force anyday of the week -Nike, how long are you guys going to make me wait? i have been waiting for 17 years.
Oct 16, 2008 at 11:35 pm
damn…. those are beautiful.
Oct 17, 2008 at 12:48 am
DAVID ROBINSON WORE THESE, RIGHT? NICE…!
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:40 am
thes r splendid!
they are mine.
but how much it would be?
http://www.fakesite.com is much cheaper i think.
Edited by Nice Kicks
No asswipe, these are actually mine. Go push your cart somewhere else…
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:41 am
Man…I gotta stop looking at pictures before I even read the title next ot it; for a split second I thought those were being retroed or something…
Oct 17, 2008 at 2:03 am
ey man i love the throwback thursday!
they look sick, if nike bring these Babys Back def cop
Oct 17, 2008 at 2:44 am
played my high school ball in these classics.
Oct 17, 2008 at 4:25 am
YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 5:11 am
they koo if i was a big man
Oct 17, 2008 at 5:37 am
These are just straight up a defenite classic. Would definitely would cop if it was retroed
Oct 17, 2008 at 5:43 am
OMFG those are beautiful……utter perfection…..
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:24 am
#8
David Robinson wore the command force (nikes version of the pump)
but the silhouettes are super similar
some one correct me if I’m wrong
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:47 am
beau teee full
Oct 17, 2008 at 7:16 am
Elephant print is killin it…for all you throwback fiends…I got a pair of Air Force III box fresh pair dead stock low top white with blue and black accents released May ‘06 joints are absolute dead stock authentics i’ll send pics for serious buyers leave a comment to let me know
Oct 17, 2008 at 7:30 am
too bad I was born in 92 id much rather have these on my toes than any of these new Jordan’s if these were retroed id get’em and get orange laces it would just set these off
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:09 am
Yeah these and the Revolutions, were the beginning of the Nike Revolution…period.
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:15 am
tough.
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:33 am
they look better than the Yeezy crap kanye’s gay ass wears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:45 am
these are hot but some things should not be retro’d…
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:56 am
sick…syracuse orange hoodie…ahhh those were the days….
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:58 am
@allenbee
that website sells fake shoes boy. I hope u didnt make a purchase from that site they selling fake everything on there boy. U people on here buy fake jordans and trying to tell other people to do the same, NO THANK U BOY!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 9:46 am
these are awsome
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:18 am
SUPERFresh!!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:24 am
BRING BACK THE COMMAND FORCE PUMPS AND THE FORCE 180 HIGH PUMPS!!! WHY HAS NIKE NOT RETRO’D 2 OF THEIR BEST SHOES EVER? GET A CLUE NIKE! WE’VE BEEN ASKIN FOR WAY 2 LONG!!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:52 am
To answer your question oldjumpman, yes, David Robinson did wear these shoes. Something ruffin of NikeTalk schooled me on was that these are the unofficial Air Force IV.
Oct 17, 2008 at 10:57 am
yeah i’ve been screaming for these forces since i rocked em when i was around 10yrs old. They have always been one of my favorites. Like ol boy above me said, bring back the command force pumps, i had those too, but i traded them in when they ripped out on me.
memories
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:03 am
I actually did some digging and found this photo saved on my hd. By the way, he wore these in his rookie year.
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:13 am
love the rolled up socks. looks like they are wool
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:44 am
fonhubhfibhbvgdjiyvgfudvfuvju
I found that was the most intelligent response I could give I need these in my life
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:49 am
Straight Crack! I’d LOVE to see these come back. The colorway posted here, the one D. Robinson is rocking in that picture, and one with some green in it would all make my life just a little bit better.
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:54 am
I loved the way Jordan and D Robinson used to rock their socks. I would copy both (different)styles on the court back in the day…
Oct 17, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Man these are clean i will rock these real talk.
Oct 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm
These are clean i will rock these real talk i love em.
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Those socks are killing me…lol…gotta love the 90’s main!
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I would love to see these come back, that was back when Nike actually HAD some flavor.
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Man these bring back memeories I had these in white and grey and they were comfortable as hell to ball in. These were released during my freshmen year of high school and if you didnt have the Jordan 4’s or Air Flight 89’s you had these. I also remember UNLV rocking these LJ and Plastic Man were killing cats in these sneakers. Nike do the right thing and bring these back for real sneaker heads like me who remember when it was authenic. Also while you’re at it Matt I have a suggestion for the next Throwback Thursday if you have the original Air Alpha Force you should put that on TT. I have a poster of MJ rocking those in a exhibition game tossing Mark Jackson’s shot out the stratosphere. Ahh those were the days.
Oct 17, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Ohhhhhh maaaaannnnn. These are definitely may favorite of all Nike basketball high tops. Holy grail. Absolute love. I also was a freshman in HS when these came out… unfortunately I had the cheaper ‘89 Air Delta Force - very similar-looking shoe without the elephant print.
Nike: I’ve already written you to bring these back. Please, just do it (and do it right).
Matt: Beautiful OG kicks! I don’t remember this colorway.
Oct 17, 2008 at 2:33 pm
nice…yeah, i had the delta forces, but not these. anyone see these in black?
Oct 17, 2008 at 5:13 pm
yesss!!!! i love these!!!!
Oct 17, 2008 at 6:26 pm
woooooooooooooooooooooooooow
woooooooooooooooooooooooooow
woooooooooooooooooooooooooow
and woooooooooooooooooooooow
Oct 17, 2008 at 8:04 pm
id love to see these come back they r amazing
Oct 18, 2008 at 12:27 am
these r dope.. i like the ones david robinsons wearing though.
Oct 18, 2008 at 9:42 am
if they werent so high cut i would definetley cop these. I’m a sucker for elephant print
Oct 18, 2008 at 11:47 am
yooo dem iss sooooo sick!!!
Oct 18, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I would love to see these return!
Oct 18, 2008 at 5:51 pm
yo did any check out that kid in the military blues right next to the admiral ??
Oct 18, 2008 at 9:48 pm
dim is cool
Oct 19, 2008 at 9:53 am
i wish they would seriously Retro these.
even though they wouldn’t be as well put to together as they where in 89′
I don’t know but this Shoe is one my Favorites as is the air command forces and almost every single pair of the ultra hi top from 88-91.
Oct 19, 2008 at 11:04 am
i want these bad omg so beautiful
Oct 19, 2008 at 7:51 pm
you see the little guy next to d.rob? i think he has on OG Military IV’s
Oct 20, 2008 at 12:00 am
the air force line from 85-92 was probably my favorite sneaker line ever. you GOTTA love the high cut!
Oct 20, 2008 at 11:34 am
THEZ SHOES ARE HELLA TIGHT!!!!!!!!!LIK 4 REALZ I WISH THEY HAD THEM IN A SIZE 4 1/2!!!!!GRRRRRRR……ID BE A HARD CORE APPLE WITH THEM KIKS ON MY FEET!!!!!!!
Oct 22, 2008 at 12:44 pm
you actually can buy these.
just not in this color
Oct 25, 2008 at 5:15 pm
where can you buy these at. in blue??
Dec 6, 2008 at 12:48 am
I had a pair of those back in the day.I was the man when i came back from Newark,NJ (hometown) back to Georgetown,SC.I wa sthe only one rocking those in the high school.My sts were the navy blue ones.The hottest shoe out at the time.I would buy a new pair of forces evry year for school but it wasn’t nothing like those.NIKE re issue them will at least let the fan of the shoe get a pair.Where is the admiral when you need him?
Jun 8, 2009 at 12:44 pm
B. E. A. utiful….