Throwback Thursday: Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Posted by Matt Halfhill | Dec 4, 2008 After the era of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson ended in 1992, Converse looked to their roster of NBA players and selected the young, powerful, and promising 1992 Rookie of the Year Larry Johnson for a premier signature line.
The first shoe of two signatures LJ wore for Converse was the Converse Aero Jam. Thanks in large part to the advertising campaign that promoted the shoes, LJ and his shoes quickly earned the nickname “Grandmama.” LJ even took this a step further when he appeared on the family sitcom Family Matters as “Grandmama.” The Converse Aero Jam featured the cushioning and support system REACT juice in the heel and around the back of the ankle providing just what the 6′7″ 240lbs. Power Forward needed on court. Besides the tech, the shoes featured some attractive details such as a fading splattered midsole, textured heel midsole, and fading colors on the removable cover. Featuring LJ’s jersey number on the front of the shoe as well as the Hornets colors there was no mistaking these shoes to be anything but the “Grandmama’s”. The Converse Aero Jam was retroed before in 2003 celebrating its 10th anniversary, but this all took place before Nike acquired the suffering brand. The shoes returned in three colorways, but none matched any of the originals as well as no REACT juice. Converse, now that you are with the master of retros, please have this shoe return! Get a better look at these kicks after the jump as well as a sz 14.5 development sample we came across in our sneaker hunts. I wonder who that was made for? |
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Converse Aero Jam “Grandmama”
Dec 4, 2008 at 11:58 am
damn, yall got a sample of these? They look like those shoes that light up when you walk. lol. Ugly shoe, but props to whoever owns these.
Dec 4, 2008 at 11:58 am
I remember seeing these at my local Weiner’s store back in the day for $10!!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:02 pm
GOD DANG~~~
I remember these when I was young..
These are still fresh…
There are no more characters like back in the days.
Nowadays young kids only know about Nike…
CHeck out Larry Johnson(Gramma) Converse shoe commercial.
Still hilarious!!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:03 pm
hehe..you said weiner
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:03 pm
i wuld LOVE for dese to come back out!!…sick…
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I remember these joints from back in the day. These are still ill faded to this day. I had the black joints and if thosed were retroed, i’d be the first in line to cop!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:15 pm
MY FAVORITE PAIR OF KICKS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!
I got 3 pairs on ice from the retro couple years back… these are the shoes that got me into sneakers.. (well these and the grant hill 4’s”
BEST THROWBACK THURSDAY
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:26 pm
they did re-release them like 2 years ago… and i got a pair of all blacks and white/navy these are ever so rightous
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:30 pm
hardest Throwback Thursday to date. much props Nice Kicks!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:33 pm
didnt they retro these already….i thought i saw them in the eastbay….(i think)
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:35 pm
yeah they did… that is what i just said in comment 8
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Jedi_23,
Matt already said they came back, but it was a while ago when Converse wasn’t owned by Nike. I passed on them back then because they weren’t done right. Wack colorways and no react cushioning = pass.
Props for pulling this one out, but seriously, where in the world did you get LJ’s size?!?!?!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:36 pm
A M A Z I N G
Converse, Nike, get together and do this thing right!
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:37 pm
MAN I REMEMBER THESE JOINTS THEY BRING BACK GOOD MEMORIES! IT WAS THE SUMMER WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE 7TH GRADE AND I HAD THE FINEST GIRL IN TOWN ON MY JOCK CAUSE OF THESE KICKS DAMN THOSE WHERE THE DAYS! LARRY JOHNSON WAS THAT DUDE
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I love these. I just picked up a pair of retros from my local Dunhams for $30.00 last week.
Dec 4, 2008 at 12:56 pm
COOLNESS…wish i wouldnt have passed
Dec 4, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Great pair of kicks! I miss the days when players and companies were doing fun things…the marketing campaigns were so creative and the characters/slogans, etc. were all unique…the lack of interesting & likeable characters/players has really hurt the NBA.
Dec 4, 2008 at 1:58 pm
FRESH!!
Dec 4, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Good job Nicekicks, I had these back in the day with my Rex Chapman jersey(charlotte).
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:28 pm
ohhhhhhh shnap! i had the black joints when i was a junior in high school in ‘93!! i wore these joints everywhere!!
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:30 pm
i remember when they retroed them and they just sat on shelves….shoulda picked up them up cuz they were cheap as hell
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:46 pm
before i read the name or took a really close look at the shoes i thought they were really hardbody old school Nikes but converse did come correct on these what has happened to convrese since these?
Dec 4, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Yea these were dope but just like the Patrick Ewings and select few of Nikes in those early 90’s the side of the sole turns an ugly yellow no matter what care giving. Hopefully they will bring em back with better material.
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:04 pm
i saw some ugly pictures of these on google. It’s like the toe of the sneaker was pushed up.
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:29 pm
muggsy bogues conquers all
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:31 pm
NICE SHOES GRANDMAMA
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Can you even find a pair of these still? These bring me back. They kind of resemble the Aqua VIII’s.
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Oh, the memories! React juice, ftmfw!
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:52 pm
bring em back… only if lj’s back would have held up, he was a hell of a player
Dec 4, 2008 at 3:56 pm
these r just amazing
Dec 4, 2008 at 4:48 pm
w aquas wea u at?
Dec 4, 2008 at 5:01 pm
CleaNesT ConVeRses i have ever seen
Dec 4, 2008 at 5:33 pm
PROBABLY THE ONLY CONVERSES THAT I’VE SEEN BFORE THAT I LIKE THESE ARE FRESH
Dec 4, 2008 at 5:34 pm
these bring back mad memories….
seeing the poster at the v.i.m. on fordham rd while shoppin for some skool kicks……
Dec 4, 2008 at 5:57 pm
theze r nice… they look like nike air raid
Dec 4, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Very nice shoe, I remember wantin these BAD back in the day
Dec 4, 2008 at 7:00 pm
“Told You Before How I Bring the Drama, Slam Larry Johnson and His Grandmama WHAT YOU WANT N***A!” classic Notorious B.I.G line
Dec 4, 2008 at 8:13 pm
These take me back. Tha 90’s was great! Great post Nicekicks.
Dec 4, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I remember when LJ was in the slam dunk contest that was classic. I know these was retroed not to long ago i THINK you can still pick up a pair at pickyourshoes.com
Dec 4, 2008 at 10:17 pm
had these back in the day.
this was a dope time to be a kid!
Dec 5, 2008 at 1:12 am
I remember these I had a chance of getting them back in 7th grade But I ended up getting the Jordan 8’s But I loved these shoes Brings back memories and Wow I remember how cool they looked on L.J
Dec 5, 2008 at 1:15 am
There was a problem with the react juice leaking! I was working at footlocker and had to send them all back to converse. Same with the KJs.
Dec 5, 2008 at 6:43 am
dont bich about this but they have some parts that remind of the jordan 8
Dec 5, 2008 at 7:05 am
WOW! these are dope! I only vaguely remember these, but I didn’t know the were retroed!!!
Gonna have to add to my grail list!!
So did the retros have the same tech with the juice?
Dec 5, 2008 at 11:46 am
I was expecting the TARMAX but Matt…
You exceded my expectation on this one!
Dec 7, 2008 at 10:03 am
*correction.. the first signature shoe was the aero glide and the cover wasnt removable. This was his second signature shoe.. Props for the post just get you info correct
Dec 7, 2008 at 10:09 am
*these came out in 93 to btw the aero glide’s were released in 92.
Dec 7, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I looked em up n they got em for $85 here http://www.converse.com/index.aspx?mode=pd&sku=1Q596#productdetail
Dec 8, 2008 at 2:52 am
I wish I could get a pair of these.
Never got them and wanted ‘em BAD AS HELL!
I think I had gotten all the shoes moms was gonna by me for that school year.
LOL!
Dec 9, 2008 at 1:57 pm
looked em up n they got em for $85 here http://www.converse.com/index.aspx?mode=pd&sku=1Q596#productdetail
Comment by J.D. — December 7, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
No Sizes!
Dec 10, 2008 at 9:00 am
fresh n they looklike air raids if only there was a black and red colorway
Dec 11, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I like the first Aero-Glides that came out these are like the second version a lot uglier than the first…anyone know where you can by the first versions?? I had the Black and Purple ones…
Dec 12, 2008 at 10:41 am
Anybody calling these ugly probably don’t remember these selling out back in the day. I remember getting these in white for X-mas but really wanting the black, teal and purple. It’s ironic that the Hornets were the most popular NBA team at that time and that Jordan played off that and released the Aqua Eight’s.
Dec 27, 2008 at 2:50 pm
anybody have a pair in good condition that they want to sell?
Jan 23, 2009 at 9:29 am
I got a red white color aero jam, they are great but I really want to get the navy white one.
They are the best converse shoes ever in history.
Feb 10, 2009 at 12:04 pm
anybody who has this same colorway hit me up at hazzeylyrical@yahoo.com I need a size 8.5 or something close
I have a pair of size 9 retroed black and red ones I found some if the guy who wants some to buy I have them I never wore em but they didn’t have a a box because they were on a clearance racks
Apr 2, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Ahh yes my favorite pair og kicks that I own <3
OG not the retro ones… Lolsz great pair of kicks!!!
Apr 30, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I need these f$%## shoes! let me know if you got’em in sz 12-13!
May 4, 2009 at 11:46 pm
YO i had a pir of these when i was i high school and i still havn’t seen any thats crushin my black,gray and whit 1’s……
May 29, 2009 at 1:46 pm
The Converse “Aero Jam” Grandmama React basketball shoe, White/Purple/Teal, where can I purchase this shoe in size 10 or 11?