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Is this just a San Antonio Spurs thing?
In last night’s game between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs, guard Manu Ginobili flat out ripped through his shoe during a defensive play in the first half of the game. While guarding Rodney Stuckey at the top of the key, Ginobili planted before his foot instantly burst out of the shoe.
According to San Antonio Spurs Equipment Manager Travis Wade, Ginobili has been wearing this shoe – the Nike Air Max Closer IV – since 2009. Now, Ginobili, a player who is most comfortable wearing the exact same pair of shoes night in and night out, will be forced to switch to a more current performance shoe. “I’ll be switching to the LeBron 11 now,” said Ginobili, while examining his blown out sneaker at his locker. “I have a few NIKEiDs on the way.”
Ginobili, who spent most of last season’s games in the Nike LeBron X, says he’s a big fan of LeBron’s shoes because they are durable, sturdy and “hold up great on the court.”
“Manu is so hard on a pair of shoes,” said Wade. “Hopefully the LeBron 11s hold up for him and last as long he plans on playing.”
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