FEATURE: The Air Jordan XX8 SE

by Sandy Dover for Sneaker Report

After a previous NBA season that saw the Air Jordan XX8 debut with the entirety of the Jordan Brand roster across NBA courts nationwide (namely with Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder), its revamped version is available today.

The Air Jordan XX8 SE is virtually the same shoe as its predecessor, with the obviously distinction of its former shroud (with went up 8” high on the lower leg). Coming in a variety of colorways in a camouflage print, the Air Jordan XX8 SE may be the best-performing basketball sneaker that Brand Jordan has ever produced. …

PHOTO GALLERY: Eli J. Friedman & NBA Friends

Photography courtesy of Eli J. Friedman

To be featured by Yahoo!

FEATURE: TSL’s 5-on-5: Was KD Lying About Russ?

featuring Sandy Dover for The Shadow League

Durant has to show a sign of emphatic support for Russy, for two main reasons: 1) Westbrook is very sensitive to how the media criticizes his game, and his game is driven partly by how much approval he receives (remember how tight and unsure he was at times before he got his extension); 2) KD knows that if he can inspire unyielding confidence from within Westbrook, it may empower his teammate to go to new heights, and the only way the Thunder go anywhere is if they go to new heights.

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Feature: Russell Westbrook Debuts Air Jordan XX8s Against Brooklyn Nets

by Sandy Dover for The Brooklyn Game

One of the great things about the Jordan basketball shoe legacy is that it either expounded on the culture of sneakers, or zigged when the industry zagged. In a sense, the Air Jordan XX8 does both, but it also stays aesthetically neutral. As techy and technical as it is (and there is a difference), the XX8 is par for the course. While the build of the XX8 is innovative, the look isn’t as advanced or pronounced as Jordan says. Certain characteristics of the XX8 have been seen in various ways, and it doesn’t really change the way footwear is seen, as a landmark. Experts and niche audiences will view Air Jordan as the best, because of its impact in performance, but its look is what makes the tech more relevant to players on the court.

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Feature: Thunder Beat Rockets, But Lose In Harden Deal

by Sandy Dover for The Shadow League

All considered, we, the viewing public, the fans, the media, aren’t actually going to judge who won the trade based off of the first matchup between the teams – are we? Unless Martin or Harden plays the others’ shoes off, no one will know whose team will have the greater success until  well into each player’s career with their present clubs.

As it stands, one man is becoming a superstar, and the other is redefining his role as a star player. It’s said that 1 + 1 = 3, and destiny is the hidden variable in the equation..

On November 28, both the Rockets and the Thunder did some math.

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Feature: TSL 5-on-5 – Who’s Dope And Who’s DooDoo

Featuring Sandy Dover for The Shadow League

James Harden was the second-best player on the Thunder roster, but you had to look hard at how he affected his team. Harden was the de facto point guard when he and Russell Westbrook played – that’s how Russ got off. But notice that Harden always made the right play, always made the right pass, always took the right shot. He was as smooth as buttercream frosting with those guys.

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Feature: Jordan Brand’s New Era

By Sandy Dover for The Shadow League

What a difference an NBA Premiere Week makes.

Last month, fans saw the very public end of Dwyane Wade’s relationship with Jordan Brand. Since then, it’s been reported that young gun stars Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, are Michael Jordan’s latest picks to fill out the Team Jordan roster — and it makes a great deal of sense.

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