PBA player Stephen Holt. –MELO FUERTES/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—After Terrafirma’s conference-opening win over Converge at Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Stephen Holt exited the team dugout with something that would make sneakerheads give a second look.
After a successful 107-99 escape from the FiberXers, the Dyip swingman walked out of The Big Dome wearing a gray “Dreamville” tee—a reference to American rap artist J. Cole—while holding a pair of the Nike Air Zoom Generation in the “Debut” colorway.
To some casual hoops fans, it may look like just another pair of Nike sneakers.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Philippine Cup
But to those who are fully aware, the AZG is the pair LeBron James rocked in his first-ever NBA game on October 29, 2003 when the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Sacramento Kings.
It wasn’t a huge staple back in the day but with LeBron’s enormous following, the pair’s re-release in summer of last year was swarmed by basketball fans and hoopers alike.
He got his hands on the AZGs thanks to his sister, who is working for the shoe conglomerate.
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“I’m a shoeaholic. Nike’s in my neighborhood, I grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, that’s where the Nike World Headquarters is. I’ve always had connections growing up,” said the rookie.
“My sister works there now, I’m very well-connected and that’s where I get all my kicks; through her, at the employee store so I get discounts and all that stuff. It’s cool.”
Surprisingly, for such a prized pair of kicks, Holt didn’t even use the pair in the game that saw him drop an all-around stat line of 27 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Holt said he only uses the Zoom Generation for warmups but is very much open to using it in-game.
‘Really good shoe collection’
Terrafirma star Stephen Holt in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES
That, and he might use another colorway of the pair in the league’s PBA All-Star Weekend where he will be participating in the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors game.
“To be honest, I just used this in the shoot-around, I haven’t worn them at the games yet, maybe one day I’ll break them out. I have another secret pair that I might bring out for the All-Star weekend for the Rookies-Sophomores-Juniors game, I might bring out a new pair that no one’s seen but we’ll see.”
It’s not the first time Holt wore the simplistic pair outside the court. Before the season started when the league held a Media Day for the players, the 32-year-old also pulled out the LeBron kicks for the cameras.
Take one look away from the pair in his hands and you’ll find yourself checking the shoes he had on his feet, which are the Jordan 2 “Cement Grey”.
Seeing Holt rock Jordans shouldn’t come as a surprise, especially since the Oregon-born skipper has always been a fan of the legendary Michael Jordan’s sneaker line.
READ: NBA Summer Leaguer Stephen Holt goes to Terrafirma—but how long will he stay?
Although, he did wish he was wearing the Jordan 1s or the 11s.
“Growing up in Beaverton, I pretty much have every retro in my collection and the shoe boxes back home but I just wanted to rock the 2s today. They’re not my favorites, though.”
“My favorites are the 11s or the 1s but shoes are super important to me so I have a really good collection back in the States, not here in the Philippines.”