The world basketball festival (Aug 12-15) is less than a month away. Player appearances, retail pop-up shops and actual on-court action in unprecedented places (Namely Times Square) is on the way, but before all that action attacks Manhattan, the people at Nike, Converse and Brand Jordan wanted to give a everyone a chance to see how all aspects of the game started, how we got here and where the future will take us.
On 133rd and 8th avenue in Harlem World, Nike has a storefront museum called the Ball Room open to the public , where tour guides walk on-lookers down a timeline from the kicks that started it all (Chuck Taylors) to Nike’s newest creation, the Hyperfuse.
Kids looking at the evolution of the jersey. Photo by Rafael Roy.
Opposite the sneaker timeline is the evolution of the jersey, starting with an authentic appearance of a jersey worn in the 1930’s by the Harlem Ren’s, to MJ’s rookie jersey, to the new designs we’ve seen in international competition that team China, team Puerto Rico, team Brazil, team France and team USA wear.
Harlem Ren's jersey. Photo by Rafael Roy.
Further along the tour we saw interactive wall’s (think giant iPad’s, only loaded with hoops history) that had fun features like signature moves from NBA players like Deron Williams, LeBron James, Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant and well known street elite dudes like Andre Barrett, Kenny Satterfield and Steve Burtt Jr.
Picture of Dr. James Naismith and one of the interactive walls. Photo by Rafael Roy.
“The main goal is to teach the youth about the history and evolution of the game,” said site director Antoine Orr. “Lots of kids go out and want to buy a product but have no understanding of what it took for the shoe to come about or who paved the way for the generation of players. We think it’s important to educate them about the game we love.”
Displays like the sneakers Kobe dropped 81 in, MJ’s Olympic 7’s and Bob Lanier’s size 22 Chuck’s, are just a few of the items any hoop-historian or casual fan should check out.
Kobe's 81-point game Kicks. Photo by Rafael Roy.
MJ's Olympic Kicks (7's). Photo by Rafael Roy.
After the tour, the next generation of Harlemites got a chance to play ball under the watchful eye of current NYC baller, Mike Campbell and with A.G. the voice of Harlem dishing out play-by-play and nicknames on the mic.
AG with the kids from the playground. Photo by Rafael Roy.
With the hype around the WBF is growing, a trip uptown to check out this spot is a great first-dose of what’s to come in the next few weeks.
Kicks from the tour bus. Photo by Rafael Roy.
Orr outside the Ball Room. Photo by Rafael Roy.
