NBA: Adidas 5 vs Nike 5 vs Jordan 5 - Who wins?
One thing that separates the run-of-the-mill, well-compensated NBA player and the elite group is their shoes. Sporting and apparel companies have made their mark all over the league endorsing virtually every player to shoe deals.
With the companies competing for the elite players’ signatures to increase their brand recognition, we look at the crème de la crème, by position, from Adidas to the Jordan brand, which is a subsidiary of Nike, to Nike itself.
Point Guard: Damian Lillard vs Kyrie Irving vs Russell Westbrook
Adidas: Damián Lillard
Damian Lillard is the franchise player of the Portland Trail Blazers. He is a former unanimous Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and has been selected thrice to All NBA teams. With five years experience in the league, he already holds several franchise scoring and assists records.
He can handle, he can pass, he can shoot, and he can drive. Defensively, he still looks a little bit lost at times, but he's got the athletic attributes to get better.
Nike: Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving faces tough competition from the other Nike point guards but he ultimately gets the nod. He is an offensive superstar that can score and create in every way there is. His ball-handling skills are off the charts. He is a former NBA Rookie of the Year, a four-time NBA All-Star, one-time NBA All-Star Game MVP. Irving was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2015. He won an NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
That said, Irving does tend to get carried away while dribbling and his defense is inconsistent.
Jordan: Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mr. triple-double is arguably the best point guard in the league. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player-winning consecutive awards in 2015 and 2016. He is also a six-time All-NBA Team member and led the league in scoring in 2014–15 and 2016–17.
The reigning league MVP can do everything Damián Lillard does, but better. He is a freak of an athlete with a never say never attitude and an elite level all round game. His weakness is his shot selection which can be suspect at times.
Westbrook > Irving > Lillard