Converse Pro leather X Ballzy

Originally released in 1976 as the All Star Professional Basketball Shoe, the Pro Leather quickly rose to dominate the ball market. An early endorsement from superstar Erving earned the shoe an eponymous nickname – it became known as the ‘Dr. J’ Thanks to its technologically superior cupsole it was the lightest, most durable shoe on the court. Where the previous generation of footwear had a slab of rubber attached to the base with a strip around the midsole – all melted together in an oven – the new technology meant that a pre-molded sole unit could be stitched to the bottom of the shoe, cradling the foot for added responsiveness. In a stroke of good fortune, this technological update coincided with the evolution of the game itself – as a new fast-paced style emerged on-court, the Pro Leather proved adept at keeping pace.

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