In late 2018, during my senior year, I got really interested in basketball and I decided to get my very first pair of official basketball shoes. I was super excited before I went shopping, looking online at my shoe store and at NBA games to see what type of players were wearing what shoes. One of the important things I knew before buying the shoes was that different styles of shoes are better for different playing styles so I should choose the best overall or one close to my style. My choice was a Jordan shoe called “Westbrook 0.1”, a signature shoe by one of my favorite basketball players Russel Westbrook. He is an aggressive basketball player doing a lot of moves with the ball and always playing with 110% effect at breakneck speeds. We didn’t exactly have the same play since I’m not a quick midrange scorer but his shoes seemed the best overall. With the constant change of speed and high jumps,  I figured if it could handle his speed then mine would be no problem.

Since it was my first picked purpose-specific sneakers, I wanted them to not only be unique but also fit with my wardrobe. Luckily for me, there was a sale and I got two different colors. One jet black with neon pink and blue highlights on the left and right foot respectively. While the other was light grey and white with a bright tiger underprint. I was extremely happy and played outside every weekend alone or with others even through cold and harsh weather. Little did I know that was a big mistake.

Unfortunately, they began to wear bit by bit and after looking at the sneaker review on youtube, I learned I bought an indoor basketball show to play outdoor basketball. Between those types, the traction and cushion they provide vary due to different paying environments. You might think they would put them on the shoes to be more “consumer-friendly”  but unfortunately not.  Though my shoes had good traction and provided adequate cushioning, they degraded a lot faster than expected leading to me slipping a few times. When I finally realized my mistake was I upset with myself but I was also happy they didn’t cause any major injuries.

Years later I still keep one of each pair to remind me of the “good” times and to also check the proper playing environment for any sports shoes. However, if I  could go back in time, I would do the same thing. This was a great learning experience reminding me to check any and all shoes online from multiple sources before buying and to always be a smart buyer.