Words by Community members Matt, Mark, and Wardy at @sneakerandrecreations

Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Matt: Hoops & Recreation is a weekly podcast where we take listeners through four 12-minute quarters of all things basketball!

Every episode Mark, Wardy and I dissect recent games, discuss sneakers and fashion in the league, review historic NBA moments, predict upcoming fixtures, and offer our thoughts on current headlines. Outside of that, what you really get is three friends who are passionate about basketball, chopping it up, laughing at our teams failures, and getting way too excited when our teams are doing well… just like any sports fan does!

Outside of recording once a week, our day jobs are far from the court. We all work in education, Wardy as a Head of Year at a school, and Mark and I work in apprenticeships. So, none of us go to work with a clipboard and whistle unfortunately.

You’re all clearly big basketball fans, can you tell us about your personal connection with the sport and how your passions started?

Mark: Well Wardy’s been into basketball since before Wilt Chamberlain. Matt got into it during the Clippers lob city era, and I sit somewhere in-between. I started playing ball in 2001 when I went to college. There was a court right next to the canteen that I’d hang out at during lunch times and although I’d only ever played football before, I started shooting around and became decent at it fairly quickly. The better players welcomed me in, and I joined the college team.

After I started playing, I was quickly introduced to the NBA. We were still in the VHS era then, and my teammates gave me tapes of MJ, Penny, Webber, AI and Charles etc, so I immediately had a great education of 90’s basketball. Ever since then it’s been a huge part of my life, and it’s really the reason I got into sneakers.

I’ve been lucky enough to play, coach and meet people all over the world through a shared passion for the game, and although we always think of the 90’s as the golden era, the NBA now is better than ever, and the game is growing at all levels, particularly in the UK, Europe and the Women’s game.

Jordan was the obvious fan favourite globally, but Charles Barkley was making moves in his own right. What do you remember about him?

Wardy: I was shy growing up, so I was drawn to Barkley’s confidence and brashness. On the court he wanted to win and show that he was the best, even if he was the only one who believed it. His speed and athleticism during his Philly years was just mesmerising, as he could zip in and out of guards and posterise a big in the same play. But it really was his gargantuan personality that made him a star, as he was absolutely, uniquely, Charles Barkley.

Is he one of the best players to never win an NBA championship?

Matt: Chuck’s name has to be up there when discussing NBA legends to never win a ring. That being said, the list of current/future hall of famers to never reach the mountain top is ridiculous! Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, Karl Malone, James Harden, Chris Paul, and of course a podcast favourite… CARMELOOOOO ANTHONY just to name a few.

The NBA can be cruel and for most of these stars their championship dreams ended when they came up against a juggernaut in the league. Whether that was Jordan and the Bulls like Chuck, or Shaq & Kobe, the big 3 in Miami, or more recently the Warriors dynasty. This shocking list of names will only get longer as the years go on, but Charles Barkley will always be known as one of the best players ever NOT to win a championship, his personal accolades are something to be proud of though, and his ongoing legacy.

He's a very jovial character nowadays but on the court, he was a beast. Do you have a favourite Barkley moment?

Wardy: Barkley’s showing at the 92 Olympics was what started my lifelong passion for basketball at age 13. But it happened totally by accident! I got sunstroke at a Scout Jamboree and had to be brought home. In my delirious state, I thought that my dad was a scientist, and criminals were trying to steal his secret formula! So, after that ordeal the next few days were spent resting on the sofa with my dad and bingeing on Barkley’s utter dominance. While the others cruised, Barkley set out to destroy everyone who got in his way, ending up with him leading the Dream Team with 18ppg.

His style of play, personality, and anecdotes (“I don’t know anything about Angola but Angola in trouble”) on the biggest stage in the world immediately made him a fan favourite. There’s even tales of him walking through Barcelona at night alone just to party with fans!

Quick fire questions to Mark:

CB vs Tracey McGrady? 1v1, I’m going with TMac, just. But for all time legacy, Charles, just.

CB vs Kevin Garnett? 1v1 I think KG but this would be a real slugfest. Legacy wise, probably about even.

CB vs Patrick Ewing? 1v1, Charles, more versatile. Legacy, Charles, but don’t tell Knicks fans.

CB vs Karl Malone? 1v1, easily Charles, Karl never really had much off the dribble. There was never much love lost between them either. Legacy, Charles too.

CB vs Allen Iverson? 1v1, has to be AI! And they’ve both got similar legacies, and neither wanted to be role models, but AI takes this one. One of the most influential players ever.

Barkley’s signature line reflected his game. What would you say are his biggest career highlights?

Wardy: Barkley was the Force to MJ’s Flight, which his signature line reflected, as he would frequently terrorise bigger guys in the paint and shake rims with incredible ferocity. But his biggest highlight showed he was as skilled as he was athletic. With 8 seconds to go in game 6 of the 1993 West semis and staring down one of the most physically dominant players in the league in David Robinson, Barkley took three dribbles to the top of key before rising up to drain the jumper over Robinson’s outstretched hand, giving the Suns the 102-100 victory over the Spurs.

What’s your thoughts on the Nike Air Max2 CB94? Was it a good move on from the CB1?

Mark: I personally think the Air Max2 CB94 is his best signature model. After years of having unofficial signature shoes, notably being Nike’s face for the Air Force models, Alpha Force (also returning this year) and the Air Max 180 most famously worn in the 92 Olympics, Nike finally gave Charles his own signature shoe in 1993, the Air Force Max CB. These, like the man himself, were built like a tank and made to withstand serious use, which made them popular both on the hardwood and in the playgrounds. The Tinker Hatfield designed shoes also had a 180-air unit, and the straps were straight from Tinker’s Jordan 8 and Air Raid.

Then the following year comes another Tinker design – the Air Max2 (squared) CB94 which in keeping with the Round Mound of Rebound, offered a rugged and durable sneaker again suitable for indoor or outdoor play. The CB94 is a huge upgrade on its predecessor, with a speed lace system, super good traction, and an internal foot sleeve like the Jordan 9. In keeping with his previous models, it also has a visible air unit, and the homage to Godzilla’s feet on the midsole.

“Honestly this 2023 retro is as close to the OG as we’re likely to get, and I think these are the most wearable of his signature models off court. You could easily be wearing these for casual Fridays in the office at 3 and playing 1v1 at 4 if your boss wants to f around and find out.”

Mark

We’ve seen a lot of 90s models being retro’d, the Uptempo has had a great cut through, its retros as well as its collars. As Nike enthusiasts, what model would you love to see come back?

Matt: For me, one of my all-time favourite Nike models is the Air Raid which first released in 92. The shoe was designed by Tinker Hatfield and was believed to be a direct competitor to the Reebok Pump Blacktop which was the first sneaker specifically designed for playing basketball outdoors. Phil Knight demanded an outdoor shoe to combat Reebok and the Air Raid was born. The Air Raid has released in a variety of colour ways, but for me you can’t beat the ‘Peace’ colour way. The grey and black upper with contrasting patterned overlays just stands out amongst other classic 90s basketball silhouettes.

Dropping in 92 and me being born in 94, I don’t have memories wearing this shoe on the court. I do, however, have memories of seeing a friend wearing a pair at the skate shop he owned when I was 19, and since then falling in love with the shoe. The Air Raid did retro in 2020 but we didn’t see the mass release in the UK it deserved.

Wardy: And I’d like to see the Air Money, Darwin’s and the Bakin’s come back. I think they’d be popular models again.

Mark: I’d be happy with any of those to be honest. The Supreme Bakin’s were nice but there’s nothing quite like an OG. I just hope whichever model they bring back next that we get the commercials for it too, because 90’s Nike basketball adverts are unmatched.

Check out more from Matt, Mark and Wardy on Instagram at @sneakersandrecreation

You can find the Hoops & Recreation podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and all other podcast outlets by clicking here

The Air Max CB 94 'Black & Purple' launches on the 17th of July.