At MORPRIME Industries™ we are once again praising the work of Oregon’s notorious sneaker-tect - Mr Tinker Hatfield. This is the man we have to thank for Air Max models-a-plenty, Jordan silhouettes III through XV and topic of this evening’s account, ‘Sir Charles’’ Air Max2 CB ‘Road’.
As its name suggests, Charles Barkley debuted his amalgamation of elasticated straps and heel-residing 180 degree visible Air units in 1994; the season following a ‘93 NBA Finals defeat to MJ’s Chicago Bulls. With these on foot, Barkley’s SUNS went on to sweep Golden State’s Warriors in three straight games during first round playoffs, meeting Houston Rockets who proved too strong in the semi-final notching four games over Phoenix's three.
Drawing attention back to centre, this article of basketball greatness was a prime example of Nike’s ‘AIR SQUARED’ (Air Max2) marketing - a project that introduced an array of sneakers in line with the Air Max2 and Air Trainer Max2 to shelves.
Design lead at the time, Tracy Teague, recalled Barkley telling her team; “You don’t tell me how to play basketball and I won’t tell you how to design shoes.”
And that was it, the Nike Air Max2 CB was born.