For many, the dunk contest is the crown jewel of NBA All Star Weekend, but if you’re a sneaker head all events play second fiddle to a lesser known unofficial event: #SneakerWatch.

It’s no secret what the players wear drives sales, so expect whatever LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook are spotted in this weekend to fly off the shelves. While the sneakers worn by the players off the court always rise in popularity, some of the sneakers worn during the dunk contest have become iconic.

Before we get a look at the future, we’re going to look at the past with a list of some of the most iconic dunk contest sneakers of all time.
 

Michael Jordan - Jordan White Cement 3s (1988)
 

Let’s just get them out of the way now; the Jordan “White Cement” 3s are probably not only the most iconic shoes ever worn during the dunk contest, but may be one of the most iconic shoes of all time. One of Jordan Brand’s most popular silhouettes and the first shoe to be branded with the infamous Jumpman logo, the legend himself wore them as he jumped from the free-throw line in ‘88. The rest is history. 
 

Julius Erving – Converse Pro Leather (1976)
 

You would be mistaken to believe Jordan was the first guy to take flight from the free-throw line. Twelve years before everyone wanted to be like Mike, Mike wanted to be like “Dr. J.”

In the last ABA (American Basketball Association) dunk contest, an event where people witnessed a 360 for the first time, Julius Erving secured victory with the original from-the-free-throw-line dunk, and he did it in a very sleek pair of black and white Converse Pro Leathers. If you were rocking those in the late 70s you were the personification of cool. 

 

Nate Robinson - Nike Foamposite Lite "KryptoNate" PE (2009)
 

 In recent years, gimmicks and props have become synonymous with the dunk contest. Perhaps one of the event’s fondest gimmicks was Dwight Howard’s Superman routine. The dunk contest’s popularity was in decline and, in many eyes, Howard’s 2008 performance really pumped life back into the event.
 
Fast forward a year, Nate Robinson looked to topple superman the only logical way how, with a pair of signature Nike Foamposite appropriately titled the KryptoNate. Jumping over Howard literally and figuratively to win the title. Dressed in an all green Knicks jersey and the bright green pair of kicks to match, Nate was really Howard’s Kryptonite that day.


 
Dominique Wilkins / Dee Brown — Reebok The Pump (1990)
 

The Pumps were first sported by Dominique Willkins in a commercial for then lesser known Nike and Adidas competitor, Reebok, and then again during his performance in the 1990 dunk contest.

Wilkins paved the way for one of the savviest marketing strategies ever seen in sports apparel. If his performance in the 1990 competition didn’t convince you the “high tech” customizable inflatable chamber would help you reach new heights, Dee Brown’s would one year later. Brown carved out his place in sneaker history when he pumped his kicks before hanging in the air with his eyes closed and throwing down his famous no look slam. Fun fact: Brown was dabbing before dabbing was a cool and he helped Reebok sales shoot through the roof, as Pumps sales reached $500 million, second only to Nike.  
 

 
 
Vince Carter — AND1 Tai Chi (2000)
 

It’s not debatable; Vince Carter’s 2000 dunk contest performance was the greatest dunk contest performance of all time.

The field wasn’t weak by any means, as it even included Carter’s cousin and future Hall of Framer, Tracy McGrady, but nobody was on Air Canada’s level. Even by today’s athletic standards, some NBA players might just shake their head if you ask them to do a 360 degree windmill against the grain or a reverse windmill under the basket. Carter did it all in a pair of AND1 Tai Chi, a shoe popular amongst street ballers at the time, but shot up in mainstream popularity as the world watched the half man half amazing shine.