Scoop B: “Skip To My Lou,” Rafer Alston recounts legacy that And 1’s Tai Chi sneaker left on NBA, streetball

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Rafer Alston
SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 24: Rafer Alston #12 of the Houston Rockets looks to pass against Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center January 24, 2007 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Chris Birck/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rafer Alston checked in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson & Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen!

Many praise hoops legend, Pee Wee Kirkland for being a legend in two games. But, retired NBA vet, Rafer Alston was LITERALLY a legend in two games: the NBA court and streetball court.

A 2nd-round pick by the Milwaukee Bucks, Alston played professionally with the Bucks, as well as  Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic and the New Jersey Nets.

Known as “Skip To My Lou” on the blacktop, Alston had herky jerky moves that made heads spin.

What made Alston’s streetball and NBA marriage sweeter was his And 1 kick game. During much of his career, he donned, the And 1 Tai Chi shoe in the early 2000s. “I know my grandmother’s house is still filled with the product from back in the day,” Rafer Alston told me on the Scoop B Radio Podcast.

If you all recall, Vince Carter wore a version of those shoes when he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2000.  

NBA retirees Latrell Sprewell, Chris Webber and Kevin Garnett wore version of the Tai Chi sneaker during their careers. “We had a lot of fun working with And 1 and the product was good,” said Alston.

“In Toronto I had a signature shoe, the Skip To My Lou 2 that I wore all year because they felt so good on my feet. I had so many shoes that they sent me that year, but I stayed in those because they felt so good.”

Alston also recalls rocking his signature shoes as a member of the 2007-08 Houston Rockets. That Rockets team won 22 straight games, the fourth longest winning streak in NBA history.“We had a couple of good runs when we won 22 in a row,” said Alston.

“I had a lot of different pairs that I kept wearing during that season.”

That Rockets team, coached by Rick Adelman, had a roster featuring Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and Shane Battier.  The team would go on to finish 55-27 that season and would lose to the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs.

Alston appeared in the 2010 NBA FInals with the Orlando Magic and the Magic didn’t beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals that year. Alston says that he had memorable moments wearing his signature shoe for Florida’s other team, the Miami Heat.

“I hit a corner three, game winner over Shawn Bradley,” Alston said proudly.

 

2.5 seconds never looked so good!

Rafer Alston was a global trendsetter to the streetball game; his And 1 kicks added to that legend.

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