Again, it goes back to craft and detail. For some players, sneakers?were all about looks and shine. For me, it was always about peak?performance. It was about the fact that I was on my feet for 48?minutes a night and relied on them to do my job.

I was an absolute perfectionist about the technology that went into?my signature sneakers. I cared about every little detail. I cared?about the weight, the weight distribution, the materials, the cut, the?traction, the durability. I was meticulous about every curve,?contour, and stitch. I didn’t want any loose ends. I didn’t want my?foot sliding in the shoe. I didn’t want anything that could take my?focus, even for an instant, off?the game. My sneakers didn’t just?have to be comfortable, they had to help me perform better.

Nike, fortunately, loved that kind of challenge. Each signature shoe?improved on the one before it. We were always getting better,?always striving for innovation and greatness. Always looking ahead.