Massachusetts Courtside Kicks Lives Up To The Hype
In a line of retail outlets that all seem blended together, you may have noticed one store that is brighter than the rest. Courtside Kicks, a relatively new sneaker outlet, has been quite a popular destination for those looking for great kicks in Massachusetts.
Tucked under a perfectly lit light blue sign, Courtside Kicks now has five locations in New England. In fact, four of them are in Massachusetts. The fifth is in Providence, Rhode Island. If you are unaware, here is what all the fuss is about.
They describe themselves by saying, “As a luxury streetwear company catering to both men and women, we specialize in curating the most authentic and exclusive footwear and apparel available.” You will notice the first topic on their homepage is to guide you through what top sneakers are trending right now. Often, it’s a particular Air Jordan and Adidas colorway.
That is part of the appeal. Courtside Kicks has nailed the game of engagement with its prospective audience. They have a YouTube channel that has over 68,000 subscribers. Their Instagram is pushing 16,000, and their TikTok account is another spot where they creatively show off what is about to launch. Furthermore, the keyword in their description is “curating.” That is because Courtside Kicks blends giving their audience what they want with showing them what is latest and greatest Air Jordan that everyone is talking about. In addition, if you have a nice Jordan or Yeezy sneaker that is unworn and still in the original box, Courtside Kicks allows you to trade your shoes in or they may buy them from you.
Here Are The Massachusetts Courtside Kicks Locations
- Copley Place, Boston
- South Shore Plaza, Braintree
- Natick Mall, Natick
- Burlington Mall, Burlington
- Providence Place, Providence, RI
From the way the store is lit up, to the inviting layout of all the colorful kicks on the wall, Courtside Kicks knows how to invite their community in. If you stop into any of the aforementioned locations, you will be greeted by rows of Air Jordan 4’s, 3’s, and AJ 1’s. Right next to them will be shelves of Nike Dunks in every color. Finally, there is something for everyone, including a wall dedicated to kid kicks.
5 NBA Players We'd Love To See In the Slam Dunk Contest
This weekend the NBA will take over Indianapolis for All-Star weekend. On Saturday night, the Slam Dunk contest will serve as the grand finale of the day two events at Lucas Oil Stadium. That got us thinking about NBA stars we’d love to see in Slam Dunk contest.
Before we crack into the list, let’s take a look at the modern landscape of the NBA dunk contest. The biggest complaint about the event is that the biggest names in basketball rarely participate. Why is that? Well, last year at this time, Front Office Sports dove into this exact subject. “The last time a player from that season’s All-Star Game actually participated in the Dunk Contest was in 2017, when the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan competed,” they said.
Front Office Sports went on to list a lack of creative options, scoring, and top players not participating in the dunk contest as reasons why the competition had declined. “I think they’re maybe afraid to lose,” NBA Hall of Famer, and slam dunk legend, Dominique Wilkins said via Front Office Sports. Of course, potential injury could also be considered.
Though there has been a lack of star power in the Slam Dunk contest, there have been a few shining moments as of late. Last season, there was much confusion as to why the NBA was allowing a G League (minor league) player to participate in Mac McClung. Now with the Orlando Magic franchise, McClung was called up by his then-team, the 76ers, a few days before the contest. He would go on to win and thrilling fashion. Furthermore, McClung is just six-foot-two.
This Year’s Slam Dunk Contest
The NBA Slam Dunk contest will often be associated with the likes of Wilkins and Michael Jordan. In the late ’80s, these legends made our jaws drop dunking the ball during all-star weekend. Sure, we have had Vince Carter and the late great Kobe Bryant go in it and win it. However, you can’t help but think about what might have been, if these stars had won. Some of them came close, while others opted out.
Nonetheless, we do have some surprising and well-received news when it comes to the 2024 contest. Jaylen Brown, one of the biggest stars in the game, is participating. He will compete against last year’s winner in McClung. In addition, Jacob Toppin from the Knicks and Jamie Jaquez. Jr of the Heat are in. Perhaps with Brown participating, we will begin to see the trend of more all-stars opting into this fan-favorite event in the future.
Here are five players we’d love to see do their thing in the NBA Slam Dunk contest.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
