Everyone is compared to Michael Jordan. Whether you’re Kobe Bryant on the basketball court or Kanye West with your Yeezys, the pinnacle comparison for anyone remotely connected to basketball or sneakers, is MJ and his Air Jordans. Long before Jordans were being retroed, a guy by the name of Harold Miner was being compared to MJ because of plays like the one below.
Harold Miner was a star at USC where he averaged over 23 points per game and was voted as the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year. After leaving school a year early, possibly due to the fact he wore LA Gear as a Trojan, Miner was drafted by the Miami Heat. So what the hell are we talking about him today for?
Harold Miner in the Nike Air Go LWP via Sneaker History
Harold Miner turns 45 today. You know, back like 45? On the Jordan 10s? He had those. But we’ll get to that.
Despite only playing in the NBA for 4 years, Miner became legendary because of the never ending comparisons to Michael Jordan. Harold won the dunk contest in 1993 wearing the Nike Air Dynamic Flight. He won it again in 1995 wearing the white based version of the original Nike Air Go LWP. Both sneakers rank near the top of the Cop List for anyone who collects Nike Basketball shoes from back in the day. In fact, the Air Go LWP ranks amongst the best performing basketball shoes even years after its original release, according to Sole Collector. It was also worn by Tim Hardaway, and released as an exclusive Warriors colorway at House of Hoops in 2010.
With MJ being one of his heroes, Harold Miner was visibly nervous when he faced Michael for the first time. But clearly he made an impression on Jordan because a couple seasons later, Harold Miner ended up with player exclusive Chicago Jordan 10s that featured his number 32 stitched into the side, much like the City Series Jordan retro releases that drop this year that have the city letters stitched into the ankle.
Harold Miner Air Jordan 10 via Sneaker News
Not even MJ’s own kids could live up to His Airness on the basketball court, yet somehow we keep comparing anyone who shows glimpses of greatness. Harold Miner stepped out of the spotlight years ago but in the 4 short years he was compared to MJ, he left a lasting impression, notched 2 NBA Slam Dunk titles and rocked some of the best Nike basketball sneakers of the day. We can’t be mad at that.
