Before highlight reels lived on YouTube, J.R. Rider was putting defenders on posters — and Converse took notice. In the recent episode of All The Smoke Unplugged, Rider revealed the origin story behind his deal with Converse as well as his signature sneaker, The Sky Rider.
J.R. Rider drops the story behind his classic Converse Sky Rider 🤯
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Real sneakerheads from the ‘90s remember J.R. Rider’s signature Converse shoe, The Sky Rider. However, some may not be familiar with the story that landed him with the legendary sneaker brand. Rider had just won the college dunk contest, throwing down a thunderous between-the-legs dunk. His agent at the time, Arn Tellem, only represented a few NBA players, including Reggie Miller and UCLA basketball legend Don MacLean, with most of his client base being baseball players. Rider shared that Tellem was new to the basketball scene as he hadn’t had much experience representing a high-flying athlete with flair and excitement like himself. Rider advocated for himself and told Tellem that he was going to win the dunk contest in the NBA (which he did) and to try to put together a deal for him with Nike. Rider explained that Nike was highly invested in Penny Hardaway and Chris Webber, and rightfully so. Back then, Rider says shoe companies only really PAID two players at a time. You could get a shoe deal, but it would not be a lucrative multi-year deal. Rider went to Converse, where they presented him with a multi-million dollar deal and made him the face of the brand, alongside Larry Johnson and Kevin Johnson.
Rider expressed that this was the greatest time of his life as Converse gave him full autonomy to name the shoe, and he could capitalize on a successful rookie campaign, winning the dunk contest and making the All-Rookie team. Rider averaged 16 points in his rookie year and he made sure to point out that he averaged 20 points per game as a starter. Moreover, his experience with his signature shoe was exciting and a significant accomplishment for a kid from East Oakland. Today, people from his old neighborhood still show him their pairs from back in the day. Ultimately, Rider compared his move to go with Converse to why Grant Hill and Jamal Mashburn signed with FILA. He said you have to side with the company that’s willing to invest the most in you.
Watch or listen to the full episode below and keep an eye on DraftKings Network for new episodes of All The Smoke Unplugged every Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Pistons Want ALL THE SMOKE, White Boy Dark Alley MVPs & Final Four Previews
It’s a brawl night in the NBA! Matt, Keyon & J.R. break down the recent skirmish between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. The guys then look back on scraps of NBA’s past, including the time J.R. flexed on the New York Knicks and got checked by Charles Oakley.
Matt turns his focus to this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game and its headliners AJ Dybantsa & Alijah Arenas. Listen in as the guys reflect on high school stars of years past, sharing classic stories of Baron Davis and Tracy McGrady.
As NCAA March Madness heads into Final Four weekend, the trio looks back on tournament action and share predictions for both the Men’s & Women’s side.
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