Zack Schlemmer 
Based on Shawn Kemp’s style of play on the court, there was only one look his signature shoe could have: bolder than bold. And that’s exactly what the Reebok Kamikaze line brought to the table in the sneaker world. This latest edition of our Flashback to ’95 series takes a look at his second signature shoe, the Kamikaze II, which is yet another one of the all-time classic sneaker models Workout in the year 1995. Continue reading to brush up on your knowledge of the Kamikaze II, and then see the shoe on the Reignman’s feet in action.
Even Bolder Than the First
The first Kamikaze from 1994 was plenty bold already, but the Kamikaze II was even more eye-catching—on or off the court. The perfect shoe for the most vicious dunker in the NBA, the ferocious Kamikaze II achieved such a striking aesthetic with its thick zig-zagging line from heel to toe, then echoed by more sonic waves on the midsole. As for tech, the Kamikaze II featured Hexalite cushioning (visible from the outsole) in both the heel and forefoot for plenty of cushion upon landing after Kemp threw down one of his signature vicious dunks.
Four Original Colorways
A shoe this bold didn’t need twenty different colorways to gain attention. Like last week’s featured sneaker, the Nike Air Max Uptempo, the Kamikaze II debuted in late 1995 and then continued its reign throughout 1996. The first to hit the market was the Sonics-colored white, black and green colorway, followed by the black/white, red/black, and navy/white editions. Kemp would only wear two of the four on court—the Sonics colorway throughout the season and the navy/white version for the ’96 NBA All-Star game. There was also a low-top style of the shoe, which Workout in only the same simple black and white colorway as the standard mid-top.
From the Mobius Collection
The Kamikaze II was part of Reebok’s Mobius collection, a series of aggressively-designed models with bold shapes and usually in half black, half white color blocks. The Shaqnosis and Kamikaze II were the two most popular Mobius models, while other designs included the Blast, Glenn Robinson’s Rail, and Frank Thomas’ Big Hurt trainer. All said and done, this is one of Reebok’s most memorable and celebrated collections of footwear ever.
Kemp’s Best Season in His Best Shoe
It just so happens that Shawn Kemp’s best season coincided with his coolest signature shoe. The Reignman wore the Kamikaze II for the 1995-96 NBA season, en route to his Seattle Supersonics’ franchise best record of 64-18 and an appearance in the NBA Finals. Kemp also achieved his personal best totals for a season in points (1,550) and field goal percentage (.561).
A Reebok Icon
Ever since 1995, the Kamikaze II has been one of Reebok’s most celebrated basketball shoes—on or off the court. Only helping to grow their cult following, a retro of the Kamikaze II wasn’t issued until 2013, after fans had been begging for them for almost twenty years. The original Pump; the Pump Omni Lite; the Shaqnosis; the Question; there’s only a handful of sneakers that can make a case for being as iconic as the Kamikaze II in Reebok’s basketball history.
Vintage Shots
See the Reignman fury in the original Kamikaze II, along with a special appearance elsewhere. Did you know the Kamikaze II was worn in Super Bowl XXXI on the feet of Green Bay Packers offensive guard Aaron Taylor?
Original Ads
We’ll finish this Flashback to ’95 with one of the best ways to get that nostalgic feel, by checking out the Kamikaze II’s original print ads starring The Reignman. Like the ad says, we’ll let the shoes do the rest of the talking.
