This weekend, we’ll be packing our bags and heading up to Brisvegas for Foot Locker’s pop-up NBA court.  The whole shebang is to celebrate Queensland’s own House of Hoops store – delivering all things basketball for the Cane Toads in the Sunshine State.

Ahead of the House of Hoops opening, here are five sneakers (not the specific colourways pictured, mind you) that will be available at the store. See some modern classics below and head down to King George Square this Saturday and Sunday to test out your skills. You can see all of the details right inside here.

THE KOBE XI

For those who find traditional basketball shoes intimidatingly chunky, the Kobe has been a Godsend for both ballers and streetwear enthusiasts alike. With a lower profile and lightweight design, the Kobe XI adequately heralds Black Mamba, who bowed out of the NBA in blazing fashion earlier this year after 20 definitive years with the Lakers. He scored a shitload of points in that last game and had the whole LWA office yelling at the lagging live stream on our laptops. We all know that sneaker fans love to geek out on details and narratives, and the Kobe XI features four lines or stitch marks on the back of the left heel – representing four feet of thread used in Bryant’s 2013 Achilles surgery. What a trooper! The Kobe XI is also available on Nike ID, which recently launched Down Under for all of your customising fantasies to come true.

[Image via Sneaker Bar Detroit]

LEBRON XIII

King James is the real deal. You know that he’s the real deal because he’s been shouted out by Kanye West, Jay Z, Clipse, Fabolous and God himself aka Gucci Mane in various rap anthems. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that his line of basketball shoes ranks as one of the most popular, with the XIII being an undeniable highlight. It features a robotic design that latches onto your feet like a swaggy Transformer, with reflective and metallic elements adding to the futuristic aesthetic with ferocity. The XIII means business, and the edition above even features red speckle on the midsole. Is that blood? Yes, it’s the blood of your opponents after you pull a reverse windmill dunk on their ass.

[Image via Highsnobiety]

HYPERLIVE

The featherweight Hyperlive is all about breathability – it’s like two little air conditioners for your feet. From the mesh body to low-cut design, this is contemporary court design that allows for air to flood all those sweaty spots. It also features a toebox covered in an oversized swoosh that’s similar to what we see on the Air Max 2016, and we’re not complaining – the bigger the logo, the better in our books. The front of the sneaker is also covered in a dainty cage for security, much more tame that what we see on a Presto or Air Max Plus. A hexagonal outsole also allows for traction in all directions when you’re going hard in the paint. You know that hexagons are great because BBQ Shapes – the most supreme flavour – are also hexagonal. God bless hexagons.

[Image via Nike]

THE KYRIE 2

Over the years we’ve seen Nike upgrade many of our favourite models like the Air Max 95 and 97 with Hyperfuse technology, moulding the different layers of materials into a sleek, lightweight upper for a slimmer design. That same approach has been applied to the the second signature shoe from Cleveland’s Kyrie Andrew, aptly named the Kyrie 2. Design-wise, the silhouette is dominated by a strap that secures the foot, a big seat belt for that keeps you strapped in at all costs. The swoosh is sitting unconventionally on the midsole, and we’re guessing that Nike are running out of places to put their logo on shoes by now. Maybe underneath the insole next? This sneaker is made for players like Kyrie who are quick off the first step, so if you’ve ever dreamed of being the Rookie of the Year like old mate, lace a pair of these up and spring to action.

[Image via Sneakernews]

LEBRON XIII ELITE

Close your eyes and imagine how comforting a hug from your Grandma is. Now, instead of your Grandma, imagine that it’s LeBron James, and he’s hugging your foot. Pause. That’s exactly what happens with the Lebron XIII Elite, which softens the sturdy exterior with a inner-sleeve that makes you feel like your wearing a pair of socks. A smoother design than the XIII compadre, the XIII elite uses fancy things like ‘Flywire’ and ‘Phylon Foam’. Phylon is the stuff that fuckin’ champions are made of, so get stuck into a whole lot of it with this gargantuan sneaker.

[Image via Nike]

[Head image via Getty]