Kinney Shoes NBA 1970s Upside Down Swoosh vintage sneaker poster

JUNE 2023 UPDATE: We will be posting this pair of Kinney NBA sneakers and many other pairs of sneakers from the blog will be going up for auction on our eBay shop in the next week or two. Opening bid is .99 cents with no reserve and worldwide shipping. If you’re interested we will post on our Instagram once the auctions are up.

Here’s a cool old school poster from Kinney NBA. The Kinney Shoes NBA 1970s Upside Down Swoosh vintage sneaker poster is an iconic piece that captures the essence of sports culture in the 70s. The poster showcases several pairs of Kinney Shoes with a unique upside-down swoosh and 4 stripe logos alongside the official NBA logo. The sneakers themselves are a classic representation of the era, with bold colors and designs. Kinney considered themselves to be “The Great American Shoe Store” and was massive at the time but eventually faded and later went on to found Foot Locker. The poster artwork was made by Ray Caram of Milano Studios in Long Island, NY. If you’re interested in more Kinney history check out this vintage commercial here.

Kinney Shoes NBA 1978 Upside Down Swoosh vintage sneaker commercial

Here’s a 1978 vintage commercial by Kinney Shoe Stores for their upside down swoosh and 4 stripe NBA branded sneakers. Kinney eventually went on to become the founder of what today is known as Foot Locker.

Kinney Shoes NBA's Ken Berry 1978 Vintage Sneaker Commercial

Here’s a strange 1978 vintage sneaker commercial for Kinney’s NBA line of 4 stripe sport shoes.

The original link is featured over at Indiana University.

Hoop Stars: Official NBA brand 1971 4 stripe basketball shoes

We’re kicking off December going deep into the archive. This old school ad is from 50 years ago when the National Basketball Association had their own brand of sneakers. During that time they were represented by the 4 stripe logo and looked a lot like the adidas Superstar and Converse All-Star. The NBA eventually partnered with Kinney Shoe Stores later in the 1970’s to put out the Kinney NBA model shoes.

Ad info is below:

You can fill this spot at the NBA All-Star game…

…if you can fill these shoes

Get into the NBA...feet first… and win a trip to the All-Star Game.

NBA Basketball Shoes wants two lucky young people to join their favorite NBA players at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles, California. To enter the NBA Basketball Shoe All-Star Game Contest, just go to your nearest sporting goods, retail, or department store, which carries NBA Basketball Shoes, for an entry blank. Two Grand Prize Winners will be selected one from the East and one from the West. Each will fly to the game on January 18, 1972, with a parent or guardian, to join their respective teams. Winners will be treated just like NBA All-Stars, attending banquets, practices, and finally being honorary team members at the game. And, they'll look like NBA All-Stars, too, with official game uniforms, NBA Basketball Shoes, and team travel bags. In addition, each winner's school will receive a 16 mm movie projector and an NBA film. Plus, there are over a thousand other prizes, including NBA basketball shoes and tickets to NBA games for those who are not Grand Prize winners. So, take a shot at it. You could be an honorary member of an NBA All-Star team. And if you really want to see what it feels like to be in an NBA pro's shoes, put on a pair of NBA Basketball Shoes and find out.

For the name of your nearest NBA footwear dealer call or write . . . Sports International Footwear Inc., 591 North Ave., Wakefield, Mass. 01880, (617) 245-9050.

Official NBA Basketball Shoes

No purchase is required. Winners will be drawn by random selection. The decision of the Judges will be final. All entries will become the property of NBA Basketball Shoes. Void in states where prohibited by law.

Kinney NBA Sneakers 4 stripe shoe commercial from 1980

We’ve covered Kinney’s NBA line previously with a few vintage ads and on the blog. Here’s a 1980 commercial for the Kinney NBA 4 stripe sneaker line.

Kinney NBA 1977 SL72 and SL76 style vintage sneakers

Here’s a 1977 vintage sneaker ad for the Kinney NBA runners. Kinney is now defunct but was a shoe store that was in shopping malls throughout the 70s and 80s. For awhile there Kinney was openly bootlegging the logos of sneakers made by bigger brands, including the Nike upside down swoosh shoes and Adidas-esque 4 stripers. This NBA sneaker basically merged the design elements of the Adidas SL72 with the D-Ring lace holder of the SL76 and threw on a heel wrap on the back.

Ad info is below:

THE KINNEY NBA
One action shoe that covers all the ground

• Easy breathing wide mesh gold nylon knit.
• Suede reinforcements at key stress points.
• Wrap-around rubber heel and toe protection.
• Ground gripper ribbed rubber sole.
• Fast tightening speed laces.
• Reinforced heel padding to protect achilles tendon.
• Full arch support.
• Extra thick heel wedge for extra comfort.
• Nylon foam padded tongue.
• A trimmed down, dynamite price tag!

Boys' sizes 3 to 6. Just $16.99 Men's sizes 61/2 to 13. $18.99 If you're a serious runner, a little leaguer, or the jock on the block, this is probably the best all around shoe value you can team up with. And it's only one of Kinney's great action collection of NBA sport shoes for everyone.

Kinney
The Great American Shoe Store

Kinney 1977 4 stripe NBA sneakers compared with Adidas SL72 and SL76

Kinney NBA 1970s vintage sneaker ad

Here's another Kinney NBA branded sneaker ad from 1970s, this time they're going heavy on the adidas style 4 stripes theme. The first Kinney NBA ad from 1977 is here.

​Ad info is below:

Instead of one shoe with many purposes... 

we made many shoes with one purpose. 

KINNEY
NBA'S.

Kinney NBA's are made for every sport with one purpose in mind. To be everything the high-priced athletic shoes are-without the high price.

Kinney NBA's are for athletes who are serious about their sport, whether it's running, tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer, raquetball, softball, football—or any sport that moves you. We know that nothing beats winning. But, why play to win at all costs—when you can play to win for less.

Kinney NBA's. For men. For women. For everyone.

We play the game your way. $13.99-$29.99 

BASKETBALL

TRAINING 

TENNIS

SOCCER

JOGGING

SOFTBALL 

BASEBALL

RUNNING 

Kinney

The Great American Shoe Store 

Prices slightly higher outside Continental U S

Kinney shoe store 1977 NBA vintage sneaker print ad

Here’s a Kinney shoe store print ad for their 1977 NBA vintage sneakers. If you want to see an actual pair of these ultra rare upside down swoosh logo sneakers we posted a pair for sale here.

Ad info is below:

🏀🎾👟⚽

If you buy an athletic shoe by name, remember this one.

Kinney NBA.

Kinney NBA. A great name in sports joins forces with a great name in footwear. And the result is quality. NBA athletic shoes have most of the same features you'd expect from a high-priced label. Full arch support, reinforced stress points, wrap-around heel and toe protection, padded tongue and heel. But they're priced far less. So get ready for action. Step into a pair of Kinney NBA's. With two great names on the same label, you can't go wrong.

Kinney
The Great American Shoe Store