For the second time in its history, the NBA has dropped the banhammer on a pair of shoes. On the 25th Anniversary of the NBA’s ban on Nike’s Air Jordan 1, a pair of shoes called the Concept 1 by Athletic Propulsion Labs has become the new embargo target due it’s spring systems.  APL founders claim it can unleash your inner-Bow-Wow and add significant ups to your game.

A senior NBA official stated [that], “Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game ‘that creates an undue competitive advantage (e.g., to increase a player’s vertical leap).’ In light of that rule…players will not be permitted to wear the APL shoes during NBA games.”

In biomechanical testing at a leading West Coast university laboratory, the APL Concept 1 shoes delivered increases in vertical leap of up to 3.5 inches when compared against a leading competitive brand’s most expensive basketball shoe.

“We were not exactly shocked to hear the NBA chose to ban our shoes,” said APL co-founder Adam Goldston. “The Load ‘N Launch Technology not only provides an instant and dramatic increase in vertical leap, but the biomechanical testing showed that the players exerted far less energy as a result.”

Yahoo Finance

If what the brothers Goldston claim about the extra vert is true, I guess they shouldn’t be surprised.  But they should be thankful, because these things are about to become the hottest kicks on the street.  Am I crazy or does everyone who plays even occasional pickup suddenly NEED to have the shoes that are too awesome for the NBA to allow?

If you don’t think the ban is amazing PR, check out APL’s website and tell me what they think.

Athletic Propulsion Labs via Yahoo

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