Home »
Misc »
How to get basketball shoes for free
How to get basketball shoes for free
10 Legit Ways To Get Free Shoes (Such As Nike)
Can you get free shoes online? Yes, and I’m going to tell you how.
Maybe your budget is tight, and you are looking for options to save some money. Maybe you have super-active kids and cannot keep up with shoes, t-shirts, or clothes for them.
Or maybe you are a runner and always on the lookout for free running shoes. Whatever the reason, you can get a brand-new pair of shoes without spending a penny. In the article below, I show you where to get free shoes.
Will it be effortless? No, it won’t. It will require some work and some diligence on your part, but it’s completely worth it. Shall I show you how to do it?
💵 Need extra money in your budget? Find extra money every month with our 21-Day Money Finding Challenge!
Quick Navigation
How to Get Name Brand Shoes for Free
From various methods to get free shoes online, you can choose the one that seems the most convenient for you.![]()
Consider these options:
- become a product tester,
- get gift cards from Foot Locker,
- earn free shoes by taking surveys.
Let’s have a closer look at each of them.
Get Your Desired Shoes from a Product Testing Program
Popular shoe companies value the customer’s feedback. So in many cases, they offer free shoes in exchange for your honest opinion. The following companies have a testing program:
1. Adidas
If you want to become an Adidas product tester, apply on their website. The questionnaire is simple, and it only takes a few minutes to fill in.
If you are chosen for the program, the company sends you an email invitation. The test product comes by mail. You need to use it for a given mileage or a given amount of time per week.
The test period is around 2-4 weeks. During that time, log your daily activities precisely. In the end, fill in an easy questionnaire.
Then, send the product back. Don’t worry about the cost – Adidas provides a return label.
2. Columbia
Columbia offers you sportswear, including free running shoes or hiking boots if you want to become a product tester.
If you qualify, the company will send you their product together with a return label.
The program is geared towards geeks of outdoor activities. Testers get a series of tasks to complete throughout the testing period. Once it’s over, you send the shoes back. Apply Here.
3. Nike
Does Nike give free shoes? Yes, it does, as long as you are ready to provide feedback and describe your experience.
Their product testing program is open not only to adults but also to kids and teenagers. Parents fill in the application for kids and teenagers; they need parental consent to participate in the program. Sign up to get the chance to be selected.
As Nike’s shoe tester, you can test their product for a given amount of time. Then, in most cases, you will have to return it.
But the company will be sending you more products to test if they like your feedback.
We were unable to figure out how to get free Jordans, but to get discounted shoes, you could try shopping at a Nike outlet store, footlocker or Eastbay.
4. Brooks
Brooks products undergo severe tests before they hit the market. The last part of the tests is asking runners how the products prove themselves in the real world.
As a Brooks product tester, you must support the process of creating better Brooks gear and give in-depth feedback. Be ready to return the product when requested (they will send you a shipment label). You can sign up here.
5. Red Wing
Red Wing Shoes Company works hard to ensure its shoes meet legendary quality standards. First, the shoes undergo severe tests, like here: Next, the company asks testers how the shoes perform in severe working conditions. Ready to find out?
After the test, the company offers you compensation. In most cases, if you do the job well, they will let you keep their boots.
Red Wing covers all the shipping costs.
Note: Currently, the company is not recruiting new product testers.
6. Saucony
Here’s another proposition for athletes. If you are a runner and are ready to test Saucony’s running shoes in the roughest conditions, fill in the application form.
You will be asked numerous questions concerning your running habits, like the mileage you run per week or the surfaces you run on.
If you are approved, Saucony will deliver you their freshly designed product. You will be able to test it for a given amount of time.
7. New Balance
To enter the New Balance Tester Community, you will be asked to complete a profile with information about yourself.
Then, you will be notified about each new prototype test. When ready to take part, you will get New Balance shoes delivered right to your door. After the test period is over, you send the product back. No worries – they pay for the shipment.
8.
Reebok
Reebok has an offer for dedicated athletes. So if you run, walk, train or play daily, you are a good fit for their product tester program.
You also need to meet some requirements, such as:
- wear a certain shoe (or apparel) size
- be ready to do your sport in the given amount of hours or mileage per week
- be at least 18 years old
- live in the continental United States or Alaska.
If you are selected for a test and agree to participate, you will get the product by mail. The test period is 3-6 weeks. During that time, you will need to log your daily activities in detail. When the test period is over, answer a simple online questionnaire, and send the product back at your own cost.
The company will thank you by sending you a free Reebok product. You can sign up here.
9. Under Armour
Under Armour also allows you to test its products. Apply to be able to fill in the profile.
If you qualify, the company will send you their shoes completely free.
After the test period is over, you will be asked to send the product back at their cost. Sign up on their website.
10. Puma
Puma has a testing program, as well. However, this one is open only at specific times.
To take part, download the free Pumatrac App in the Apple Store or the GooglePlay Store. Then you will get access to an application form. If you are selected, you will receive a pair of shoes to test for three weeks.
The company expects from you some feedback in the form of a survey, videos, and photos. The good part? After you submit your testing results and your feedback, you become the owner of the shoes. Sign up here.
Bonus tip: You can get other products for free by becoming a product reviewer for Amazon.
How To Get Gift Cards From Foot Locker
Joining Foot Locker’s VIP Program already gives you some benefits, e.g., a coupon for $10 off your next purchase when you spend at least $50.
But the real fun begins when you become a Platinum Member.
To receive the status, spend at Foot Locker at least $300 within a year.
Then Foot Locker rewards you with a $10, $15 or $20 gift card when you spend $100, $150 or $ 200 on one purchase. When you collect enough rewards, you can exchange them for new shoes.
Free Shoes for Low-Income Families
If you or someone you know is having trouble affording shoes for their children, various organizations can help. Many of these organizations provide free kids’ shoes to families that need assistance.
Some of these organizations also accept donations of gently used shoes, which are then cleaned and distributed to families in need. If you or someone you know needs free shoes for children, many resources, like the ones listed below, are available to help.
Soles4Souls
For many homeless children, having a pair of shoes is a luxury they can only dream of. Without shoes, they are vulnerable to cuts, bruises, and elements. That’s where Soles4Souls comes in. This organization provides free shoes to homeless children all over the U.
S.
In addition to protecting their feet, the shoes also give them a boost of confidence. Knowing that they have shoes that fit well and look good helps them feel like they belong. With Soles4Souls, no child has to go without the essentials.
Shoes That Fit
Shoes That Fit is a non-profit organization providing new shoes to needy children. Since its founding in 1992, the organization has provided over 2 million pairs of brand-new shoes to children across the United States.
Shoes That Fit tackles one of the most visible signs of poverty by giving kids in need new athletic shoes to attend school with dignity and joy. The organization works with schools and community organizations to identify children in need and then provides them with new shoes.
Laces of Love
Since 2005, Laces of Love has provided new shoes to low-income and disadvantaged children in Southwest Florida. To date, they have helped over 200,000 kids in need. Children are selected for Laces of Love shoes by their guidance counselor, school nurse, teacher, principal, staff member or Executive Director of a non-profit organization serving the child.
My New Red Shoes
My New Red Shoes provides new shoes to children in need by partnering with agencies that serve them. Families experiencing hardship can receive vouchers to shop for shoes for their children from My New Red Shoes’ online store. This program provides essential support to families and helps to ensure that children have the resources they need to lead healthy and active lives.
Free Shoes for Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of the fight against illness. They are working long hours and risking their lives to save others. As a small way to say thank you, companies like Crocs, Brooks, and Kizik have given away free shoes to healthcare workers.
These offers frequently change, so we aren’t listing them here, but a quick Google search will show you if any of these offers are currently available. Thank you, healthcare workers, for all that you do! We appreciate you!
How to Get Used Shoes Free or Cheap
One way to get cheap or free shoes is to check with your local thrift stores.
Many of these stores accept donations of gently used shoes and sell them at a fraction of the original price. You can also check online classifieds sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
People frequently post ads seeking to give away unwanted shoes, or you can post an ad requesting shoes. Another option is to scour garage sales and flea markets for cheap shoes. You might not find exactly what you’re looking for, but you’re likely to find something close enough and within your budget. With patience and effort, you can find very cheap or free shoes.
Earn Free Shoes By Taking Surveys
You can also get free shoes if you are willing to take surveys in your spare time.
Surveys let you earn points you can redeem for cash or gift cards from, among others, retailers that sell shoes. If you are active, you can build your balance fast and get free shoes in a few weeks.
Legitimate and safe survey sites include places like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and YouGov.
Check here for a full list of my recommended survey sites.
Choose Your Way to Get Free Shoes
Now you know several ways to get free shoes online. Your job is now to choose the way that suits you best.
If you are a dedicated athlete who can’t imagine a day without sweat or outdoor activity, maybe becoming a shoe tester is the right way for you. In many cases, you can test shoe models that no one has ever seen before.
But if your preferred activity is to surf online from your couch, that’s fine. You can also get free sneakers by tapping your smartphone screen and answering surveys. For those who like being rewarded for spending money, Rakuten is a good option.
Anyway, you can save some money in your budget when you apply one or more of these strategies to get free shoes. Which way do you choose?
5403 shares
12 Simple Ways to Get Free Shoes Online
This article may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.
We all love getting free stuff, right? So knowing all the options out there for how to get free shoes can definitely be a winning strategy!
And as you’ll see, there are actually a surprising number of major companies out there offering free shoes to giveaway. In some cases, you’ll only be able to get them in exchange for a review and others are only for those in certain jobs, like the companies that provide free shoes for healthcare workers.
But either way, there may just be an option on this list that lets you take advantage of these offers too, whether you’re looking to get free Jordans or other Nike shoes, some other brand of free sneakers or a bunch of others!
START MAKING MORE MONEY TODAYWant to start earning more money as quickly as possible?
See what 7,800+ people said were their favorite, proven ways to make money – so you can do exactly the same thing.
Get it free for a limited time!
You’ll also join our mailing list to get updates on how to make and save money – unsubscribe at any time at the end of each email.
Table of Contents
How to get free shoes online
One of the main ways for almost anyone to get free shoes is through participating in testing programs.
This essentially means that you’re getting free shoes for a review on your thoughts on the shoe, including its comfort, style and fitness for purpose, like if it helped you with your running or another sport.
Nike
Given the massive popularity of their shoes, it’s hardly surprising that there are so many people trying to work out how to get free shoes from Nike.
Fortunately, they actually do have a program where you can help them to design amazing new products – or even improve existing ones.
Does Nike give free shoes?
Yes, you can get free shoes from Nike through one of several programs they offer where you can get free Nike shoes in exchange for a review.
Now we can’t tell you, say, how to get free Jordans shoes, as you’re not able to choose which ones they send you. Instead, they’re more likely to send you their new releases as free shoes for review.
How to get free shoes from Nike
The way to get free Nike shoes is to apply to become a product tester for them. How it works is that you’ll either get some apparel or a pair of free shoes by mail to review. Alternatively, if you live close to a testing center, you’re able to come in for an in-person shoe test.
You’ll then be asked to wear the shoes for a certain period of time, which can be for anything from one month to a few months. You may also be asked to do certain activities in them, such as playing sport, to test how well they can withstand wear and tear.
Once the testing period is over, Nike asks you to send the shoes back for their Research and Development Department to take a closer look at the shoes and analyse how they have held up.
How do I become a Nike shoe tester?
You can apply to become a Nike shoe tester through Nike’s Voice of the Athlete site. Applicants’ profiles are reviewed and then, if they are considered eligible, applicants are contacted with the next steps on how to participate.
The application page for getting these free Nikes shoes is available here with different sections for the following applicants:
- One application for those who are 18 and older
- Another application for those aged between 13 and 17 years old
- An application for kids who are 12 years old and younger, to be completed by their parents
It’s worth noting that the application for those who are between 13 and 17 years old needs to be done alongside a parent, who must confirm that they give permission for their teen to do this.
(But it’s still a great option for any teens looking to make money, as getting free shoes means you can save the money you’ve earned for other things.
)
Do Nike testers get paid?
Nike testers don’t get paid. Instead, their compensation is the free shoes and other apparel that they receive for participating in the testing program.
One thing to note is that you don’t actually get your free Jordans (for example!) to keep indefinitely. While you may prefer to keep them forever, keep in mind that if you send the shoes back along with suitable feedback, you’ll continue to be eligible to receive new products.
This means that you could set yourself up to actually get free shoes several times a year.
Related: How to Live Cheap: 54 Frugal Living Tips to Save You Money
Vans
While Vans doesn’t have a product testing program, there is still a way to get free shoes from Vans.
How to get free shoes from Vans
Vans has a program which is essentially a customer loyalty scheme. As a member, you’re able to “unlock entry to exclusive family only products, promotions and experiences”, which can include getting free shoes.
You’ll also earn points through the Vans Family program by doing random things such as confirming your email, referring friends to their program and purchasing Vans products. Those points can then be redeemed for other products.
However, one extra perk you can get for being a member of the Vans Family is that, from time to time, they’ll send you free shoes by mail as a surprise.
And this isn’t even as rare as you think, with people on Reddit getting free shoes from Vans here, here, here and here.
Source: Reddit
Adidas
If you’re looking for free shoes, Adidas is here to help. This is because, like Nike, they also have a highly reputable testing program.
How to get free shoes from Adidas
To get free shoes from Adidas, you need to create a profile in the Adidas product testing program and make sure you meet the minimum requirements on there. These include living in the US or Europe, being at least 18 years old and agreeing to not test any competitor products or share information on what you’re asked to test.
You can access the Adidas product testing page here, including to review all of the minimum requirements in full to make sure that it works for you.
If you’re selected, you’ll receive an email inviting you to participate in a round of testing of a particular product. Once you accept this, they’ll send you some free shoes by mail.
At that point, you’re expected to test the product for a minimum number of hours or mileage per week for the testing period, which is usually around two to four weeks.
Make sure you take detailed notes on how you use the free shoes, so Adidas knows how they’ve been used. Then, at the end of the test, you’ll be asked to mail the shoes back – which Adidas pays for.
And if they like your work, you’ll continue to be eligible for future tests! This means that while you don’t get to keep your free shoes, you could have new ones in rotation basically as frequently as you want.
Related: How to Drastically Cut Expenses: 43 Easy Ways That Actually Work
BOOST YOUR INCOME TODAYNeed to make more money but don’t want to waste your time?
See what 7,800+ people said were their top ways to make money – so you too can earn extra cash as fast as possible.
Get it free for a limited time!
You’ll also join our mailing list to get updates on how to make and save money – unsubscribe at any time at the end of each email.
Brooks
If you’re a runner, you’ve definitely heard of Brooks before. They have some of the best running shoes in the business, so getting a free pair should be a priority if you like to pound the pavement from time to time.
How to get free running shoes from Brooks
To get free running shoes from Brooks, you have to sign up for their testing program. If you meet the various requirements and are considered eligible, you also have the chance to be sent other apparel too.
You can sign up for this here. As you’ll see at that link and as just mentioned, they have certain requirements that are similar to Adidas in order to be eligible to get free sneakers, in that you have to be 18 and agree to keep the product information confidential. This includes no posting on social media.
Their program is only available to those living in the US but if you live in Seattle, you have the added bonus possibility of being selected to come to Brooks’ lab and help them test their products there.
Given what Brooks is known for, you’re more likely to be selected if you’re a runner. That said, anyone who prefers other sports can still be considered given that Brooks is looking for all sorts of people who use their shoes in all sorts of different ways.
Also keep in mind that you don’t have to be a champion runner. On the contrary, they specifically say that you can run at any time, any pace.
You’ll get to use your free running shoes for around three months, at which point Brooks will ask for them to be sent back (which they pay for) for their Research and Development Team to look at. And then you can sit back and wait for the next testing round to participate in!
New Balance
New Balance is another brand that’s well known to anyone who considers themselves a bit of an athlete.![]()
And luckily for you, they also have a great product testing program for you to score yourself some free shoes from New Balance.
How to get free shoes for review from New Balance
To get free shoes for review from New Balance, sign up to become a product tester on their site. You’ll have to provide some details about yourself, including how often you exercise as well as what you do.
Rest assured though that you don’t have to be an Olympian to qualify though. From there, if they think you’re a fit, you’ll be contacted by their testing team and sent some free shoes by mail.
Simply wear them as you would any other pair of sports shoes, log your usage and provide feedback on their fit, usage, comfort and more. Your feedback will then be used to improve New Balance’s product line going forward.
Sign up here to get shoes for free from New Balance.
Is there a free shoes app?
While there isn’t a specific free shoes app, there are apps where you can earn points to be converted into gift cards.
You can then use those gift cards to buy shoes, making them completely free.
And the best part is you get to keep the shoes forever, not only for a certain period of testing!
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is easily one of our most recommended apps for making free money. It’s given out literally hundreds of millions of dollars to its users over the year just for them doing all sorts of activities.
(Starting with the free $10 welcome bonus you’ll get just for verifying your email!)
This includes playing games, watching videos, doing surveys and even using their in-built search engine.
And the points you earn can be converted into gift cards at almost any major retailer you can imagine, including Amazon, Target, Walmart and even PayPal or Visa gift cards, which is basically like receiving straight up cash.
You can then use those gift cards to buy that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing off – and they’ll be totally free!
If you’d like to know more, our Swagbucks review will answer all your questions and more.
SwagbucksFree sign-up bonus: $5A great app for making extra money, including with cash back from online shopping, watching videos, playing games and more.
And given it’s paid out over $550 million through Amazon, Paypal and other gift cards, it’s 100% legit.
GET $5 FREE
Ibotta
Ibotta is another great app for making money. In fact, it’s easily the top of the game when it comes to the cash back apps, as it’s perfect for giving you money for things you’d be buying already. So, for example, if you’re looking for how to dress professionally on a budget, using Ibotta when buying your work clothes will give you an automatic discount on basically everything!
How it works is that when you buy things like groceries, medicine or clothes at any of its 500 partner retailers (including online), the app will give you money back per item. This cash then accrues to be exchanged for gift cards at all the stores plus more listed in the Swagbucks section above.
And you can get started with the pretty amazing free $20 sign up bonus just for redeeming your first offer.
Check out our Ibotta review to find out more.
IbottaFree sign-up bonus: $20
Ibotta is a completely free app that gives you cash back on what you’re buying already – groceries, medicine, clothes and more.
In fact, users make $150 per year on average – not including your free $20 welcome bonus – with over $682 million having been paid out, so you know Ibotta is definitely legit.
GET $20 FREE
Free shoes for healthcare workers and other essential workers
At the moment, the COVID-19 pandemic is still very much active, with healthcare and other essential workers bearing the full brunt of what, at this point, feels like a never ending situation.
But as you may have heard, some companies have come out and offered to give free shoes to medical staff and other frontline workers, as a small way to say thank you for what they are doing for the rest of us.
These offers change quite quickly, so it’s worth doing a Google search whenever you read this to see what the most up to date information is, just in case there’s something new we haven’t reflected here yet.
In particular, some of the offers listed below may not be available any more by the time you read this, although we’ll do our best to keep it up to date.
(And if you see any that aren’t listed here, please let us know!)
Free Kizik shoes for healthcare workers
Kizik is known for its hand-free shoes, in that you can slip them on and off without having to touch them. And it helps that they look really good too – these aren’t your grandparents slippers we’re talking about here.
Given how important it is right now to limit our touching, especially for essential workers who may be more exposed to the virus, they’re offering to donate 1,000 pairs of free Kizik shoes for healthcare workers.
To find out more and request a pair, click here.
Crocs: Free shoes to frontline workers
We may have our own opinion on what Crocs look like, but there’s no denying that they’re comfortable.
Which is why it’s great news that Crocs is running a Sharing a Free Pair for Healthcare program, which has given away over 910,000 pairs of shoes globally since late March 2020 to healthcare workers.
Find out more here.
Brooks: Free shoes for NHS staff and other healthcare workers in Europe
In April and May 2020, Brooks donated a total of 6,000 pairs of free running shoes to healthcare workers across Europe, including NHS staff in the UK as well as Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, France and more.
While the program isn’t active as we write this, it’s worth keeping an eye on their site to see when it reopens, as they’ve hinted at running a similar offer again in the near future.
Free used shoes
Keep an eye on places like Facebook groups in your local area for free shoe giveaways, as these can be a goldmine of free stuff.
This includes if you’re trying to be fashionable on a budget. And you don’t even have to limit yourself to local groups, as you can also get free shoes and just pay shipping if they’re coming from further away.
It may sound odd to look for free used shoes and it’s true that you do have to be careful about the quality you’re getting.
But this can work particularly well for getting free kids’ shoes in pretty good condition. Just think how quickly they grow out of their shoes and how much less wear time they’ve probably had.
Another tip is to look based on the seasons. Winter shoes are often given away in spring and summer, especially for kids by parents who don’t think the shoes will fit when the next winter rolls round.
Free shoes for low income families
There are various organizations out there helping people who may be struggling to get by through offering free shoes for kids.
These are usually organized through schools and are generally location-specific.
For example:
- Laces of Love has provided free shoes to over 200,000 kids in Southwest Florida
- My New Red Shoes has given free shoes and clothing to nearly 90,000 homeless and low-income children in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Shoes That Fit has provided over 2 million pairs of free shoes for kids across the US
If you would like to know more, including to nominate your school or another one you know that’s in need of some help, these organizations and more will be able to give you more information.
Final thoughts on how to get free shoes
Figuring out how to get free shoes, whether it’s for a few weeks as a product tester or forever, can be a great bonus for anyone, especially if you’re trying to save money.
Let’s be honest: anything free (including getting free books mailed to your home) is always appreciated.
This is why it’s worth applying to as many of these programs as you qualify for. And you never know when a free pair of shoes will drop into your letterbox!
READY FOR MORE?Join thousands of subscribers in getting regular tips in your inbox on how to take control of your finances and make more money – and, for a limited time, get our free guide on the 20 most popular side hustles as a gift!
You’ll also join our mailing list to get updates on how to make and save money – unsubscribe at any time at the end of each email.
Related posts
About the author
Anna is the founder of LogicalDollar and a personal finance expert, having been seen in Forbes, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, CreditCards.com and many more. She’s committed to helping others get on the path to financial freedom using the experience gained from turning $60,000 in debt into a thriving investment portfolio. Find out more.
Boston Offseason and Firstfruits - Boston Celtics
After last year's success of the Boston Celtics, and reaching the NBA Finals, perhaps, can still be attributed to relative success, according to fans of LeBron James, there were many questions and there was no certainty about what the team really is. and is it even capable of claiming the championship and solving serious problems.
After all, let's be honest, starting from the second round of PO 2022, Boston hardly overcame Milwaukee, weakened by Middleton's injury, in 7 matches, then almost gave the end of the 7th game, and with it the whole series, to the half-dead Miami, and in the final and completely believing in themselves, they decided to transfer the “Golden State”.
Moreover, the further the team went into software, the more boring and primitive its game in attack became.
In any case, getting to the final after more than 14 years softened even the constantly aching feeling of stinginess of the Boston owners, and although Vic Grosbeck himself admitted that, in his opinion, the team frankly jumped above his head and was not a legitimate contender, he allowed Brad Stevens to climb in the summer into a luxury tax and spend the money on strengthening the composition.
Two points were obvious from Boston's game: first, they lack rally and thought in attack, and second, if Tatum and Brown are put down at the same time, the team lacks size and scoring. As a result, Malcolm Brogdon, whom Indiana dreamed of getting rid of in order to rebuild and develop youth led by Halliburton and Danilo Gallinari, whose contract was bought out in San Antonio, became the targets for strengthening, and Boston turned out to be the only contender capable of offering him a mid-level on 6 million dollars.
And, it would seem, good players were received conditionally free of charge, because only Tice was given for Brogdon, who was not a full-fledged player in the rotation of Udoka and Nesmith, whom Udoka made practically a player in the third G-League team during the season. From all sides it seemed that “Boston” did just the perfect job in the offseason. Only one thing confused everyone - the stories of injuries of new arrivals! In addition, knowing the karmic “luck” of “Boston” for these same injuries at the most inopportune moments.
And while all foreign analysts in the summer podcasts agreed that now “Boston” definitely cannot be stopped and how and in what combinations such versatile players can be used – Gallinari in one of the games preparing for the European Championship out of the blue tore the cruciate ligaments of the knee and left for the season.
Behind him, a second operation on his knee was also needed by Rob Williams – largely due to the game of which “Boston” was one of the best defensive teams last season.
The recovery time was set at around 12 weeks, i.e. the return of the main center of the team and one of its best defenders will be due around January 2023, and everyone in Boston already knows that it is better not to rush with his return.
Then they flew in from where they didn’t expect: the team’s head coach Ime Udoka, who was praised by many for being able to rid the team of “old habits” and instill discipline in the team, is suspended for a season for violating this very discipline, or rather the intra-club rules on relations between employees organizations.
And this is in a season where the team will have to fight for the repetition and development of last year's success!
And the latter looks very untimely, given that a little earlier in the summer, Danny Ainge had already taken Udoka's chief assistant and another promising graduate of the school, Greg Popovich, Will Hardy, from Boston to Utah.
As a result, Brad Stevens decides to appoint as interim head coach his longtime assistant, a man who has spent more than one year in the organization and is well known to the team leaders - Joe Mazzulla.
And despite all the fears and skepticism - now it looks like a very right decision. Under the leadership of Mazzulla at the start of the season, the team looks great and plays as expected from it for a long time!
Tatum and Brown are finally stable. I don’t know if last year’s performance in the finals and the following summer changed something in their minds, if Tatum felt that he could compete for the MVP of the season, if Brown was offended by missing out on the MVP last year. But this season, from the very beginning, they are both focused and effective, and even in matches when the shot is not in play, they find ways to remain useful and dangerous offensively through passes and cuts under the basket, flirting with teammates, working in defense and on rebounds. They complain less to the referees and are more focused on what they do or don't do and finally more passes to each other. Tatum attacks more often and better from passes into the paint and more often gets on the free throw line than in previous seasons, he has become better at choosing shots and at the start of the season he is among the top three contenders for the MVP of the season according to bookmakers.
And most importantly, he began to less express dissatisfaction from the game and talk with referees, with which he obviously overdid it in previous seasons. Brown is now much more likely to have a "Plan B" when running into a crowd of defenders than before when he was just losing the ball in these situations. Both are involved in the movement of the ball, i.e. the attack of the team does not end as soon as one of the Jays has the ball in his hands.
Smart has become a full-fledged point guard and does not play the hero. For all the usefulness that Marcus Smart demonstrates in defense, in attack he was often a player, during the throws of which many fans wondered: “WHY?!?”. Despite his rather modest percentage of hits, he often took on unprepared long-range shots in the first seconds of the team's attack without trying to get under the basket or play any combinations. Now he has become more aggressive in getting under the basket and sometimes even pushing the opponent's players, who are inferior to him in size, into post-ups.
The choice of shooting positions has also improved significantly and in those moments in which he used to throw bricks, now he passes or starts the pass. Defensively, he has always been good and nothing should change this season.
Malcolm Brogdon - does exactly what was expected of him - he is the main shock link of the second squad. He aggravates with passes, hits from behind the arc, passes, defends. Often you can even hear the idea that he should replace Smart in the starting lineup. But having two excellent scorers at the start in the face of Tatum and Brown, it seems to me that there is no need to oversaturate him with “firepower”.
And, besides, in basketball at any time you can make a replacement and put on the bench a player who does not fit into the game or a specific positional confrontation. And given the history of Brogdon's injuries, releasing him against the opponent's bench looks like a fairly balanced and reasonable decision. And for a stable game of the starting line-up, it is desirable that this very line-up changes as rarely as possible, which in the case of Brogdon is still a lottery.
Darrick White has worked on his shot and is showing the kind of game he was expected to do when he was traded from San Antonio at the start of the season. He still defends well, but now he also hits a lot better and is more aggressive in the passes.
Grant Williams, despite unsuccessful negotiations to extend the contract on his own terms, demonstrates new elements of his game, which, as a result, can help him get a better contract at the end of the season than he originally expected. He is still attacking from the arc with a percentage above 40%, but now he still practices passes, floaters, passes, catches alley-oops and can throw after a fake move with subsequent relocation. In defense, he also changes to any player of any position and there are no outright constant failures. The only annoying thing about him is the unreasonably frequent appeal to the referees, because he resents any whistle not in his favor and starts talking with them, it seems, more often than Tatum in previous years.
Al Horford is still good for his age and role. And most importantly, what Boston is doing is not using Al in back-to-backs and limiting him to below 30 minutes per game. This approach should allow Horfod to approach the PO in good shape and not overwork on the course. And when Rob Williams returns to duty, I think Al's minutes will be reduced even more.
Also, unlike Udoki, Joe Mazzulla is not afraid to experiment and seek help on the bench.
So he does not hesitate to give playing time to Sam Houser, who at the start of the season attacks in the best tradition of Steph Curry or Clay Thompson with a percentage from behind the arc above 50%, and Payton Pritchard, who has become the team's new “lighter” from the bench. And he doesn't hesitate to release Luke Cornette, Noah Vonle or Blake Griffin to give Al Horford extra minutes to rest. Last season, under the leadership of Udoka, the rotation of players was much more modest, and the minutes of the leaders were much higher.
But the most important difference, in my opinion, is that under Mazzulla the team plays more diverse offensively and, most importantly, can rebuild during the match if the original strategy does not work. If last season Tatum almost always had to play the ball, now Smart, White, Brogdon, Tatum and even Brown are allowed to do this. If last season the team had a percentage of hits from the arc lower than that of the opponent, then this was automatically a defeat. Now the team at some point stops throwing bricks and tries to come up with something else: passes, cuts, post-ups, medium throws.
The attack of the team looks definitely more interesting. At the same time, there are drawdowns in defensive statistics, but let's not forget that the main pillar of defense in the person of Rob Williams is now in the infirmary.
In any case, looking at the composition of the team and the game since the beginning of the season, we can safely assume that without serious injuries, the team can and should fight for a deep trip to the PO and even the championship.
The main thing is to bring the team to the PO in optimal conditions and, if possible, further strengthen the existing trading exceptions and, possibly, Gallinari's contract, which, most likely, will no longer benefit the team either this or next season.
ᐉ Futsal ball SELECT Futsal Tornado FIFA Quality PRO
-20%
2500 -501
1 999
Delivery
Seller of goods: FitnessMarket
Seller's other items
Main characteristics
-
- Category: Football
- Purpose: amateur, for adults, for children, for football, game, match, professional, semi-professional, training, universal, universal, unisex
- Product material: polyurethane, thermopolyurethane
- Ball size: four
All features
Buy with this product
Advertising
Description Futsal ball SELECT Futsal Tornado FIFA Quality PRO
• Size: 4
• Color: orange blue,
• Material: TPU
• Chamber: butyl
• Number of panels: 32
• Weight: 400-440 g
• Circumference: 62-64 cm
• Rebound: 50- 65 cm
• Connection type: hand-stitched
• Recommendations: match and training ball
• Features: The ball is an exclusive joint development of Select Sport A/S and the Futsal Association of Ukraine, thanks to which it is maximally adapted to use in Ukrainian realities.
