"Good design is a balance between art and science -- bold expression and just enough familiarity." -- Eric Avar, Nike Designer

There's certain sneakers that stand the test of time and become iconic. Whether through innovative design, or because a defining moment occurs while being worn by a player, some shoes are renowned, and considered sacred by hoops fans worldwide. Nike is commemorating the past the past twenty years of being a leader in the design, and innovation, of basketball footwear by re-releasing a number of it's most iconic designs.

Some have already hit retail - some are still to come - but check out the first four and tell us what you think.

From the Nike media release :

Celebrating 20 years of design and innovation, Nike takes a retrospective look at 20 iconic NIKE BASKETBALL designs that have changed the game of basketball.
Nike Basketball's releases over the past two decades represent the constant work-in-progress to redefine one of the world's most beloved games.
Since the early 1990's when basketball took forefront on the global sporting stage, Nike has designed shoes for every movement, every primetime dunk, every embarrassment in a concrete park somewhere.
Just as superstars such as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley went on to inspire the performance of a new wave of icons,  Nike has evolved and perfected its own contribution to the game— iconic designs such as the Max Air, Nike Zoom, Tuned Air, Nike Shox & Nike Lunarlon.
 
In celebration of its legacy within basketball, Nike has re-released several of its design classics, including 1992's Nike Air Force 180 Low, 1996's Nike Air More Uptempo, 2000's Nike Shox BB4 & 2004's Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4.