Today in Performance Sneaker History: Chris Webber Turns 40

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Complex Original

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Ask any college hoops fan which team had that undeniable "cool" factor during the '90s and you'll likely hear one common response: the Fab Five. Michigan's infamous group of 1991 freshmen included Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, Ray Jackson, and a 6'10" power-forward by the name of Chris Webber. The Fab Five were notorious for their bad boy antics and adding a street-hardened aesthetic to the game. Their trademark baggy shorts and black socks were coupled with some of the best performing Nike releases of the decade, most notably the Nike Air Flight Huarache and the recently re-tooled Nike Air Force Max.

Webber, who turns 40 today, would go on to have a successful tenure in the NBA despite never capturing a Championship ring. During stints with the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, the All-Star was dominant, averaging over 20 points per game from 1994 until 2003. But it was Webber's younger days at Michigan that many remember as his golden years. Although the Fab Five fell short in two NCAA Championship games, the mark that they left on college basketball will never be erased.

While in the NBA, Webber had a signature line with the brand Dada, but his most well-known sneaker moment is being among the first to debut the Nike Air Flight Huarache on the hardwood. Webber showed off Tinker Hatfield's revolutionary design with a countless number of posterizing slam dunks and power plays. Happy 40th, C Webb!

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