Pippen, Payton & Penny get emotional talking about first signature shoe in new Nike ad

Published Dec. 3, 2014 3:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

It's gotta be the shoes.

Growing up on the court, there was always something special about the kicks we wore. As much as we may have had to convince our parents that it was about comfort, fit and performance, it was more than that. If you wanted to play great, you had to feel great. To feel great, you had to look great.

We weren't alone. Some of the best players of a generation are opening up about what it meant to step foot on the hardwood with their own signature shoe for the first time. Not only will Gary Payton, Scottie Pippen and Penny Hardaway always be synonymous with '90s hoops, their legacies will live on forever through their signature kicks.

Check out the new Nike ad above for their personal stories.