Over the years, NBA players have used their shoes for much more than performance. Tribute messages, celebratory acknowledgements and political stands have been incorporated on game-worn sneakers as a means of showing the world that they care about much more than basketball. Today, we take a look back at 10 of the NBA’s most memorable celebratory and tribute messages on shoes.

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Textured welt details and a moulded latex insole to boot | NBA Players Show Support for President Obama in 2008

Between Election Day 2008 and President Barack Obama’s official inauguration, various players amid the league, like Chris Paul, LeBron James and David West, showed their support by writing sharpied messages on their player exclusives. The majority of the sharpied scripts simply featured the president’s last name on the toe area.