PONY PROCESSOR

Throughout the 1970s PONY had a strong hold on the NBA with many of the pros wearing PONY sneakers. Keeping with the trend PONY released the Uptown in 1981 that turned out to be an instant success and made famous by known other than Darryl Dawkins. Its chunky and robust features commanded respect on and off the court. With a high top as well as a low in a number of colour-ways, it was instantly recognisable. The Uptown is the inspiration for our new sneakers line the Processor.

Worn famously by Darryl Dawkins, a basketball player nicknamed Chocolate Thunder for his powerful monstrous dunks. During his time as a PONY athlete he famously wore the PONY Uptown model. Dawkins was a monster of a man, and his Dunks literally shattered backboard glasses to pieces. This happened on two occasions, the first in 1979 for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Sacramento Kings. Dawkins would smash a second backboard just three weeks later, much to traditionalists and commentators disgust. Players were no longer allowed to swing or hang on the rim when dunking, excessive force that would break the rim would result in suspension or a massive fine putting an end to Dawkins’ flamboyant show of brute force.

The PONY Uptown not only had success on the professional courts but also on the legendary street ball courts of New York City. One of the toughest and most notorious courts is the legendary Rucker Park, situated uptown, in Harlem on 155th street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

The famous street ball played in Harlem and the courts’ infamous Rucker Tournament, has gained a level of respect and admiration seen all over the world. Considered far more exciting and unpredictable the street ball played at Rucker Park became synonymous with impressive tricks, big egos and even bigger dunks. Tough physical play was one of the key things within street basketball, if you didn’t have the physic then you had to be a silky player with impressive handles, crowd pleasing tricks or a fantastic jump shot.

The Uptown was one of the standout shoes of a court, where fresh sneakers and style was almost just as important as your game. If you had a pair of Uptowns on you were styling on the rest of the court in a fashion, which was unmatched.

Rucker Park gave birth to a number of notable players who went on to be NBA superstars and 80s icons. Players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Dr J Irving, Pee Wee Kirkland, Wilt Chamberlin and many more all made their starts on Rucker Park.

It’s the finesse of Harlem’s street ballers from the Rucker Park courts and Daryl Dawkins’ original Uptown sneakers that inspire the Processor resulting in the shoes signature flair and timeless appeal.