Why Nikos Galis Only Wore Pony Walking Shoes

One of the myths surrounding Nikos Galis concerns the shoes he wore, the white PONY sneakers. While the company wasn't as recognized as other giants, Galis preferred them for a specific reason.

Initially, there was a disagreement with the company, as Galis wanted to be paid for the advertising he was doing for them. An incident in a match against Carrera Venezia, where he removed the PONY logo from his shoes, is characteristic.

Eventually, PONY paid him 200,000 drachmas to include him among the athletes they supported, such as Havlicek, McAdoo, and David Thompson. Although Spud Webb also wore PONY, Galis chose walking shoes.

Galis revealed to Periklis Stella that he preferred these shoes because he wanted to feel like he was barefoot on the court, which gave him a better footing and jump. The shoes were disposable, and after each game, Giorgos Rabotas distributed them to fans.

Later, PONY released a boot with Galis's name, which was found in the European Hall Of Fame.