Penny Hardaway sneakers, also known as Foamposite sneakers, are a line of basketball shoes designed by Nike and named after professional basketball player Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway. The shoes were first released in 1997 and quickly gained popularity due to Hardaway’s success on the court and endorsement of the shoe. The Foamposite material, which gives the shoe its unique look, was used for the first time in the Penny line. The shoe has since been re-released multiple times, often in limited quantities, and has become a popular choice among sneaker collectors.

The original Penny Hardaway sneakers, the Nike Air Foamposite One, were first released in 1997. The shoe featured a unique Foamposite material upper that was designed to mimic the look and feel of a basketball, and it was the first time this material was used in a basketball shoe. The shoe was designed by Eric Avar and was named after professional basketball player Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who was one of the top players in the league at the time and had a signature shoe line with Nike.

The Air Foamposite One was an instant success, thanks to Hardaway’s endorsement and the shoe’s unique design. The shoe was worn on the court by many professional players, including Hardaway himself, and it quickly became a popular choice among sneaker enthusiasts.

In the following years, Nike released several different versions of the Penny Hardaway sneakers, including the Air Foamposite Pro and the Air Penny II. Each iteration of the shoe featured unique design elements and colorways, and many of them were released in limited quantities, which helped to fuel the shoe’s popularity among collectors.

In recent years, the Penny Hardaway sneakers have been re-released several times, often in limited quantities and with updated materials and design elements. The shoe remains popular among sneaker enthusiasts and continues to be a sought-after collector’s item.

Overall, Penny Hardaway sneakers are an iconic and significant shoe line in the sneaker culture, and it’s still popular among many basketball fans, sneaker enthusiasts and collectors.