ALL BALL NERVE CENTER – I know a lot of people who collect sneakers, neatly stacking boxes on boxes on boxes in their closets, never even touching the boxes for fear of lessening the value of the kicks. I get that, I do, but I am not one of those people. I will admit that yes, I have spent an asymmetric amount of my disposable income through the years on shoes, but I actually wear them instead of collecting them. What are shoes for if not to be worn?

Sure, basketball shoes are fully functional, a tool used by basketball players to optimize their ability to play the game. But to some of us, they can also be an objet d’art, a beautiful combination of leather and rubber and whatever else that not only looks terrific, but also says something about you, the shoe-wearer.

Bulls G Rip Hamilton has been down with Jordan Brand for as long as I can remember (and that’s a long time). As one of the brand’s signature athletes, he has long rocked an array of classic Jordans on the court, as well as peppering his social media feeds with peeks at his extensive collection. But for a recent “throwback Thursday,” or #tbt as the kids online call it, Rip Hamilton posted a photo that has had sneakerheads drooling.

As Hamilton said, “Had to many sneakers in the crib had to fill up 2 u-hauls to put them in another spot.” So remember that this is ostensibly just half of his collection.

Next time your parents or girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband complains that you have too many shoes, show them this picture:

(via Instagram)