NBA Jam is Midway's exaggerated two-on-two arcade basketball game, first released in 1993 and famous for high-flying dunks, catchphrases and over-the-top commentary. The 'Is it the shoes?' line fits that playful tone, turning an impressive performance into a joke about footwear rather than skill. As short game clips spread through video edits, streams and soundboards, the line found a second life beyond the arcade, especially among basketball fans and sneaker collectors who use it to tease a great play or a fresh pair.
About this sound
The NBA Jam line 'Is it the shoes?' from the arcade basketball game, used in sneaker jokes and highlights when a play looks like it came from the footwear.
The clip is a short, punchy spoken line from NBA Jam in which the announcer wonders aloud whether a player's spectacular performance can be credited to his shoes. Delivered with playful disbelief, the voice rises on the question and lands like a knowing joke rather than a serious commentary call. It is only about two seconds long, so it works as a quick punchline that instantly frames a dunk, a crossover, a lucky shot, or a new pair of sneakers as suspiciously superpowered. Listeners hear the reference even without seeing the game, and the line turns an ordinary highlight into a tongue-in-cheek debate about talent versus footwear.
