The Hick’s Quarterly List of Stuff That Doesn’t Suck – Q1 2023

A quick Google search will yield lists of loads of stuff, new stuff, useful stuff, and downright weird stuff. But I have yet to see a list of fly stuff that doesn’t suck.

So here is such a list that absolutely no one asked for or wanted and the criteria used to create it.

• The stuff had to be released during the first quarter of the year.
• No overpriced brand-name products that are the same quality as lower-priced ones – those suck.
• Basketball-related products get priority.
• No sponsored stuff.

1. Sacramento Kings 2023 Playoffs Tee

The longest playoff drought in all of North American professional sports is officially over!

After 16 grueling seasons of ineptitude, the Kings are back in the playoffs with a homecourt advantage for the first round to boot. The last time this happened, I was a teenager buying quarter juice from the corner store and Bubba Spraxxx was still putting out music.

This is the year’s feel-good moment in sports and you can celebrate it with this vintage-inspired 2023 Kings playoffs tee, which will only set you back about US$35.

Light the fuckin’ beam!

2. Local Hoops Artist Basketballs

Technically, this next item that doesn’t absolutely suck has been around for a few years. But new editions have been made to the collection this year, so I’m including it.

Local Hoops’ mission is to build a global community around the game of basketball, which we salute.

Besides providing an interactive global court map, it also helps facilitate court renovations in partnership with other organizations and sells basketball-inspired merch.

Part of its current merch lineup is independent artist-painted basketballs which come in an assortment of designs and colorways to appeal to nearly anyone’s poor taste.

3. M&N Highlight Sublimated Player Tee

This is where basketball and baseball meet for a little BASEketball.

Mitchell & Ness did a bang-up job with the newest release from their Cooperstown Collection.

A series of sublimated grey short-sleeve t-shirts highlighting some of baseball’s historically great players, like Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Ken Griffey Jr., among others.

Each tee goes for US$55 and is unique in that you won’t find a knockoff anywhere else, I tried.

4. Rhuigi x Puma Suede “B-Boy”

The Puma Suede is an iconic sneaker that was first released in 1968.

Since that time it has survived the disco era, the crack epidemic, and not one, but two Bush presidencies. So you know it’s a damn durable shoe.

The lightweight and flexible Suede was also popular among breakdancers in the 80s and this collab with the founder of Rhude pays homage to that era.

The shoe was recently released on April 1st and is still available via the Puma website, where it can be had for a reasonable US$120.

Its pink colorway won’t be for everybody, but we fuck wit it for nostalgia.

5. Vintage Wrestlemania Poster Set

Growing up in the 90s watching wrestling at the height of its popularity and completely ignoring the “do not try this at home” warning labels before every show, was a magical time.

Even though I’m not old enough to remember the first time this Wrestlemania 1, 2, and 3 poster set was released. I can appreciate how someone that grew up in the 80s and practiced Hulk Hogan granny leg drops on their sibling’s scrawny necks must feel upon seeing them.

They are sold both separately or as a set in a clean or vintage finish and make for an affordable collectible at just over $50EUR for the set before shipping and handling, which can really screw you over if you live in middleofnowhereistan.

If you enjoyed this list, you may also like The 1st Annual Eastbay List of the Best Gear or The 1st Annual James Harden Worst Dressed List.