Written By Max Ciarmela
The NBA season tips off on October 19 and all eyes will be on the players and their shoe game. Basketball and the sneakers that the players wear go hand in hand, and the usual suspects will be in their bag trying to flex their collection of rare and unreleased sneakers.
Whether it’s in the tunnel arriving at the game or hooping on the hardwood during the game, over the years it’s become commonplace and even a competition in the way players express themselves through their sneakers and fashion.
Players of the past like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and many others paved the way for guys today, and their influence is still very apparent to this day. Below we highlight some of the most influential sneakerheads and fashion-forward players in the game right now.
“Be Legendary”
(Image via B/R Kicks)
Fresh off his first playoff appearance where he led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals, the spotlight will be on Devin Booker more than ever this season. Heavily influenced by the late great Kobe Bryant, Booker rocks unreleased player editions of Kobe’s on the floor. You will notice that Booker pens “be legendary” on them, a message of encouragement Kobe signed on the shoes he gave to Booker after the last game they played against each other.
Booker, Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, and many other players in the NBA still rock player editions of the Nike Kobe line. The Kobe Bryant estate wasn’t able to work out a new deal with Nike and as a result, we haven’t seen any Nike Kobes released in months. It will remain that way unless a new deal is eventually agreed upon or licensing rights are given to Nike or even adidas to release signature Kobes to the public again. Regardless, the Kobe line remains alive and well on the NBA floor and the players seem to be getting their hands on new player editions colorways all the time.
Off the floor, Booker brings the heat as well, rocking some of the rarest and most expensive Jordan’s and Nikes often before they even release. Don’t be surprised if you see Book pull up in some original Jordan 1s from 1985.
“Come for the King, You Best Not Miss”
(Image via SLAM Kicks)
The undisputed sneaker king, it’s not what PJ Tucker has worn but rather what he hasn’t worn. Whether it’s when Tucker is arriving at a game or playing lock-down defense on the floor, no shoes are off-limits. Many have come for the crown but at the moment Tucker remains the sneaker king in the NBA.
“Why Not?”
(Image via League Fits)
The most unpredictable and entertaining fashion icon in the NBA is none other than Russell Westbrook. During recent years, Russ has stuck to his signature player editions on the floor, but off the floor, he’s the premier Jordan Brand ambassador and of course, he is never afraid to make a bold fashion statement.
If Westbrook’s outfits at New York fashion week were any indication of what we’re going to see from him during the season, then we should be in for a wild ride. Now playing for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers, look for Westbrook to bring the heat on and off the floor every night.
Ready to Bring the Thunder
(Image SLAM Kicks)
Arguably the best-dressed player in the NBA, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been breaking necks with his fits since he got to the league in 2018. Last season Gilgeous-Alexander signed a deal with Converse, which may limit his on-court shoe choices, but he’s still free to wear other Nikes and high-fashion footwear off the court.
SGA has proclaimed himself as the “Black Steve Nash” showing his confidence level is just as high on the court as it is off the court. The 24-year-old out of Canada will be entering his fourth season in the NBA this year and this just might be his breakout year.
Tsunami Papi
(Image via Kelly Oubre Jr.)
The newest member of the Charlotte Hornets is one the biggest fashion risk-takers in the league. Back in 2017, Kelly Oubre Jr. aka “Tsunami Papi” was asked by the league to change his Supreme x Nike leg sleeve in the middle of a game. Since then, Oubre Jr. has signed a deal with Converse and even started his own streetwear brand “Dope$oul.”
A funny side note is that Oubre Jr. was actually traded to the OKC Thunder in November of 2020 before the start of last season, and was teammates with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for about a week. It wasn’t for too long though, Oubre Jr. would be dealt to the Golden State Warriors and we still have to wonder what the pregame fashion shows would have been like if Gilgeous-Alexander and Oubre Jr. played a full season together.
Best Dressed?
(Image via League Fits)
There’s no doubt that Jordan Clarkson is one of the best-dressed players in the NBA due to the fact that he isn’t afraid to take risks and wear something unexpected. The 2020-21 Sixth Man of the year even showed up to a game wearing a Fear of God kilt last season.
You can always expect to see Clarkson wearing the latest rare releases when he shows up to the game and on the court, he wears a wide range of Nikes including rare Kyrie, LeBron, and Kobe colorways.
Year 19…?
(Image via B/R Kicks)
Love him or hate him LeBron James has created one of the most influential shoe brands since Michael Jordan retired. Entering year 19, LBJ and Nike constantly find ways to keep the Nike LeBron line fresh with countless unreleased player editions that he wears on a nightly basis.
He’s also quietly established himself as one of the sharpest dressers off the floor and having first dibs on whatever shoes he wants from Nike or Jordan Brand doesn’t hurt. Now on his 19th signature model with Nike, you can expect James to go deep in his bag on any given night and wear a pair of throwbacks we may not even remember existed.
To Play, or Not to Play?
(Image via League Fits)
Kyrie Irving moves to the beat of his own drum with his mind, his game, his fashion, and his sneakers. The question of if he’ll play for the Brooklyn Nets at any point this season remains up in the air as he continues to challenge the NBA’s COVID-19 vaccinations mandates.
If Irving continues to avoid getting vaccinated it will be interesting to see if anyone in the league will carry the torch for the Kyrie line, or even how the Kyrie line will be affected in general, especially after his initial displeasure with the Kyrie 8.
Regardless, Irving has created one of the most creative signature lines in sports today. Nike and Irving have done a great job getting creative with color schemes and collaborations and the brand has made some truly captivating designs over the years.
On the floor, Kyrie rocks countless one-of-a-kind player edition Nikes, and when Kyrie arrives at the game you don’t really know exactly what you are going to get, it could even be as rare as a pair of Nike Yeezy 2s.
New Kids on the Block
(Image via SLAM Kicks)
The Houston Rockets got themselves a couple of young talented rookies in the 2021 NBA Draft in Jalen Green and Josh Christopher. The two have been friends for a long time and were even AAU teammates back in the seventh grade. It will be interesting to see how Green and Christopher play together when they get a chance to reunite in the NBA this season, but their shoe game will also be something to watch. Throughout their high school careers, both Green and Christopher were known for wearing serious heat on the floor and they have continued to do so in their Summer League debuts and at NBA Media Day.
To make things even more interesting, Jalen Green who was selected second overall in the draft, recently signed a deal with Adidas, maybe someday he will get his own signature shoe.
Ready for His Own Brand
LaMelo Ball will be the youngest player in the league to have his own signature sneaker this season, and no, it will not be with Lavar’s Big Baller Brand.
Back in October of 2020, Ball signed a deal with PUMA, and this season LaMelo will debut the PUMA MB.01. While some might say it’s too early for Ball to get his own signature shoe, LaMelo was exceptional last season and was awarded the Rookie of the Year award. LaMelo has gained a massive following which makes sense considering he has been on the national basketball radar since he was in middle school and lived up to the hype every step of the way. His off-the-court fashion may leave a lot to be desired but on the floor, LaMelo is the future.
Carrying the Torch
(Image via BR Kicks)
Last season Zion Williamson became the latest Jordan Brand athlete to get his own signature shoe. With players of the past generation like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Blake Griffin winding down their careers, the new age is ready to take over. Williamson is one of the most athletic and electrifying young players in the league, but it’s more than likely that other young Jordan Brand athletes could be in line to get their own signature shoe sooner than later.
Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic will be rocking the Jordan 36 in their own exclusive player edition colorways and they both already have their own logos. It’s safe to say Jordan Brand runs the sneaker game on and off the floor in the NBA, but just know they got next as well.