The wardrobe selections of NBA players can be just as likely to go viral as their highlights.
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Some hoopers push the boundaries more than others when it comes to fashion. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden is known to spark conversations around his attire. Take Feb. 15 for example, when his distinctive fit at Philly’s game against the Boston Celtics had the Twitterverse talking.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen took a simpler approach during NBA All-Star Weekend with a gray hoodie, navy blue slacks and gray sneakers. The casual combination left some onlookers wanting more from the big man’s outfit.
“You know, it’s funny, because I thought I was okay,” Allen said in response to the comments about his attire during NBA All-Star Media Day. “What am I supposed to do, wear a $5,000 chain to a game? It was just a casual outfit that I felt comfortable in, so, so be it.”
After the All-Star break, a few more NBA stars turned heads with their clothing. Extra-cozy ensembles, garments referencing pop culture legends and more highlighted the striking looks from the second half of the year:
Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets – April 10, 2022
Gordon’s jacket at the team’s regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Lakers made the rounds on social media. The apparel used characters from the Disney animated series “The Proud Family” to honor a trio of Nuggets players who played with the team in the 2000s.
The coat depicts siblings Gina, Nubia and Olei Gross, nicknamed the “Gross Sisters” on the show, reimagined into former Nuggets Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Nene. The “Denver Thuggets Letterman Jacket” is by clothing designer Hunter Huelle’s fashion company Humans Uniquely Expressed.
In 2006, Iverson was traded from the 76ers to the Nuggets for two 2007 first-round picks, Andre Miller and Joe Smith. Denver also received Ivan McFarlin. A.I. joined Anthony, who was in his fourth season with the team. Nene was in his fifth.
“Their fast paced and rugged style of basketball mixed with their off the court swagger, style and attitude garnered them the nickname, ‘Denver Thuggets,'” reads the item’s product description. “I saw this as an opportunity to combine with the unforgettable Gross Sisters, always sporting white t-shirts under their own navy blue clothes.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder – April 5, 2022
Gilgeous-Alexander finished his third season with the Thunder sidelined with an ankle injury. He played in 56 games, averaging 24.5 points, 5.9 assists and five rebounds per game. Based on his clothing, he has a good understanding of music legends from the Sooner State.
The Thunder point guard wore a graphic t-shirt featuring country music star Reba McEntire. The Grammy Award-winning artist was born and raised in McAlester, Oklahoma. McEntire has sold over 56 million records worldwide and starred in a TV show named after her for six seasons (2001-2007). She is one of four entertainers in history to receive the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress, according to her website.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies – April 1, 2022
Morant took a promising leap towards NBA superstardom by increasing most of his stats and leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a franchise-best 56 wins this year. He’s become an internet sensation because of his jaw-dropping plays and eye-catching fits during the season. His clothing combination on April 1 excelled in the vibrancy category, wearing a multi-colored shirt and shoes from Louis Vuitton.
(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
This isn’t the first time Morant wore apparel from the luxury fashion brand. On March 24, he wore Louis Vuitton’s workwear shirt and trainer sneakers to Memphis’ game against the Indiana Pacers.
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets – March 13, 2022
Although Irving didn’t play for the Nets against the New York Knicks on March 13, his jacket was the talk of Twitter that night.
Irving showed up courtside to support his team wearing an item by Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck. Irving’s coat had graphics on the back, with “States, Empires, and Worlds” written across the front. Fans across NBA Twitter inquired about how they could get their hands on the item during the contest.
Unfortunately for hopeful buyers, the piece of clothing isn’t being produced anymore. The jacket was a part of Van Beirendonck’s “Worlds of Sun and Moon” winter collection in 2018.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers – March 4, 2022
Turner wasn’t active for the Pacers on March 4 against the Detroit Pistons because of a foot injury. The hoodie with extra long sleeves he wore that night, however, drew comparisons to a similar fit donned by Washington Wizards guard Kyle Kuzma.
On Nov. 22, 2021, Kuzma wore an oversized pink sweater that evoked reactions from former Lakers teammates LeBron James, Anthony Davis and more players around the NBA.
After the game, Turner wanted to know who rocked the baggy look the best.
Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors – Feb. 24, 2022
The NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and his jacket had social media buzzing before his matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. Curry arrived in a leather trench coat made by New York fashion company Romeo Hunte.
Former Warriors teammate Festus Ezeli and fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson had their own reactions to Curry’s pregame outfit.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – February 24, 2022
The temperature for the Thunders’ Feb. 24 game against the Phoenix Suns had a high of 22 degrees and a low of 14 degrees. Gilgeous-Alexander made sure to dress extra cozy for the conditions. He arrived bundled up in a fleece hoodie that almost covered his whole face, paired with a blonde-colored vest from fashion brand Entire Studios. It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s first time playing in 10 games after spraining his ankle.
The point guard’s fit might have contributed to his hot night on offense. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 32 points on 59% shooting from the field.
