From $550 leather sweatpants to custom-made bespoke suits, the NBA isn't just breeding professional sports talent—it's turning the league's biggest players into bonafide style stars as well. From Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics player-cum-GQ intern, to Russell Westbrook, the supposed "Kate Moss of the NBA," The Daily Beast takes a look at the most stylish ballers.
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In 2011, player Rajon Rondo took a stab at interning in the closet of a fashion magazine, adding work at GQ to his resume. But the Boston Celtics guard has seemingly always had a penchant for style, from his self-proclaimed "collegiate fresh" looks to some outrageous pieces, like the zebra-esque blazer he wore to the finals in 2013.
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Westbrook certainly marches to the beat of his own sartorial drum. Aside from his crazy outfits (which include tight capris, camoflage-printed skinny jeans, and wildly printed tops), the Oklahoma City Thunder star has attended fashion week with Anna Wintour and has hopes of creating his on clothing line. "Like I love the game of basketball, I love fashion," he told Fashionista after Rag & Bone's Spring/Summer 2013 show. "It's something that inspires me and something that hopefully in a couple of years I can move forward with."
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Chris Paul flies under the radar when it comes to dressing, but that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve some style recognition. A fan of simple cardigans and sweaters, Paul tackles style with a more sophisticated eye than most of his NBA peers. Plus, he loves accessories. “I am already a shoe fanatic, so I have every pair of Jordans that ever came out," he told AskMen. "I also love Polo by Ralph Lauren.”
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“I would describe my style as off the wall,” Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder star and 2014 MVP told Teen Vogue. “I like stuff that doesn’t match. I just like to stand out.” Despite the recognition for his basketball talent, Durant has earned credibility in the stylesphere with his "nerd-like style," which includes tailored separates, crisp button-downs, and thick frames. Plus, he's served as a 'Style Correspondant' for GQ and even inspired a line of 'KD' backpacks (his go-to accessory) produced by Nike.
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Amar'e Stoudemire has been the NBA's 'Best Dressed' player for too many years to count. But it's no surprise that the New York Knicks star, with his leather jackets and t-shirt/blazer combinations, has earned the hearts of basketball and fashion fans alike. Aside from frequenting New York Fashion Week with Anna Wintour, Stoudemire has designed a menswear line with Rachel Roy, appeared in Vogue in an interview with Hamish Bowles, and assists on creating custom looks for himself with Italo Zucchelli, the creative director of menswear at Calvin Klein.
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In February 2013, Joakim Noah was asked to leave the bench at the Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers game for wearing a striped hoodie and t-shirt. In November of that year, he sported a snuggie-style hood to a nightclub in Paris. His outrageous style has had people talking since he was drafted to the NBA in 2007 in a suit that the media likened to 'Bozo the Clown.' It's been almost seven years since that moment, and Noah is still doing his own thing.
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"I like the way like old Mafia mob bosses dressed up," James told GQ when asked about his style inspiration. "They did a great job of looking sharp in jackets and suits." As the best player in the NBA, James has a lot of expectiations to live up to, with fashion being no exception. He was the first African American male (and sports player) to cover Vogue magazine and with his custom suits and hipster glasses, he has also become arguably one of the best style players in the game.
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6'9" Houston Rockets star Chandler Parsons' fashion potential has seriously hit the mark. "I'm very picky in what I wear," he told The Houston Chronicle in April 2013. "I don't like baggy clothes and looking like anything sloppy. The arms have to fit. The collar has to look perfect." Among his favorite designers are Marc Jacobs, 7 for All Mankind, Hudson, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, and Saint Laurent. His favorite part of his wardrobe, however? His over 300 pairs of "crazy, loud dress socks."
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Standing at 6'11", it's hard to imagine how Tyson Chandler possibly finds clothes that fit (or look good). But the New York Knicks star is one of the earliest NBA players to really embrace his off-the-court style, taking constant chances with furry "pimp" jackets and sleeveless pea coats while sitting front row at New York Fashion Week. No wonder he's been dubbed his team's "resident risk taker."
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Mike Conley of the Grizzlies loves his wooden accessories. After showing off a wooden bow tie in 2013, Conley stepped out a few weeks ago in a reddish hat constructed from the same material. “I had the thought ‘what could we do that’s not so far crazy that still had the classic idea but with the edgy detail," his stylist, Brand Williams said of the piece. Conley also has a penchant for sharp blazers, colored separates, and vests.
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Wade always looks classic and sharp, proving that the fashion risks he took in his early days (which included bow ties, European-cut suits, and colored pants and eyeglass frames) truly paid off. Now, the Miami Heat star makes on-point sartorial selections, from sharply tailored custom suits and pieces from Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Gucci. Plus, he's made the playoffs his runway. Can't argue with that.
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The Houston Rockets shooting guard describes his style as "weird and funky," including a mix of high-low pieces. In an interview with GQ, Harden included Polo Ralph Lauren classic cotton t-shirts, Nike 'Hyperfuse Low' sneakers, 7 For All Mankind dark wash jeans, a Mitchell & Ness Atlanta Falcons snapback, a Rolex 'Day-Date II' watch, Christian Louboutin red spiked hi-top sneakers, and RayBan aviators on his list of clothing essentials, emphasizing his wildly creative and diverse sense of style.
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From The Met Gala to New York Fashion Week, Carmelo Anthony has been a longtime staple of the blending of the fashion and NBA worlds. His penchant for fedoras and vintage jackets has led the New York Knicks player to become transformed into a sophisticated gentleman. "I'm really into fashion," he told GQ in 2011. "It was kind of hard to go to shows in Denver. So I think coming into a city like New York or being out there in L.A. a lot was good. I'm just going to events that I would normally go to but now that I'm here in New York it's magnified times ten."
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