Businesses for hundreds of years have known one thing to be true, tying your product to influential people will lead to more eyes on your product. This has also been the case in the footwear industry way before MJ laced up his Air Jordan 1 silhouette that, arguably, spawned the culture we participate in today as brands like Converse (Chuck Taylor) and adidas (Stan Smith) brought basketball and tennis stars to their roster. While those days saw barely a handful of endorsees who had a sneaker tied to them, today’s world features over 25 athletes in the NBA alone who have their own signature sneaker. Let's go through each player in the league that currently has a signature silhouette with a footwear brand.
Nike Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
LeBron James
The top sportswear brand on the planet by a longshot, it only makes sense that the cream of the crop in the NBA would want to rock The Swoosh on the court while getting paid to do so. Featured on their roster, we have legends like LeBron James who has been signed to Nike since 2003. For James, his Nike LeBron line has just reached its 22nd mainline iteration, the LeBron 22, while at the same time dropping pairs like the Witness or NXXT Gen that offer a semi-affordable option compared to his premium-priced models.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant has made waves throughout his Nike KD line, with the signature series reaching its 17th iteration, the Nike KD 17. He often brings forth colorways that tie into his personal life, like his love for music or raising awareness for breast cancer with his yearly tribute to his Aunt Pearl. Durant, like LeBron, is a lifetime Nike athlete, so expect to see more and more footwear from the KD line.
Paul George
An aging star in the NBA, Paul George has been with Nike since 2016 and has released six different silhouettes since then with the latest being the Nike PG 6. Offering one of the more affordable signature sneakers on this list, a pair of Paul George sneakers will only set you back around $110. Even with its lower price, his signature series has remained one of the better options for on-court action, especially for PG himself. It appears that the Nike PG 6 will be the final silhouette for Paul George as over a year has passed since the initial release of the model with no signs of a follow-up.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nicknamed "The Greek Freak," Giannis Antetokounmpo has become one of the league's biggest stars thanks to his explosive play and large build. Signing with Nike way back in 2013, the eventual star was earning merely $20,000 per year when he was still relatively unknown to the world. Signing a large extension with The Swoosh in 2017, he'd get his first signature sneaker, the Nike Zoom Freak 1, in 2019 and is now on to his 6th iteration - the Nike Giannis Freak 6. Just like Paul George, his signature line has been one of the more affordable options when it comes to Nike Basketball while still offering a high-tech construction ready for on court action.
Ja Morant
As for the next generation of Nike Basketball athletes, we reported earlier in the year that Ja Morant would be the next athlete on The Swoosh’s roster to receive his own signature silhouette, aptly dubbed the Nike Ja 1. His silhouette follows suit with Nike's design language for performance basketball models as its low-top and lightweight design fits in well with how newer generation basketball players prefer their sneakers to be.
Following up on his debut shoe in 2023 is the Ja 2 at the end of 2024. A similar design language is employed, with the tooling improved for extra bounce and comfort on the court.
Devin Booker
Devin Booker finally got his signature Nike shoe during Holiday 2023. The Nike Book 1 debuted in a Suns-inspired colorway and retails for $150. The model takes inspiration from classic Nike silhouettes like the Air Force 1 and Blazer with the phrase "future classic" aiding in the design of the sneaker. Details on the Book 1 nod to Devin's hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, his current home in Phoenix, and his family.
Jordan Brand Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
Spawning the sneaker world we currently live in, Michael Jordan’s dominant career on the court with his then-signature sneaker through Nike eventually morphed into its own entity, Jordan Brand, which now represents top athletes and celebrities. When it comes to the NBA, their roster is full of dominant players, though half of their signature models are with players near the tail end of their careers.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul originally signed with Jordan Brand’s parent company, Nike, back in his rookie season but eventually made the switch in 2006 that led to his own model, the Jordan CP3. At this point, we’ve reached the 13th iteration of the model, though they surprisingly have not been released to the public since its debut over a year ago. Now, you’ll spot the aging veteran in the Jordan CP3.XII, but once again the model has not had a colorway release for nearly 3 years.
Russell Westbrook
Another player on JBs roster that is past his prime, Russell Westbrook, can be spotted on the court rocking his Jordan Why Not .6, a series of sneakers that have been around since 2018. Even though it isn’t popular among sneakerheads, the model holds up well when used on the court.
Zion Williamson
Representing the future of Jordan Brand is a selection of young talent who are just making their presence in the NBA known. One athlete, Zion Williamson, burst onto the scene with his Jordan Zion 1 and quickly followed up with the Zion 2 silhouette and is now onto the Zion 3. Just like Paul George or Giannis, Zion lands in the realm of affordability as his model retails for a cool $140.
Luka Dončić
Another young talent who has just entered the signature sneaker space, Luka Dončić also gives fans an affordable option when it comes to performance basketball with his Jordan Luka 3 retailing for $130. Some of Jordan Brand's latest tech is embedded into the Luka 2, including a full-length Cushlon 3.0 foam, an IsoPlate in the midfoot, and a generative herringbone traction pattern inspired by racing tires.
Jayson Tatum
2023 saw another next-generation talent get his own signature silhouette: Jayson Tatum. Long spotted rocking PE colorways across various Jordan models, Tatum’s first sneaker was the lightest model offered by Jordan Brand and contains an uncaged Zoom Air unit in the forefoot while a ground-contact foam acts as an integrated traction pattern. For its upper, we see a lightweight, strong TPU frame reinforce the lightweight and breathable mesh.
The duo followed up with the Tatum 2 in Spring 2024 and swiftly followed up with the Tatum 3 in October 2024.
adidas Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
With the two previously mentioned brands dominating in terms of star power, adidas still holds a roster full of talent players that have their own model with the German sportswear giant. Notable stars like James Harden and Damian Lillard have been with adidas for years now, releasing some of the game's most technically-focused models though they don’t get much love outside of on-court action.
James Harden
Currently, Harden is up to his 8th signature sneaker, the adidas Harden Vol. 8. Debuting the model to begin the 2023-2024 NBA season, he has since carried forth with this sneaker all throughout the season with his next model set to release in early 2025. Like his previous model, the Vol. 8 features a jarring love-it-or-hate-it design. A large foam pod covers the midfoot while we see a similar toebox and general shape compared to the previous sneaker.
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard recently debuted the adidas Dame 9, technically his 10th signature sneaker. The sneaker comes with a textile upper reinforced with synthetic overlays, mesh ventilation panels on the midfoot (also forming the Three Stripes), and a neoprene bootie for improved fit. For cushioning, adidas adds zoned LIGHTSTRIKE cushioning.
Trae Young
Also on adidas’ roster, we’ve got Trae Young who is currently on his third model with The Three Stripes. The adidas Trae Young 3 features a FUTURENATURAL upper with a composite foam midsole. This cushioning setup is encapsulated by a topography-inspired rubber. Other details include a TPU counter on the lateral side of the heel for extra support and a modified herringbone traction pattern on the outsole for maximum grip.
Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell, across his six signature sneakers with adidas, has taken inspiration from his personal life like many athletes do when it comes to its design and its colorway. For his latest model, the adidas D.O.N. Issue #6, the cushioning setup features LIGHTSTRIKE and LIGHTSTRIKE PRO, as well as a unique rubber outsole containing an elevated traction pattern. Textile and synthetic materials on the upper provide lockdown.
Anthony Edwards
Following a stellar 2022-2023 NBA season, Anthony Edwards debuted his first signature sneaker with adidas — the adidas AE 1 — in December 2023. The silhouette has become one of the most popular signature performance basketball sneakers and has crossed over into the lifestyle segment.
Under Armour Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
Steph Curry
Most don’t think of basketball when it comes to Under Armour as the brand is overshadowed by the likes of Nike, Jordan Brand, and adidas, but they still have one of the biggest athletes on the planet rocking their gear - Steph Curry. Recently, the 3-point wizard inked a lifetime extension that is set to pay him $1 billion while he stays the face of UA Basketball. This year, we reached the 13th iteration of the signature series, the Under Armour Curry 12.
De'Aaron Fox
After becoming the first player to sign with Curry Brand, it was announced that De'Aaron Fox would get his own signature model. Nearly a year later, Under Armour debuted the sneaker during the brand's China Tour. The model takes inspiration from runners and features a forefoot strap at the request of Fox.
New Balance Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
Kawhi Leonard
As a brand that has primarily focused on running silhouettes over its 100-plus-year history, New Balance is catching up when it comes to performance basketball as it secured one of the biggest names in the sport, Kawhi Leonard.
So far, the “Fun Guy” has put out four iterations of his New Balance Kawhi after leaving Jordan Brand in 2018. Just like his personality and mindset, there's nothing too flashy to see in his signature series. According to NB designer Jon Grondin, “He wanted this familiar, retro vibe, wrapped around this high-performance shell. That was the blend he wanted.” The latest silhouette, the Kawhi 4, debuted in the early parts of 2024.
Puma Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball’s ascension to NBA stardom began at a young age alongside his two older brothers LiAngelo and Lonzo, though he is currently the only one of the three to earn a signature silhouette with a sneaker brand. His choice to part ways with his family’s Big Baller Brand was the smart one as Puma gave him one of the hottest silhouettes on the market in terms of performance basketball. Currently, the Puma MB.04 is his latest silhouette.
Scoot Henderson
Scoot Henderson is one of the few that can say they donned their own signature sneaker in their rookie NBA season. This is true thanks to Puma and the Puma Scoot 1. So far, the model has launched in a handful of colorways. Scoot's sneaker hits the budget-friendly checkmarks with a $100 retail price and semi-decent tech that performs well on the court.
Anta Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
Chinese sportswear brands have made it a purpose to secure talent in the NBA recently, as is the case with Anta and their key signings of Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, and most recently scooping up Kyrie Irving after he left Nike.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving moved on from Nike and now has his own signature sneaker with Chinese sportswear brand ANTA. The silhouette debuted with the Artist on Court colorway in March and has since released in a handful of different renditions. On the upper we see an array of panels that tell the story of Kyrie's heritage and personal life as well as a tech-heavy construction.
Klay Thompson
Klay needs no introduction. As one-half of the “splash brothers,” he took a different route compared to Steph Curry as he was given massive creative liberty over at Anta. Currently, on the 10th iteration of the series, the model spares none when it comes to technical details and performance.
Li-Ning Athletes With A Signature Sneaker
The most prominent of the Chinese sportswear brands that have signed NBA talent, Li-Ning actually still holds a legend on their roster in Dwayne Wade who signed a lifetime deal with the brand in 2018. After his retirement, the brand scooped up various talents in the league and recently signed a friend and former teammate of Wade, Jimmy Butler.
Jimmy Butler
Butler left Jordan Brand in 2020 after both parties mutually agreed to cut the deal short 10 months before its original end date, sending sportswear brands into a frenzy. After some time, Li-Ning made an offer he could not refuse and finally debuted his very own model with the brand, aptly named the JB1. As the 2023-2024 NBA season kicks off, Butler has been spotted in the follow-up to this model.
CJ McCollum
Joining Butler on this Li-Ning roster is CJ McCollum, and just like Butler, keeps its naming convention simple - the Li-Ning CJ3. Unlike other major brands, Li-Ning sneakers tend to put technical details and on-court performance ahead of flashiness.
Miscellaneous Brands With Athletes That Have Signature Sneaker
Jaylen Brown (741 Performance)
Coming off his NBA Finals MVP performance over the summer and stating his displeasure with Nike multiple times, Jaylen Brown finalized his own signature footwear design with his new brand, 741 Performance. Brown took inspiration from Kobe Bryant, who had plans to create his own sportswear brand before his passing. As for the sneaker itself, the 741 Rover comes with abrasion-resistant yarns on the upper, while the layer below this comes with a nonstretch arch bandage and dynamic lacing setup. Cushioning sees a hypergravity critical EVA foam with engineered flex grooves for shock absorption and the outsole comes with similar flex grooves for traction, abrasion resistance, and torsional flexibility.
Lou Williams (Peak Sports)
Founded back in 1989, Peak Sports Products has only recently made the jump overseas from China to the global market and secured Lou Williams on its basketball roster in 2015. Since then a wide range of silhouettes has hit the market. Following the trend of many Chinese sportswear brands, models typically don’t translate well off the hardwood floor, and as such, don’t garner the attention of many sneakerheads.
Nikola Jokić (361 Degrees)
After years of being with Nike, reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokić chose to sign with Chinese sportswear label 361 Degrees in December of 2023. Nearly a year later, the brand unveiled that Jokić would get his own signature model, dubbed the JOKER1. He debuted the sneakers in-game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but we're still waiting on images of his other model, the JOKER 1 GT. The model will retail for around $100 bucks, while the GT version will be priced at approximately $140.
Aaron Gordon (361 Degrees)
Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets also chose to go under the radar and sign with another Chinese sportswear brand, 361 Degrees, which has offered him a starring role as the face of their basketball division. On top of this, a full apparel line, support for his charities of choice, and a signature series of sneakers (starting with the AG1) have given him everything he needs to stay happy with a lesser-known label. Currently, the duo has released 4 sneakers, the most recent being the 361 Degrees x Aaron Gordon AG4 which made its debut in 2023.
Spencer Dinwiddie (K8IROS)
Spencer Dinwiddie took his own approach to signature sneakers as he chose to design and release them through his own brand K8IROS. His brand not only focuses heavily on tech-heavy sneaker designs but through charitable actions with his own “Dinwiddie Family Foundation.” When it comes to sneakers, the designs utilize the latest knit technology while offering high-performance action on the court. The K8IROS 8.1, the brand's latest offering, comes in the low-top form and a simple, yet, customizable design thanks to the aforementioned knit upper.
Langston Galloway (ETHICS)
Langston Galloway joins Dinwiddie in owning his own brand - ETHICS. The focus for the company is to, as their website states, “create a product that will go beyond just a creative design but put meaning behind the shoe and the one who wears it.” On top of this, the sneakers come constructed out of vegan materials and offer top-tier comfort and traction for the court. Releasing this year, the lgONE is just the beginning of Galloway’s vision of changing the narrative in basketball footwear.
Austin Reaves (Rigorer)
After taking an undrafted journey that eventually led him to becoming a Los Angeles Laker, Austin Reaves has now become one of a select few NBA players to receive his own signature sneaker. Signing with Chinese sportswear brand Rigorer in 2021, the label launched Reaves' Rigorer AR1 in the Summer of 2023.
While this is the complete list of signature sneakers from NBA players, the future will only give us more options in terms of on-court performance models. Looking ahead, De'Aaron Fox inked a deal with Curry Brand and there is plenty of young talent that will be making their debut in the coming years. Keep it locked to the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest happenings in sneakers, streetwear, and more.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
