Image via Complex Original
The NBA tunnel has been turned into a runway for players in recent years—more so than even before. Not only are superstars making sure they play well each night on the court, they are arriving to the arena looking good too. Of course, that means that the rare and limited pairs of sneakers aren't just being laced up on the hardwood anymore.
A look down the tunnel at any arena around the league on any given night during the season is guaranteed to provide a look at some great shoes. Popular Nike collaborations like the Travis Scott x Air Jordan I or Virgil Abloh's extensive Off-White x Nike collection are a given, but those aren't the only pairs you can expect to see. Sometimes its a friends and family colorway you wish you could own, or an obscure throwback that you don't see everyday. Guys like PJ Tucker and LeBron James both frequently populate the list, but tons of other players deserve some recognition as well. This week, Kemba Walker laced up the extremely rare "Board of Governors" Air Jordan I, Nerlens Noel showed off his "Oregon" Air Jordan IV PE, and Jeff Teague decided to dust off the rarely seen "Olive" Air Jordan V Retro LS.
Take a look at our picks for 10 of the best sneakers that walked through the NBA tunnels this past week below.
Air Jordan IV 'Black Cat'
Player: Chris Paul
Date: Jan. 20
Location: Toyota Center (Houston)
Girls Don't Cry x Nike SB Dunk Low
Player: Karl-Anthony Towns
Date: Jan. 20
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97
Player: OG Anunoby
Date: Jan. 17
Location: Scotiabank Arena (Toronto)
Air Jordan XI 'Cool Grey'
Player: Delon Wright
Date: Jan. 15
Location: Golden 1 Center (Sacramento)
Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 'ComplexCon'
Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Date: Jan. 17
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City)
Clot x Nike Air Force 1 'Blue Silk'
Player: Anthony Davis
Date: Jan. 20
Location: TD Garden (Boston)
Air Jordan I 'Board of Governors'
Player: Kemba Walker
Date: Jan. 20
Location: TD Garden (Boston)
Adidas Yeezy Boost 700 V3 'Azael'
Player: Derrick Rose
Date: Jan. 20
Location: Capital One Arena (Washington DC)
Air Jordan V Retro LS 'Olive'
Player: Jeff Teague
Date: Jan. 15
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
Air Jordan IV 'Oregon'
Player: Nerlens Noel
Date: Jan. 15
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City)
