Image via Complex Original
The NBA has always been something of a stylish league. Take a look back at Magic Johnson in the fur, and you’ll remember that before sneaker blogs and social media took off, the NBA had a strong style reputation. Now, though? It’s on an entirely different level, as some of the most notable athletes on the planet have turned fashion into a serious hobby. With 82 games in the season, players have plenty of opportunities to make a fashion statement, and the 2015–16 season was full of them. These are the best NBA style moments of the season.
Russell Westbrook Wears Vetements
In many ways, the NBA style conversation begins and ends with Russell Westbrook, and whether you want to admit it or not, Russ came with some heat more than a few times. Perhaps his most fashion-forward moment came when he showed up wearing a bright orange, oversized sweatshirt from divisive upstart and French label-of-the-moment Vetements. The brand that’s been literally the only thing fashion folk have talked about for the last six months got some major exposure simply by having Russell wear it before a game. And to think, he’ll probably never wear the $600 crewneck ever again. Even being the fairly enormous human he is, the comically long sleeves were still too long for Russ, which is saying something.
Jordan Clarkson Wears Cav Empt and Yeezy 950s
If you haven’t paid attention, Jordan Clarkson has perhaps the most palatable personal style in the NBA. It’s clear that he, or his stylist, reads blogs and keeps up with the newest streetwear drops to stay on the cutting edge of the newest trends. Despite a dismal 2015–16 season for the Lakers overall, Jordan had some dope looks that flew below the radar. Most notably, this one, featuring an anorak from abstract streetwear brand Cav Empt, distressed black jeans, and Yeezy Boost 950s. Even though it rains in L.A., like, five times a year, and there is no reason to own a pair of heavy-duty boots, we’ll give Clarkson a pass on this one.
Nick Young Wears Yeezy Boost 750s in Game
Young has shown up at fashion weeks around the globe and sat front row at some of the biggest runway shows, furthering his profile as one of the more stylish players in the league. But when it comes down to it, we want to remember Swaggy P for his work on the court, and he figured out how to combine his love of fashion with the game of basketball by wearing Yeezy Boost 750s in an actual NBA game. Twice. After signing with adidas last December, Swaggy wore the original gray 750s in a game, and to celebrate the New Year (as well as a shoutout in Kanye’s “#FACTS”), he wore the triple black pair in another game. We’re not sure we would like to have his ankles afterward, though.
Russell Westbrook Wears Patagonia
With Russell wearing a teal Patagonia shirt (sans sleeves, natch), jeans with holes so big they almost became shorts, and a bandana around his head, all I could think as he strutted into the arena was, “Does Russell Westbrook compost?” This granola-hipster look makes us think he has at least given it a shot. It has shades of “frat bro who just took Environmental Science 101,” and we’re always on board with working Patagucci into our closets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Postgame Photoshoots
Despite finishing off the season with an epic Finals win over the Warriors, the Cavs and their ritualistic post-game shoots became something of a joke this season. As LeBron James put the team on his back and brought the city a championship, he had to make sure they looked like a team—and not simply a one-man show led by one of the best basketball players of all time. By gathering together his teammates after a big W for a photo, he not only made it look like the team was getting along, but also turned it into a prime flexing opportunity to compare ‘fits and see whose was best. Instagram needs to offer a poll option just so we can settle the score on these squad shots and choose a winner. Our money is on Kyrie Irving.
LBJ’s Inspector Gadget Look
For all that he’s done to make his team come together, LeBron also felt the wrath of what it was like to be Russell Westbrook for one night only. The Internet went in on LeBron for this seemingly Inspector Gadget-inspired look. Complete with a ’70s detective mustache, ‘Bron looked like he was about to solve a decades-old murder case simply by going through piles of files in a basement with no windows. He became the butt of a joke, but at least we can support his camel topcoat. Oh, and he's an NBA champion, again.
The Dwyane Wade Esquire Spread
You know the spread we’re talking about—the one where it looks like D-Wade just got off his shift from moonlighting as a magician’s assistant. Before Russell Westbrook ascended to NBA style notoriety, D-Wade was leading the way. Since the days of wearing skin-tight cropped trousers, Wade has settled down, but just for old time’s sake, he brought it back to 2012 for Esquire, and we’re happy to remind you of that.
Craig Sager on His Return
It has been a challenging year for Craig Sager. The famed sideline reporter has battled leukemia and has been on and off duty while receiving treatment all season long. After missing the first few months of the season, Sager returned in early December and reunited with his favorite subject, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Craig marked the occasion with one of his more measured suits in recent memory, a black checkered number that perhaps spoke more to his struggle. But the combination of the suit and the situation more than warrants a place on the list.
Russell Westbrook Wears a Mighty Ducks Jersey
Nostalgia really gets the heartstrings going. The Mighty Ducks franchise has been laser-engraved on the minds of everyone between 25 and 30 by now, and since Russ falls right into that age group, it only makes sense that he also enjoys a little reminiscing. And to be honest, we can get on board with that as well. If there’s one Westbrook outfit that felt attainable this season, the Ducks sweater was probably it.
The All-Star Weekend Fur Situation
All-Star Weekend has become such a style destination for the NBA that the league even sanctioned its own runway show last year. While the runway show didn’t return in 2016, ASW remained a prolonged style moment. With the festivities held in the frigid cold of Toronto this year, all the stars busted out their best statement outerwear—and that meant fur, and lots of it. Looking straight out of a scene from Game of Thrones, guys like Chris Paul, DeMarre Carroll, Chris Bosh, and much more brought the North to the North and made everyone watching think that they needed a fur-trimmed coat in their repertoire.
The Entire Bench During the Dunk Contest
This year’s dunk contest was one of the best in history with Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon dropping hammer after hammer. But if you weren’t paying close attention to the background, the players on the bench looking on were repping hammers of their own. Like Karl Anthony Towns’ Off-White flannel shirt, Andrew Wiggins’ chrome python leather jacket, DeMarcus Cousins’ denim parka, Draymond Green’s yellow jacket, Steph’s camo shirt, Demar DeRozan’s long red hoodie, and Anthony Davis’s sparkly sneakers. Plenty of rising stars in the league came through wearing their ASW best.
Win Butler of Arcade Fire Wears Pelicans Jacket
When it comes to NBA superfans, rappers tend to get the most attention. But take a look at incredible Pelicans-inspired coaches jacket worn by Win Butler of Arcade Fire. Butler is a Pelicans season ticket holder and shows us the best way to bring your fandom into your wardrobe without looking like a total dweeb drowning in a jersey that’s way too big.
Drake’s Farewell Mamba Jacket
It wasn’t just the athletes who brought something new to All-Star Weekend style-wise; Toronto’s unofficial NBA ambassador Drake busted out a custom jacket to celebrate Kobe Bryant’s final season in the league. The “Farewell Mamba” jacket was a huge hit and was even designed by Jeff Hamilton, who has done celebration gear for the likes of Jordan and, you guessed it, Kobe, in the past.
Kanye’s “I Feel Like Kobe” Shirt
If anyone knows how to capitalize on the hype of a special occasion, it’s Kanye West. He turned his fashion show into a straight-up performance art piece at Madison Square Garden—with accompanying merch. So, it’s only right that he would send off Kobe as well. For Bryant’s final game, ‘Ye busted out a new take on the Life of Pablo merch with a yellow “I Feel Like Kobe” shirt that celebrates April 13, 2016, as “Mamba Day.” The back of the shirt hails Kobe as the “World’s Greatest,” and while that’s absolutely false, it still made for a nice send-off.
The Golden State Warriors’ Notorious Photoshoot
The Warriors may have set the regular season record for wins, going 73-9, but one very distinct L came after the San Francisco Chronicle put the spotlight on the Dubs’ off-the-court style. Stephen Curry—who, lest we forget, is a baby-faced spokesman for favorite mall brand Express—Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and the Joe’s jeans his mom got for him, and Andre Iguodala got the worst of it online. But the ENTIRE team jumped in front of the lens. So let’s not focus the insults on a select few, but rather spread them around equally. As pointed out on Twitter, the Warriors were 75-9 before that photoshoot was published, and have gone 7-5 since. The players will never forget their 73 wins this season, but they’ll be wanting to forget this photoshoot—and it may be the dagger that leads to the end of their season.
Russell Westbrook Wears a Slayer Shirt
Russell does some great things with his outfits, and because he is a celebrity with a physique that all of us want (but none of us have the drive, motivation, or time to get because we are weak, feeble beings), he can wear things we cannot. This Slayer-themed fit definitely inspired the most tweets and roast hands for Russell this season. Its divisiveness and the sheer guts it took to show up looking like this might make it one of those great-but-bad-at-the-same-time type of moments.