Image via Complex Original
LeBron James seen out wearing ___. Victor Cruz spotted at Paris Fashion Week with Designer X. Russell Westbrook asks "#whynot" on an Instagram post wearing a purple astronaut suit. While there are a select few of athletes who have become the elite style yeasayers of their generation, they certainly aren't the only ones out their showing their love for fashion.
Style risks are taken every single day, but when an athlete goes out on a limb to show their daring sense of style for the world to criticize AND pull it off? You can only tip your Just Don cap to that. There is a new wave of athletes who have quietly gone under the radar and doing the damn thing for themselves and, luckily, sharing it with us on a consistent basis. They deserve recognition for swag, so watch these kings make mighty moves and get ready for The Next Wave of Stylish Athletes.
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Andre Branch
Sport: Football
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Andre Branch is a mammoth of a man at 6'5, 265lbs. It's gotta be hard to find cool clothes when you're that size, right? So it's that much more impressive that the giant Jaguar has pretty much thrown that notion right out the window. Other than being one of the NFL's biggest sneakerheads, the defensive end has zero issue finding goodies from Givenchy, Saint Laurent, even super-nichey trollwear pieces from Wil Fry that you don't normally see worn by athletes—let alone rocked as well as Mr. Branch.
DeMarcus Cousins
Sport: Basketball
Team: Sacramento Kings
16 technical fouls in 2014 ain't shit when you're swagging the fuck out like DeMarcus Cousins. Sure, the Kings center has a hot-head and makes some questionable on-court decisions, but off the court? The man has more rare sneakers than one should be allowed to own, but his shnazzy buttondown and bucket hat collection is just as impressive.
Josh Gordon
Sport: Football
Team: Cleveland Browns
While we can't really speak on what's going through Josh Gordon's head when it comes to some of his decision-making as of late, but we can at least see he has his mind right in the style department. His eccentric lifestyle is accentuated by his style, often wearing outlandish patterns from guys like Marcelo Burlon or Dr. Romanelli. And when one of your favorite labels is Margiela, you just can't go wrong. Since he's facing a potential suspension from the league for a year or more, we would actually recommend the Browns receiver go into seclusion like Martin Margiela for a little while, too.
Jermaine Jones
Sport: Soccer
Team: U.S.A. National Team/Beşiktaş
It's pretty safe to say that we are altogether in saying the U.S. Men's National Soccer team gave one hell of an effort in the 2014 World Cup. And a lot of that had to do with the play of veteran (but new to the U.S. team as of 2010) midfielder Jermaine Jones. But Jones' play isn't all that we've been impressed with lately. The German-American's style is quite unique, often seen showing off duds from Rick Owens. Even though this is something you don't typically see from an athlete, the love he's receiving from Americans could score him some gifts from the street goth lord himself.
Chris Douglas-Roberts
Sport: Basketball
Team: Charlotte Hornets
A reserve who is better known for his sense of style and hair than his play, Chris Douglas-Roberts has let it be known that, even though his love for the game will never falter, he is equally as passionate about fashion. A bit of a tatted up hipster, CDR is pretty unconventional when it comes to his tattered, skinny denim, long silhouetted tops and unapologetic approach to style. He's worked hard to get to where he is in the NBA and stays humble, but when it comes to his steez, he is anything but. Can't be mad at that.
Carl Hagelin
Sport: Hockey
Team: New York Rangers
Hockey players are some of the most slept on style mavens in pro sports, but guys like Carl Hagelin are making significant steps to change that. The Swedish-born New York Rangers forward is not shy on speaking about and showing off his love for slim suits, but has a pretty killer casual side, too. He's got the classy Euro-non-douche-style down, especially as he sports his hometown label J. Lindeberg.
Joe Haden
Sport: Football
Team: Cleveland Browns
One of the most feared corners in the game not only has a killer sneaker collection, but style that could potentially rival "that guy" from Akron. An affinity for high-end streetwear, Haden puts some of the most sought after sneakers together perfectly with long silhouetted tops and biker jeans from brands like Givenchy, Balmain. Ain't the type of shit you'd expect to see in Cleveland, but there it is thanks to Mr. Haden.
Lewis Hamilton
Sport: Formula 1 Racing
Team: Mercedes AMG
Does "F1 Driver" constitute the title of "athlete?" We think so, especially when they are as cool and as non-stereotypical of a British Formula One driver as Lewis Hamilton. Would you expect a racer to be spotted in Hood by Air? Or hanging out with David Beckham in Givenchy and Christopher Kane? Or out with his girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger while rocking Kenzo? Nah. So keep your Dale Earnhardt trucker hat assumptions to your own-damn-self.
Lucien Clarke
Sport: Skateboarding
Team: Palace, Supra, Slam City, Kr3w
If you aren't familiar with the name of Palace, Supra and Slam City-sponsored skateboarder, Lucien Clarke, then his face will likely ring a bell. Recent lookbook model extraordinaire for Supreme, the 26-year old London resident has been in the game for quite some time now, with video appearances dating back to 2005. Needless to say, his modeling fame has garnered him quite the attention, especially since his IRL style is pretty much mirrored in his Supreme features with a dash of Palace thrown in there. True definition of skate-smart streetwear.
Jabari Parker
Sport: Basketball
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Jabari Parker's life just changed a few weeks ago when he was chosen as the third pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Plus, a freshly inked deal with Jordan Brand, all from his hard work on the court. Besides overall quality of life, you can bet the Chicago native's already established love for streetwear and dope kicks will take a step up, too. Being able to spend those dollars on all the gear you want when your fashion sense is already heightened is a dangerous thing. Hell, he even showed he can spruce it up a bit with his pristine draft day suit by Zegna (with a Jordan tie clip). Rumble, young man. Rumble.