NBA Players' Signature Shoes

SI Staff | Dec 2, 2014

NBA Players' Signature Shoes

LeBron 12 | Signature of LeBron James | Nike

Courtesy of Nike

With a bit of a wild colorway inspired by Nike’s Sport Research Lab, the latest in the line of LeBron’s signature shoes has five visible, hexagonally-shaped Nike Zoom Air bags on the outsole. Each was placed to correspond with a basketball athlete’s natural motion, aiming for increased explosiveness.

KD7 | Signature of Kevin Durant | Nike

Courtesy of Nike

If you haven’t heard, Kevin Durant’s line is all about the weather. And the strap. Using meteorological-themed aesthetics, the KD7 plays off Durant’s interest in the weather for design, but the KD7 also brought back the strap in this flexible and supportive design.

Kobe 9 Elite | Signature of Kobe Bryant | Nike

Courtesy of Nike

Nike brought its Flyknit fabric—an engineered yarn—to the basketball floor in a super-high top for Kobe. Lunarlon cushioning couples with a carbon heel for support under foot. With Flywire woven throughout the one-piece upper, the Kobe 9 Elite goes lightweight and stable.

J Wall 1 | Signature of John Wall | adidas

Courtesy of adidas

The newest athlete to join the ranks of the signature shoe world, John Wall’s first edition includes a graphic-filled textile for the upper and a lightweight translucent rubber outsole. You won’t forget this is an adidas-made signature with the giant three stripes, but the new “JW” logo plays on the side and tongue. The bottom of the shoes—when put together—form a map of the country while spelling WALL.

CP3.VIII | Signature of Chris Paul | Jordan Brand

Courtesy of Jordan Brand

For quick movement on the court, Chris Paul’s signature shoe has a 5/8 height with an innersleeve for a sock-like fit. The minimalist aesthetic includes lightweight features and a special multi-directional traction design in a herringbone pattern, a staple in the CP3 line.

Way of Wade | Signature of Dwyane Wade | Li-Ning

Courtesy of Li-Ning

With the 3.0 announcement “coming soon,” the most recent version of the Way of Wade gives the Heat star a signature look from the Chinese-based shoe manufacturer. With its own cushioning technology changing throughout the length of the shoe and a signature design, Wade has taken a different route when it comes to signature style.

D Rose 5 Boost | Signature of Derrick Rose | adidas

Courtesy of adidas

With the adidas Boost cushioning taking over nearly every line of shoes, adidas brought the cushioning to the hardwood first for Derrick Rose. The full-length Boost sole includes a lightweight and breathable “fit cage” for strength and support in the upper. The cage also serves as the main aesthetic feature of the D Rose 5 Boost.

M10 | Signature of Carmelo Anthony | Jordan Brand

Courtesy of Jordan Brand

You best love chrome if you’re going to don the 10th anniversary edition of Carmelo’s signature shoe. With the same Flight Plate technology you see in other Jordan Brand shoes, the chrome heel offers both support and aesthetics in one fell swoop.

D Howard 5 | Signature of Dwight Howard | adidas

Courtesy of adidas

The Howard signature details come through in this shoe featuring a variety of textures on the upper for differing looks. The big man’s shoe includes a special shock absorber for high-impact heel hits.

ClutchFit Drive | Lead athlete is Stephen Curry | Under Armour

Courtesy of Under Armour

Still without a signature shoe from Under Armour, Curry wears “player exclusives” with specially designed color combinations for him for in-season and special event games. While Kemba Walker and a few others don the ClutchFit, Curry is the lead athlete wearing the ultra-high top shoe deigned to wrap feet with a form-fitting “second skin” from foot to high above the ankle.

Crazylight Boost | Lead athlete is Damian Lillard | adidas

Courtesy of adidas

While Damian Lillard isn’t the only adidas athlete wearing the Crazylight Boost, he has “player editions” that come with specialized color schemes. This shoe too features Boost, a cushioning technology made from heat-steaming thousands of pea-sized foam capsules together to form a cushioned footbed. A soft mesh upper helps keep this shoe light at 11.6 ounces.

Jordan XX9 | Lead athlete is Russell Westbrook | Jordan

Courtesy of Jordan

Technically, this is the signature shoe for Mr. Michael Jordan. But Russell Westbrook is the lead Jordan-sponsored athlete wearing the XX9. With a bold Jumpman-inspired aesthetic, the shoe features a carbon plate for lightweight, high-strength support. Plus, with an upper woven in Italy, this has to be a Jordan.

Super.Fly 3 | Lead athlete is Blake Griffin | Jordan

Courtesy of Jordan

They call it Flight Plate technology and Jordan Brand has put it on the Super.Fly 3. Using a combination of high-strength material with pockets of air, designers created an underfoot plate aimed at support and cushioning for the folks—you know, like Griffin—who spend plenty of time in the air.