The 21 Most Noteworthy Sneakers Worn by NBA Players for Media Day
All 30 NBA teams have now held their Media Days, meaning the preseason is now officially underway. Given that this is Footwear News, we of course had our eyes on the players’ feet — and there was no shortage of interesting sneaker choices.
Some players showcased their unreleased signature models, while others opted to show off their kicks for more intrinsic purposes. Believe it or not, there was even a Sketchers sighting, which signals the brand is getting serious about performance footwear after announcing the signing of world class English soccer player Harry Kane in August.
Below, we go through the most noteworthy sneakers players wore throughout the league, including PJ Tucker, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and more.
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PJ Tucker’s Air Jordan 3 “Legend of Summer”
Leave it to the NBA’s sneakerhead-in-chief to rock the unofficial “Red October” Air Jordan 3s, which fetch $8,000 on the resale market.
Scoot Henderson’s Yet-to-Be-Named Puma Signature Sneaker
Scoot Henderson will be in rare air as a rookie wearing his own sneaker for his first game in the NBA. This marks the first time his shoe has been seen in public.
Chris Paul’s Jordan CP.3 “White Sunstone”
Chris Paul has a new team and a very old sneaker, throwing it back to this 2010 release from his signature line.
DeMar DeRozan’s Nike Air More Uptempo “Chicago”
DeMar DeRozan reps the Bulls well with a rare More Uptempo altered to read “Chi” instead of “Air” in 2017.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE “DeMar DeRozan”
Speaking of DeRozan, Tyrese Haliburton busted out a pair of Kobe 6 Protro player-exclusives made for DeMar and designed by his daughters in 2021.
Kyrie Irving’s Anta Shock Wave 5 Pro “Black”
Kyrie Irving and Anta aren’t ready to reveal their new signature line yet, so it looks like the Shock Wave 5 Pro is the model he’ll be wearing to start the season.
LeBron James’ Nike LeBron 10 Low “Championship Pack”
LeBron James is on his 21st signature sneaker, but he decided to bust the LeBron 10 Lows made 10 years ago to commemorate his consecutive championships with the Miami Heat.
Anthony Edwards’ Adidas AE 1 “New Wave”
Anthony Edwards used media day to reveal yet another colorway for his debut signature sneaker.
Terance Mann’s Yet-to-Be-Revealed Skechers Basketball Sneaker
There have been no official announcements yet specifying what Terance Mann’s relationship is with Skechers, but the budget shoe brand appears to be up to something.
Ben Simmons’ Louis Vuitton LV Trainer “Black”
The LV Trainer is a flex, but it’s not really a surprise anymore to see Ben Simmons in street shoes.
Gary Trent Jr.’s Rick Owens Luxor Shoes
Gary Trent Jr.’s choice of footwear would have been appropriate for Jimmy Butler’s “emo” Media Day look.
Donovan Mitchell’s Adidas D.O.N. Issue 5 “White/Gold”
Donovan Mitchell continues teasing colorways for his yet-to-be-released fifth signature sneaker.
Kyle Lowry’s Adidas Gazelle Indoor “Collegiate Burgundy”
If you’re still looking for an Adidas Samba alternative, just ask Kyle Lowry.
Trae Young’s Adidas Trae 3 “Orange”
Trae Young’s third model is one of the more daring amongst all contemporary basketball sneakers and appears in this orange colorway for the first time.
Chase Comanche’s Nike SB Dunk Low “Sandy Bodecker”
These SB Dunks inspired by an eBay Dunk from 2023 are polarizing among sneakerheads, but fairplay for Chase Comanche for one of the most unexpected footwear decisions on Media Day.
Trey Lyles’ Nike Kobe 4 Protro PE
This Nike Kobe 4 has never released and doesn’t yet have a spot on the calendar, making it a major boast for Trey Lyles.
Devin Booker’s Converse Chuck 70 “Black”
Devin Booker also has his first signature sneaker coming soon, but he decided to show his continued love to a classic pair of Chucks.
Klay Thompson’s Anta KT 9 “White/Blue”
Klay Thompson began teasing his ninth sneaker during an off-season tour in China, and we expect to hear more on the model soon.
Zion Williamson’s Jordan Zion 3 “Mud Sweat Tears”
Throughout his offseason controversies, the third sneaker in Zion Williamson’s Jordan line has managed to go relatively under the radar.
Victor Wembanyama’s Nike GT Hustle 2 “White/Blue”
Until he gets a sneaker to call his own, Victor Wembanyama will be the face of Nike’s renamed GT Hustle 2.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
