The Stylish World of NBA and WNBA Fashion All-Stars

FASHION

Jul 14

Written By Miguel Tan & Daniel Virgile-Eudovic

In the realm of fashion, the sports industry stands out as a significant avenue for accessibility and influence, specifically in the NBA. Many viewers tune in every night to watch their favorite basketball players compete against the best. Various players have begun using their pre-game walk-ins to showcase their style and taste. Since the mid-2000s, fashion has been heavily influenced by certain players, such as Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade. However, this was briefly halted in 2005 when David Stern, the former commissioner of the NBA, implemented a dress code. In 2015, this dress code became more relaxed due to cultural and societal shifts in fashion.

Players have evolved into fashion ambassadors for brands and icons of public opinion, renowned not only for being the best-dressed NBA players, but also as fashion icons. The WNBA has also been gaining attention recently with the fiery new talent and utilization of the pre-game walk-ins. As a result, the WNBA has increased in popularity and both leagues are starting to have players pursue fashion partnerships.

Let’s take a look at some of the players, both from the NBA and WNBA, we think are the best dressed.

WNBA Players

Skylar Diggins-Smith

Skylar is most definitely a player who is no stranger to utilizing the WNBA tunnel as her personal runway. She is always well-dressed, opting for various suit options.

Photos from @skylardigginssmith on Instagram

Kysre Gondrezick

Kysre’s style taps into that old-money elegance. Typically dressed in Chanel, she usually keeps it classy and chic in black fits.

Photos from @kysre on Instagram

Nika Mühl

Coming in with a stellar rookie class, Nika is making her own waves among her draft peers with her style. With Skylar Diggins-Smth on her team, you can see a bit of influence in some of her outfits.

Photos from @nika.muhl on Instagram

NBA Players

Jordan Clarkson
Since entering the league in 2014, Jordan has always fashionably stood out from the rest. In an interview with Boardroom, as a self-styled athlete, he explains “I just felt like I could really let my creative juices flow, if I came up with what my look is and who I am.”

Photos from @jordanclarksons on Instagram

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shia has unanimously been named the best-dressed NBA player by multiple sources, including GQ, as well as his peers. When asked about a stylist in an Instagram comment, Gilgeous-Alexander responded “Why would I need a stylist to pick out an outfit for me ?…. I got mad gear.”