NBA Players As Style Icons: Analyzing The Influence Of NBA Players On Contemporary Fashion Trends

Professional athletes have always held a massive sway over the world of popular culture and fashion. As some of the richest and most charismatic—whether because of their own personalities, or because of the popularity and mystique afforded from their impressive displays of talent—public figures out there, it’s no surprise that they drive trends, especially with millions of young people around the world looking up to them as role models. Everyone knows about the billion dollar shoe empires built by Michael Jordan and LeBron James to the savvy style choices of Allen Iverson, whose full sleeve tattoos, braids, and apparel like the classic combo of Timberland boots and sweatpants helped define a generation in the early 2000s.

These days, the NBA might have more trendsetters than ever between the pregame fits that always go viral on the league’s official social media accounts and the stars who enjoy the celebrity lifestyle off the court as well. Here’s a look at some of the biggest fashion icons basketball has to offer.

Kyle Kuzma’s Polarizing Trends

The 28 year old Washington Wizards forward often makes headlines, as much for his life off the court as his performance on it. Kuzma makes the most of his star label, dating fellow high profile celebrities like Kylie Jenner in the past. Perhaps part of how he’s able to succeed in the world of romance is his style, as a quick scroll of his Instagram page reveals hundreds of runway-worthy outfits.

Of course, America’s macho sporting culture means that Kuzma receives plenty of flack for his sense of style, with fans ridiculing him as an “Instagram model” rather than a professional basketball player when he suffers a down night on the court. He’ll have more than $100 million in career earnings by the time his current contract runs its course, so even the haters can’t deny the success that Kuzma enjoys—and looks his best while doing so. If the league offered an award for the most unique wardrobe, you can be sure that odds on NBA bets would position Kuz as the clear frontrunner as soon as the category was announced. Visit www.rotowire.com to know more.

They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and gaudy outfits definitely have a place in today’s increasingly online world, where making statements (and making headlines) is very much a part of being a public figure.

Devin Booker’s Conventional Threads

Another ex-boyfriend of Kendall Jenner makes the list—and there are quite a few more of her former flames who could earn a spot on this list, as Blake Griffin, Ben Simmons, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell have all dated the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star and receive notoriety for their pregame fits—with Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker.

Booker has a much quieter sense of fashion than Kuzma does, wearing the type of stuff you can expect people to see people wearing in public. Where Kuz has outfits tailored after army uniforms or tinted sunglasses that would put Elton John to shame, Book opts for classic looks like Converses and subtle dress shoes. While he grew up in Michigan and Mississippi, Booker spends much of his time on the west coast these days, and you can tell that he prefers a laid back style from the outfits he wears. Rather than getting an immaculately tailored suit, Book seems to wear a size or two up, a comfortable, baggy look that matches his soft-spoken personality.

LeBron James Bucks the Trend

The King is almost always dressed in impeccable style but, funnily enough, it’s his fashion misses that get more press than his hits do. At 39 years old, the Kid from Akron is anything but these days, and he definitely leans in to the stereotypes of his dad demographic at times.

LeBron has never been afraid to be himself, with a goofy sense of humor—haters might call it corny, but you’ve gotta love the King for being who he is—that makes him an easy target for jokes. It comes with the territory of being one of the highest profile athletes in the entire world.

One of the biggest memes around LeBron involves his hairline. He began exhibiting early signs of balding—a receding hairline, namely—in his late 20s while a member of the Miami Heat. It’s a body image challenge that many men struggle with, as roughly two-thirds of men experience some degree of hair loss by the time they reach age 35, and approximately 85 percent of men will see their hair thin out considerably by the time they hit age 50. In short, there’s no shame or surprise that LeBron’s hair started thinning out, but when everything you do goes under the microscope, it caused quite a bit of discussion. 

LeBron often sported a headband during his early playing days, and fans noticed that the band grew considerably thicker over the years as his hairline began to recede… and his headgear became a fashion icon in and of itself. These days, LeBron ditches the headbands, likely because he’s received a hair graft or transplant of some sort. He hasn’t spoken about any cosmetic process, although his fuller head of hair suggests that it happened. If LeBron does open up about his hair day woes, it could go a long way toward addressing a major stigma for men around the world.