Which NBA Stars Dress to Impress?

In the old days, there was very little crossover between the worlds of sport and fashion. That is certainly not the case nowadays, as sports stars are far more concerned with their appearance.

This might seem odd to dedicated fans of sports like basketball. These fans are more likely to be looking for the best NBA player props than checking out fashion sites.

The fact is that many of the NBA stars of today have a keen and alert fashion sense. They want to stand out and they know that clothes can help them to do that.

In this article, we are going to take a look at the NBA players who dress to impress. We will pick out the players and identify what makes their style work.

LeBron James

LeBron is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is a legend within the sport and his sense of fashion reflects that elder statesman role.

That means he is a bit less flashy than some of his younger rivals, but he always gets it right. When it comes to his favorite brand, there can be no doubt: he is loyal to Louis Vuitton.

One of the best pieces from that fashion house that he has worn is a leather biker jacket with a monogram. James accessorized it with a Speedy bag.

He sometimes combines items from that house with letterman jackets, nylon windcheaters and other pieces of vintage sportswear. The result he achieves is stylish and dignified.

Jordan Clarkson

Another veteran NBA player with impeccable taste in fashion for men is Jordan Clarkson. He has played in the league for 11 seasons and has always been among its sharpest dressers.

What is interesting about his sense of style, though, is how low-key it is. In some respects, it is similar to his way of playing basketball – you can easily miss how good it is.

At the heart of his consistent fashion success is his instinct for combining the classic with the innovative. Clarkson will wear pieces by brands like Lululemon, but he will invariably combine them with a piece of cutting-edge streetwear.

By doing so, he keeps himself one step ahead of all of his NBA rivals. He has a passion for baggy pants and tops, but beyond that, he keeps everyone guessing as to what he will wear next.

Jerami Grant

Next in the rankings is Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers and that is an appropriate team for him to play for. When it comes to fashion, Grant is all about the unconventional and innovative.

He has built his fashion following on the back of a love for the avant-garde and daring. It ensures that whatever he wears will always stand out – even in a league full of peacocks.

Grant is certainly known to have preferred brand names, though. He will often be seen in outfits by fashion houses Comme des Garçons and Maison Margiela, to name a couple of examples.

But he chooses the riskier rather than safe options and carries them off with aplomb. That earns him his place on the best-dressed list.

An example of the kind of outfits that Grant makes a splash with would be his pairing of a balloon skirt with shoes from Vibram Five Fingers. The NBA may be full of sharp dressers, but he is one of the few who challenge gender norms in this way. That has contributed to his fashion following.

Grant appeared at New York Fashion Week in 2024, wearing outfits by Adidas and Willy Chavarria. So he has real industry connections and clout.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is a point guard for the LA Clippers, but he is just as well known for his dress sense. This has earned him attention from the likes of GQ and Vogue in recent years.

When it comes to what he wears, there is a clear trend towards streetwear. Westbrook is someone who wants to look bang up-to-date in his clothing choices.

Some of the brand names that he has chosen to wear include JW Anderson and Off-White, but he puts a definite personal spin on the street look. Streetwear can often favor the splashy use of logos, which is not what Westbrook likes.

He prefers to mix and match items according to their sizes, patterns and colors. Thus, he will combine oversized sky blue trousers with a patterned top in white and the same shade of blue.

Westbrook has taken his interest in clothes and fashion to the stage of setting up his own brand that creates streetwear. It is called Honor the Gift.

There are lots of fine dressers in the NBA, but these four are the ones that stand out.

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Alli Rosenbloom

Alli Rosenbloom, dubbed “Mr. Television,” is a veteran journalist and media historian contributing to Forbes since 2020. A member of The Television Critics Association, Alli covers breaking news, celebrity profiles, and emerging technologies in media. He’s also the creator of the long-running Programming Insider newsletter and has appeared on shows like “Entertainment Tonight” and “Extra.”

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