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Kate Upton Looks Really Comfortable in These Under Armour Sneakers tonight and it’s no secret that the game is evolving further into the depths of smaller line-ups and long-range attacks. The signature sneaker game and the way brands look at signing athletes is changing too, and with all the press and hoopla around signature athletes like LeBron, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, the narrative remains unchanged and not much needs to be said about what they’ll be lacing up this season. Instead, we turn our focus toward some of the top performers who won’t be wearing a signature silhouette to start the season – players that will make waves in the years to come. From James Harden’s switch to adidas to Under Armour’s plans outside of Steph, we proudly present the 10 NBA stars without signature shoes (yet) that will make noise this year both in the stat column and with what they wear on-feet. Check out the full list below.
1. James Harden – adidas Hoops
James Harden went from pushing anonymous Nike models to being adidas’ $200 million man. Whether that says adidas overplayed their hand or Nike wasn’t showing the MVP-runner up enough love depends on your own perception. Harden dominated the summer news cycle with rumors about his impending sneaker free agency and the three style made good on their word by delivering an entire truckload of their products to keep him laced off the court. As for what Harden will be wearing on the hardwood, he’ll start the year in the adidas Crazylight Boost 2015 in a myriad of PE colorways. Despite adidas having an entire roster full of signature athletes, this is by far their best model. Here’s to hoping the adidas Harden 1 makes similar noise when it releases – because you can’t pay Pink $200 mil and not give them a signature, right?
2. Anthony Davis – Nike Basketball
The consensus world’s next-greatest-player could make the leap as soon as this season health notwithstanding and Anthony Davis doesn’t even have a signature shoe to show for it. Nike has been rather apprehensive when doling out a signature model for a big man, but The Brow is not your stereotypical big man. He’s currently lacing up the Nike Air Max Audacity – a not so audacious attempt at giving Davis a memorable model throughout the regular season. The jagged midsole and bulky Air Max unit is something you might find in a 90s era hoops shoe, you know, back when big men actually wore shoes created exclusively for them. With rumblings of A.Davis being Nike’s next choice as a signature athlete, we shouldn’t expect him to be on this list next season.
3. Andrew Wiggins – adidas Hoops
Wiggins could end up being the player the Cavaliers let get away. Can the same thing be said to Nike when the Canadian reaches his full potential? The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year made huge strides late last season and don’t expect any sort of slowing down for A.Wiggins this year. Currently wearing the adidas Crazylight Boost 2015 like Harden, it’s unclear what exactly adidas plans to do with the young star, but given his career trajectory, he could be the brand’s most important basketball athlete. Expect more uniquely Canadian PEs to be floated Wiggins’ way throughout the season as he’ll be championing whatever technological advancement adidas is cooking up. Just expect it to feature both Primeknit and Boost.
4. Nick Young – ???
Swaggy P said he was getting a signature shoe deal. His pre-season wears have been rather inconsistent but a notable advancement was that he did break his Nike addiction to lace up an adidas Crazylight Boost and a Reebok Answer 1 retro in a rare changing of the brands. The Lakers aren’t going to be any good, but they’re going to be a fun train wreck to watch and Nick’s footwear selections have always added another reason to tune in. Young has been a featured star in our NBA Feet series for years breaking out Jordan retros, Foamposites, and plenty of Kobe retros now that he’s in La La Land. While a signature shoe is usually beneficial to those involved, if Young’s actually happens it will be an end of an era. In the meantime, expect him to wear more brands besides the usual all Nike regiment throughout the season.
5. Paul George – Nike Basketball
A new number, a new look Pacers team, and a new underdog status should serve Paul George well. In fact, it sounds like the perfect time for George to get a signature shoe. If it doesn’t happen this season, PG13 will be wearing the Nike Hyperdunk 2015 Low featuring his freshly minted PG logo. Having your own player exclusive logo often hints at what’s to come in the future – more involvement with Nike and plans for your own silhouette. It happened with Kyrie Irving, and almost happened with James Harden. With a restructured Pacers team full of new faces, expect George to be one of the more constant factors in getting Indiana back to the playoffs. We hope regaining his All-Star form will mean his own shoe will be on the horizon.
Saint Laurent Monogram Boots In Leather | 6. Jabari Parker – Jordan Brand
The Bucks are stacked with young talent and Head Coach Jason Kidd is taking caution with working Jabari Parker back into the lineup. As one of Jordan Brand’s youngest signees, expect Jabari to rock a myriad of Super.Fly 4 PEs and the occasional Air Jordan XX9 and Air Jordan XXX. The Super.Fly series usually wouldn’t spark too much interest, but this season features a crazy Jacquard woven upper with limitless graphic potential. It doesn’t look like Jordan Brand is continuing with their signature route , but if the Jumpman ever wants to put Pink else’s name on a Jordan sneaker, expect Parker to be at the top of the list.
Saint Laurent Monogram Boots In Leather
7. Emmanuel Mudiay – Under Armour Basketball
Mudiay’s path to the NBA is fairly uncommon. He ditched Larry Brown’s SMU would-be juggernaut to sign a deal to play professionally overseas in China. That led to him being a basic unknown entering the NBA Draft but it did allow him to sign an endorsement deal with Under Armour a year early to ensure stability for his family back in the states. Under Armour’s tremendous growth in the basketball department could be attributed solely to Steph Curry, but now UA may be feeling some pressure to keep the growth alive. In comes Mudiay. He’s been wearing the UA ClutchFit Drive Low in the pre-season in some vibrant colorways closely resembling the “Iron Sharpens Iron” look of Steph’s second signature. Expect big numbers from Emmanuel throughout the season given the Nuggets’ lack of options. If he plays his cards right, he could be UA’s next signature athlete.
8. D’Angelo Russell – Nike Basketball
Finally some refreshment in the Hollywood drought. D’Angelo Russell has the makings of a bonafide star. He’s poised, in control, comes equipped with great court vision, and landed in the second largest market in the United States, so his marketability has great potential. Many have pinpointed Russell as the player Kobe will pass the torch to and the same could possibly said about a signature deal with Nike. With Kobe aging out of the signature athlete lineup for the Swoosh (this could possibly be his last season) Nike is searching for Pink to join LeBron, KD, and Kyrie. In the meantime, expect D. Loading to be wearing plenty of Kobe pairs while he learns from the man himself.
9. Jimmy Butler – Jordan Brand
One of the major storylines in NBA footwear news last season was the fact that Jimmy Butler took a fraction of his adidas payday to sign with Jordan Brand. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given how much Butler believes in himself. He did the same with his NBA contract last season and is the same guy who took out his car’s rearview mirror so he ‘couldn’t look back’. Don’t expect any sort of Jordan Butler 1s in the future though, as Jimmy Buckets will be championing the Air Jordan XX9 and the subsequent signature models for as long as his Jordan Brand contract lasts. Perception is everything here, as a vast majority of fans will still call the Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose’s team. For now, take solace in knowing that the Jumpman will be displayed prominently on Chicago’s best player for the first time since MJ.
10. Kawhi Leonard – Jordan Brand
People who say the Spurs aren’t entertaining basketball haven’t been watching what’s been going on in San Antonio over the past four seasons. Coach Pop has retooled the small-market franchise time and time again to churn out winning basketball teams, and Kawhi Leonard has been a major part of that. If not for Coach Pop’s system that preaches ball-movement and selfless basketball, Kawhi could be one of the NBA’s top scorers. Kawhi has rocked mostly the Air Jordan XX9, but he’s occasionally been floated the head-turning PE with his “The Claw” logo imprinted on it. More importantly, with Ray Allen retired for good, Kawhi could possibly be Jordan Brand’s next PE guy. We’d love to see more retro PEs on court, and who better than a guy who won’t wait ’til the end of the season to sign with a team?
