10 NBA Players Who Should Be Signature Athletes Immediately
Slam|July/August 2018

For an NBA player, nothing symbolizes the evolution from “Next Big Thing” to “Current Superstar” quite like a signature sneaker. Here, we take a stab at 10 guys we think could—and should—make that jump over the next few years.

Russ Bengtson
10 NBA Players Who Should Be Signature Athletes Immediately

Sorting out who should—and who shouldn’t—get signature shoes isn’t an exact science. If anything it’s more like alchemy, combining two different ingredients, in this case an athlete and a sneaker brand, and hoping magic happens. Sometimes it does and you get Air Jordan. Sometimes it doesn’t and you get, well, other results.

The most successful partnerships are somehow more than a sum of their parts. Magic. And it’s not just a matter of the best brand teaming with the best player, either. There’s more to it, especially now, what with social media and international fanbases. There’s also the matter of timing—the guy who seems like a can’t-miss today might be a flop by the time the product hits the market.

So with all this in mind, we cranked up the crystal ball and came up with 10 guys who should be signature athletes immediately if not soon. And if you’re wondering where Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name is, his signature model is reportedly already in the works for 2019. Let’s hope the magic happens.

LUKA DONCIC

TEENAGE SLOVENIAN prospect Luka Doncic will be a lottery pick this June, one who will be expected to change the fortune of whatever team he winds up on. [See page 36 for lots more on Luka.—Ed.] The 6-6 guard signed with Real Madrid at 13 and has spent the last six years in Spain. So while he’ll be new to the NBA, he’s already a pro, one who’s a familiar name in an entirely different market. And while Eurostars like Manu Ginobili and Dirk Nowitzki never got signature shoes of their own, Doncic should. Because even if he doesn’t reach the Hall of Fame heights of Manu and Dirk, he’s already reached an even greater number of fans before ever stepping onto an NBA floor.

This story is from the July/August 2018 edition of Slam.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2018 edition of Slam.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SLAMView All
The SUMMER THAT WASN'T
Slam

The SUMMER THAT WASN'T

Playground entry fences chain locked. Rims removed. Leagues canceled. Summer basketball just stopped in 2020. And as its effects extended beyond the blacktop, we were reminded why it's so important.

time-read
8 mins  |
June - July 2021
METAMORPHOSIS
Slam

METAMORPHOSIS

The sport of basketball speaks to so many people in so many ways. Dan Peterson, the founder of Project Backboard, has teamed up with artists to use the beauty of the sport to turn local courts into works of art that are accessible to all.

time-read
4 mins  |
June - July 2021
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire
Slam

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire

For former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the last three years have had their ups and downs. Now that he and the Phoenix Suns are back on the way up, DA wants everyone to know that's where they're planning to stay.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June - July 2021
Now What?
Slam

Now What?

As North Carolina rapper J. Cole transitioned from up-and-comer to full-blown vet, he came to a realization: staying sharp and fighting off complacency ain't easy. Inspired by his love for basketball and his desire to remain on top of the game, the 36-year-old has been treating music like a competitive sport while he readies his next project: The Off-Season.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June - July 2021
ONE STEP AT A Time
Slam

ONE STEP AT A Time

NBA and G League vet Jeremy Lin and Loyola Marymount's Anthony Yu speak candidly about the ups and downs of being Asian American in the basketball world.

time-read
9 mins  |
June - July 2021
THE GARDEN Blooms
Slam

THE GARDEN Blooms

The Knicks are back. Deadass, they're back. A return to the tough, gritty, resilient style that made the teams of the past so dominant has allowed Saba Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and the Knicks an opportunity to compete for homecourt advantage in the 2021 playoffs. Facts.

time-read
10 mins  |
June - July 2021
CITIZEN OF THE World
Slam

CITIZEN OF THE World

Congolese native Yannick Nzosa played for professional teams in Italy and Spain before he turned 17. Now that his name is moving up the 2022 pre-draft boards, the former soccer player has one thing front and center in his mind—succeeding for his family back home.

time-read
8 mins  |
June - July 2021
STRONG Island
Slam

STRONG Island

Mental fortitude and physical toughness are what's helped Long Island's Arella Guirantes make it all the way to the W.

time-read
3 mins  |
June - July 2021
KICK IN THE Door
Slam

KICK IN THE Door

The WNBA, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running women's sports league ever. SLAM sat down with four of the most influential players of all time Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sue Bird to discuss their part in making the League the force it is today.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June - July 2021
Can't YOU SEE
Slam

Can't YOU SEE

It ain't hard to tell that supernatural vision has established Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as a clear candidate for the 2021 MVP Award.

time-read
8 mins  |
June - July 2021