THE ATHLETE'S BEST ACCESS

Behind every style-conscious athlete is a squad of specialists, employed to handle the FINER FASHION DETAILS that elevate a look to superstar status

- illustrations by Diego Patino

ZOHAIB MUHAMMAD

ZOHAIB MUHAMMAD had just five days to source 3,622 precious stones—3,444 diamonds and 178 emeralds, plus 836.47 grams of rose gold, to be exact—and create a custom design for a three-by-three-inch letter “E” pendant and 22-inch chain with barbed wire details. The Houston-based jeweler—better known as ZoFrost—received the request from his buddy and client, Maxx Crosby. The Raiders’ defensive end was attending a field dedication at Eastern Michigan, his alma mater, and he wanted a showstopper. It needed to be blinged out with gold, diamonds and lots of EMU green. And it needed to be big.

“I don’t know why I said yes,” ZoFrost says. “If one thing went wrong, we wouldn’t have made the deadline. He doesn’t know how much sleep I lost over that piece. He’s a good friend, but I told him, never do that to me again.”

ZoFrost’s showroom houses jewelry for some of the biggest names in the NFL and NBA. He designed the diamond chains and cross pendant that Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wore throughout the 2024-25 season. LaMelo Ball has also commissioned several pieces from ZoFrost, including a new Chrome Hearts-inspired, full-mouth grill cast in white gold that was made locally in Houston. ZoFrost says he loves designing for Ball: “That guy keeps you on your toes.”

ZoFrost sources stones and diamonds from the world’s best refineries in India. Of course, he has a large inventory on hand for when requests come in. “I tell clients two weeks, minimum,” he says. “Five days is just crazy.” Clients approach ZoFrost for all kinds of reasons, like when Bears safety Jonathan Owens commissioned an engagement ring for Simone Biles, a three-carat, oval-cut diamond set on a pavé band. But most of the time, it’s to put a show of force behind an athlete's name with a big piece of custom jewelry. Usually, it’s a pendant or chain. ZoFrost says, “They worked hard, they made it to the league—it’s time to flash out a bit.”