Andrew Pace
Basketball players are often signed to endorsement deals with shoe companies, which may include their own signature shoe lines. The signature basketball shoe market is a thriving industry, with Nike, Adidas, and Jordan Brand controlling the lion's share of the market. Nike has signed some of the biggest stars in the league, including past greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Vince Carter, as well as current stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetekoumpo. Adidas has signed players such as James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Derrick Rose, while the Jordan Brand has Zion Williamson and Luka Dončić on its roster. Other companies like Under Armour, New Balance, and Puma are also making their mark in the basketball shoe market, signing players like Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, and Scoot Henderson.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Nike | LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetekoumpo, Devin Booker, Ja Morant, Paul George, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Charles Barkley, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, Sabrina Ionescu |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Adidas | Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Derrick Rose, James Harden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tracy McGrady |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Jordan Brand | Zion Williamson, Russell Westbrook, Luka Dončić |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with PUMA | Scoot Henderson |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Converse | N/A |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Under Armour | Stephen Curry, De'Aaron Fox |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with New Balance | Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, Zach LaVine, Dejounte Murray, Tyrese Maxey, Cameron Brink |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with 361 Degrees | Spencer Dinwiddie |
| NBA players with signature shoe deals with Chinese brands | Austin Reaves |
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What You'll Learn
Signature shoes of NBA players
Signature shoes are a testament to the popularity of NBA players. Shoe brands vie to sign deals with the most popular players, and these endorsements can be lucrative for both parties. Nike, Adidas, and Converse have traditionally dominated the NBA player shoe market, but other brands like Puma and Chinese shoe companies are now making their mark.
LeBron James has the longest-running signature shoe line for an active player. His partnership with Nike Basketball has spanned over 20 designs, with the LeBron 21 being the most recent. Kevin Durant, another pillar of the basketball shoe industry, also has a signature shoe line with Nike. Other Nike-endorsed players include Devin Booker, Giannis Antetekoumpo, Ja Morant, and Paul George. Nike's Jordan brand is also incredibly popular, with Zion Williamson, Luka Dončić, and Russell Westbrook all having signature shoes with the brand. Michael Jordan's Air Jordans are still one of the top-selling shoes of all time.
Adidas has signed several notable players, including James Harden, whose signature shoes are among the brand's top-selling products. Other Adidas-endorsed players include Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Derrick Rose, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
New Balance has also made inroads into the NBA market, signing stars like Kawhi Leonard, who debuted the New Balance OMN1S in 2019 and received his own signature set, the KAWHI, in 2020. Other New Balance athletes include Jamal Murray, Zach LaVine, and Dejounte Murray.
Other players with signature shoes include Jayson Tatum with the Tatum 1 sneakers, and Spencer Dinwiddie, who has a deal with 361 Degrees.
The signature shoe market for NBA players is dynamic and ever-evolving, with new players and brands constantly emerging and challenging the established names.
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Signature shoes of WNBA players
Several WNBA players have their own signature shoes. Sheryl Swoopes was the first WNBA player to have her own signature shoe, the Nike Air Swoopes, which was released in October 1995. The shoe was designed by a female designer, Marni Gerber, and was the first basketball shoe to carry a female player's name. The Air Swoopes was a successful line that included seven silhouettes, with the Air Swoopes 2 released as a retro in 2018.
Following Swoopes' groundbreaking signature shoe, other WNBA players have also released their own signature sneakers. Rebecca Lobo signed a multi-year deal with Reebok in 1995, releasing the Reebok Lobo. Candace Parker had her own signature shoe line with Adidas, the Ace Versatility, which was released in 2010, and the Exhibit Select CP, which is currently available. In 2021, Puma signed Breanna Stewart, making her the 10th signature athlete in league history. Stewart had previously been with Nike for the first five years of her career.
More recently, in 2023, Sabrina Ionescu debuted the Sabrina 1 with Nike, making her the 12th player in WNBA history to get a signature shoe. Ionescu's second sneaker, the Sabrina 2, was released in June 2024, featuring upgrades in cushioning and an updated band system. Another Nike signature athlete is A'ja Wilson, who released her debut signature shoe, the A'One, in 2023, which sold out in five minutes. Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has also signed an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike that will include her signature sneaker line.
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Nike deals for NBA players
Nike is the biggest sports brand in the world, so it's no surprise that a large number of NBA players have signed deals with the company. It is estimated that over two-thirds of the NBA wear Nike shoes on the court, but only a very small percentage have signature shoe deals.
Nike established a foothold in the NBA by signing Michael Jordan, and his signature line took off as did his career. Former greats with Nike signature shoes include players such as Kobe Bryant, Charles Barkley, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash.
Some of the biggest signature shoe lines of Nike are with current players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Luka Dončić, and Zion Williamson. James is the NBA's oldest star and has the longest-running signature shoe line for an active player. He recently signed a lifetime deal worth a reported $1 billion, making him one of only three athletes in all sports to sign a lifetime deal with Nike.
Other current players with signature Nike shoe deals include Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Ja Morant, and Paul George.
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Adidas deals for NBA players
Adidas has made several notable deals with NBA players over the years, including signing players such as Derrick Rose, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Kristaps Porzingis. The German brand also had Zach LaVine on its books until his deal expired before the 2021-22 NBA season.
Derrick Rose, the former Chicago Bulls star, signed a 14-year, $190 million deal with Adidas after his 2010-11 MVP season. James Harden, who was poached from a rival company in 2015, also signed a massive deal with Adidas worth $200 million over 10 years. Harden's signature shoes are one of the top-selling shoes for Adidas today. Donovan Mitchell and Kristaps Porzingis are also among the notable athletes with Adidas signature shoe deals.
Adidas has also signed several other talented players, including Damian Lillard, Trae Young, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The company once had about 80 players on its NBA roster, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was the company's first endorser. Adidas has made a significant splash in the basketball market in recent years, with their signature shoe athletes matching Nike's count as of 2024.
In addition to signing NBA players, Adidas has also collaborated with fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo, who was previously with Nike, to reignite their basketball department. Adidas' deals with NBA players have helped them establish a strong presence in the basketball market, competing with other major brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand, and Under Armour.
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Converse deals for NBA players
Converse, an American shoe company founded in 1908, has been a subsidiary of Nike, Inc. since 2003. Converse dominated the American court shoe market for over half a century but lost its dominant position in the 1970s as competitors introduced new styles.
Converse is getting back into the basketball shoe market, signing Washington Wizard guard Kelly Oubre Jr. as its first athlete. Converse will dress Oubre for the pre-game walk-ins that players now use to showcase their personal style. While Converse won’t introduce new court-ready shoes for Oubre to wear, the brand has hinted at future plans.
Converse has also signed Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma, who announced a partnership with resale app GOAT. Additionally, the brand congratulated Payton Pritchard for winning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award and introduced him as the latest addition to the Converse roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Creative Director of Converse Basketball, has his signature logo.
While Converse is re-entering the basketball shoe market, it faces competition from Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Under Armour, New Balance, and Puma, who all have deals with NBA players.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the most famous signature shoe lines in the NBA include the Air Jordan line by Nike, the Puma Clyde by Walt Frazier, the Nike KD line by Kevin Durant, the Under Armour Curry line by Stephen Curry, and the Nike Zoom Freak line by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Many NBA players have signed deals with major shoe companies such as Nike, Adidas, Jordan, Under Armour, Puma, New Balance, and Converse.
Several factors contribute to a player getting a shoe deal, including their scoring average, shooting volume, social media following, market size, and the size of their existing contracts.
