To celebrate Foot Locker’s Mark of Greatness, over the next month NBA.com is exploring the backstories of iconic basketball players, their journey to having their own signature sneakers and the stories and inspiration behind their designs.
Today, it’s Russell Westbrook
An explosive drive to the rim.
A jetpack fueled dunk.
A blur in transition.
A screaming roar to the crowd.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook’s dynamic style of play is if anything…loud.
He has stimulated NBA crowds for over a decade with his highlight-infused game and enthusiasm that is unmatched by anyone in the league. Averaging a triple-double in four seasons, he made the extraordinary look pedestrian on and off the court, turning the pregame tunnel into a runway exuding high fashion and personality; Westbrook was one of the main drivers of that individual expression in the modern era. And his wardrobe is just as loud as his game.
His venture into the fashion world aren’t just limited to his legendary pre-game outfits, with the 32-year-old launching his own fashion line “Honor the Gift” in 2017.
For most NBA fans, most of the time you get to see Westbrook is in an NBA uniform, where the only outlet to express your personal sense of style is in your sneakers, and Westbrook hasn’t missed the chance to bring his own swag to the court through his partnership with Jordan Brand.
Westbrook started his career as a Nike athlete and thereafter switching to Jordan Brand in 2012, rocking the latest editions of the Jordan line and a string of PEs. His first signature sneaker with the brand came in 2015 in a different path than most, producing an off-court, lifestyle sneaker The Westbrook 0. His first on-court performance signature sneaker would come three years later with the release of the ‘Jordan Why Not Zer0.1’.
Getting a signature lifestyle sneaker before getting your signature basketball sneaker is something only Westbrook could pull off.
In his own words….Why Not?
