In the NBA, players are not only expected to have a handle of the ball; the spotlight also demands that they establish their style off the court.
The walk from the parking lot to the court before each game lasts mere minutes, yet it provides enough time for photographers and press to catch a glimpse of the players before they change into their uniforms. That’s all they need to transform a dull locker room hallway into a vibrant game day runway.
It can create a spectacle, particularly when players make bold fashion choices.
We decided to take a closer look at top NBA players’ style. We selected six well-known stars from across the league, including LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, James Harden, and Kevin Durant. Then, we dug into their formal and casual fashion history to figure out how they tend to style themselves so you can emulate their fits.
Table of Contents
i. A Guide to LeBron James’ Style
ii. A Guide to Kyrie Irving’s Style
iii. A Guide to Russell Westbrook’s Style
iv. A Guide to Steph Curry’s Style
v. A Guide to James Harden’s Style
vi. A Guide to Kevin Durant’s Style
vii. Wrap Up
i. A Guide to LeBron James’ Style
“The King” has been around the league for over fifteen years, so he’s had plenty of time to develop his style. He’s known for a favorite grey suit when wearing something formal, though he has notably been spotted in one that features shorts rather than full-length suit pants. Unlike many NBA players, you’ll rarely see him wearing bright shades or patterns in his formal wear — he typically sticks with neutral tones.
LeBron aims for a mix of athletic and tailored in his casual wear. You’ll often find him wearing a light jacket or blazer over a sweatshirt, with high water trousers or tailored sweatpants to complement these pieces. It’s common for him to be seen wearing his hood over a basketball hat, as well as Nike or John Elliott sneakers.
Regardless of the occasion, he’s always seen in Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses and typically is wearing high socks (aka “dandy candy”).
ii. A Guide to Kyrie Irving’s Style
Kyrie keeps his fashion laidback regardless of the occasion. His style is, overall, more subdued than some of our other players, so you generally won’t see him incorporating more than one or two accent colors into his clothing choices.
When it comes to formal wear, he typically wears a classic suit with some type of modern accent, whether that’s an all-black suit with white piping, or a grey suit with asymmetrical black patching. It’s unusual to see him wearing something other than black when he gets dressed up.
Kyrie keeps it simple on the casual end. Generally you’ll see him in jeans or black pants, plus a bomber or jean jacket over a comfortable untucked button-up shirt. He’s known to wear Saint Laurent skate sneakers, which is one way Kyrie differentiates his look from many other NBA players’ footwear style.
iii. A Guide to Russell Westbrook’s Style
Russell Westbrook makes headlines for his (sometimes) next level, statement clothing choices — his pregame looks are not to be missed.
When it comes to formal attire, though, Westbrook doesn’t push the envelope too far. He often wears some kind of tuxedo jacket with wide lapels, usually featuring a bold pattern or color. Westbrook typically matches his pants and suit jacket, though you’ll usually find him wearing a high-collared white shirt with it (perhaps to focus the attention on the suit itself).
His casual wear is harder to pin down, but one thing is clear: He’s always wearing something you wouldn’t expect. What can be (generally) predicted however are vintage pieces, such as a t-shirt or jacket, as well as denim pants and Jordan sneakers.
iv. A Guide to Steph Curry’s Style
Curry is another player who’s had a few years and some big moments (NBA Finals, NBA All-Star Games, etc.) to hone in his style, so he’s pretty predictable across the board.
For his formal wear he tends to choose classic hues like navy blue or grey for his suits. He’ll pair this with a subdued, complementary shirt and tie, such as black or white. You’ll always see him wearing a watch on his left wrist, and will sometimes find a flower pin on his lapel.
Curry often wears Express pieces in his casual wear — he’s a model for the clothing company after all. You’ll find him dressed in classic denim jeans, plus a graphic t-shirt and a leather or letterman jacket. For accessories, he’s often wearing Timberland boots and sometimes adds a small black bag to his look.
v. A Guide to James Harden’s Style
Besides his famous beard (which should probably have its own locker at the Toyota Center at this point), James Harden isn’t afraid to make bold decisions when it comes to his clothing. He’s definitely in “headline-maker” territory with Westbrook.
In formal settings Harden opts for bold colors and/or patterns. This might mean a long patterned jacket with a waist tie, or even an entirely neon suit. He’s usually wearing sunglasses with whichever bold look he chooses.
For casual wear he typically sports a patterned, loose-fitting button-up shirt with matching patterned pants or shorts. Harden will often accessorize these outfits with gold jewelry, such as a necklace or a watch, as well as Adidas sneakers. It’s not out of character for him to add an unexpected element like a cowboy hat on occasion.
vi. A Guide to Kevin Durant’s Style
Kevin Durant is one of a few big names on the Warriors, and similarly, his style is one that catches the eye without stealing the spotlight. You’ll most likely see him in casual wear—distressed denim jeans, a plain t-shirt or graphic tee, and a denim or bomber jacket. Similar to LeBron, he’s often spotted in a baseball hat and Nikes, though sometimes swaps these shoes out for Off-White sneakers.
Durant keeps it simple when it comes to formal wear, too. He’ll incorporate a burst of color into his suits, such as a blue or green jacket. Otherwise, he has a fairly classic style, with one exception: he’ll often match formal attire with sneakers rather than dress shoes (perhaps another opportunity to promote his KD line of Nikes).
vii. Wrap Up
You may not have an NBA championship ring (or three), but with a little effort you can certainly dress like a basketball star. If we learned anything from our style deep dive of these six players, it’s that there’s not just one way to be fashionable, whether it’s a casual or formal occasion. Each of these players has developed their own unique signature style, as should you. Take a look at our dress code guide for men if you aren’t sure where to start.