Revisiting 8 NBA Players' Best Sneaker Moments This Season

Known as the biggest sneakerhead of the league is the one and only PJ Tucker. Tucker played last season for the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA Champions of the 2020-2021 season. His sneaker game is so on point and so immense that it outgrew his house enough for him to have his very own 'Sneaker Loft' in Houston, Texas, when he was playing for the Houston Rockets.

In the most recent 2021 season, Tucker has wore a new pair every game. The main reason lies in the direct contact Tucker has with the Nike Basketball Team to create his series of sneakers. This two-part sneaker run is motivated by the most influential parts of his life, from Kanye West albums (pictured above) to his past basketball experiences. "To understand me, you gotta understand my story," Tucker said on Instagram. Each pair of his custom sneaker collection is a part of a larger story, his story.

Legendary Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James tends to tear up the court with extremely dope kicks on a game-to-game basis. Usually, LeBron wears different pairs with no rotation present. One of his most recent stunners was the Nike LeBron 18 ‘Los Angeles By Night.’ Like PJ Tucker and many other all-stars, this player took on the inspiration of his home court—Los Angeles, California. The “vibrant pink Knitposite 2.0 upper is paired with a dark-hued graphic wrap inspired by LA's night lights, which sits beneath a translucent, durable heel clip,” explained Nike. These sneakers are available for resale. 

Now, this is a trio if we have ever seen one; Adidas Basketball, Donovan Mitchell and Crayola partnered up to design the sequel collection of the D.O.N. Issue #2. His creativity and childhood upbringing directly influenced the series. Mitchell’s mother, an elementary school teacher, plays a large part in his life, inspiring him to create and appreciate the gift of education. This sneaker was Mitchell’s way of stressing the importance of always expressing creativity, on and off the court. 

The fine details of the shoe represent each aspect of his creativity. From the “Free to Create” message on the shoelaces to the Crayola logo imprinted on the bottom of the sneaker, the shoe is definitely a winner in the sneaker world. 

The D.O.N. Issue #2 is currently being sold in multiple colorways—$100, retail.

The Air Jordan XXXVI had its debut back in May 2021 when Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics wore them during a shootaround before their game against the Brooklyn Nets. The new editions of the series are by no means jaw-dropping, but overall provide a fresh look to the collection. Purple and bright orange are the primary color-ways with a pattern to accent the silhouette. As they are a top choice, the inspiration remains unknown. 

New York Knicks player RJ Barrett was seen wearing the Puma Clyde All-Pros in Game 2 of the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs. We couldn't tell you if it is fate, but these were the kicks that could be coined as the lucky token to the Knicks winning their first playoff game in 8 years on home court at Madison Square Garden. The shoe's base design is the classic Puma sneaker with a special touch by artist, Cory Bailey. Bailey designed the shoes to describe Barrett perfectly. From the maple leaves, repping his Canadian nationality to "No talk, just action" quoted on the heel—these shoes go hard.