As the years go on in the NBA, more and more promising talents become bonafide basketball superstars. But as talented and as world-beating as some players may end up becoming, not all of them end up winning championships. However, in a world where sports stars are celebrities in their own right, sometimes the only sign an NBA player needs to know he's made it is to have a shoe to call his own.
In terms of the bigger sportswear brands, the landscape of signature athletes remained relatively unchanged for a good amount of time. However, shifts were already being seen during the tail end of last year. John Wall (though previously a signature athlete with Reebok) dropped his first signature under Adidas last October. Kyrie Irving was officially added to the Nike Basketball family of signature athletes when his first shoe released this earlier this month. Forthcoming signatures from Damian Lillard (Adidas) and Stephen Curry (Under Armour) are dropping very soon as well.
While the present may be a great time for signature shoes, the fact remains that athletes with their own signature lines possess a mix of stellar on-court performance and marketability. With that in mind let's look at some NBA talents who seem fit to eventually carry their own brands.
Anthony Davis (F/C, New Orleans Pelicans)
At only 21, the New Orleans Pelicans big man's season so far has been full of monstrous stat lines day in and day out. While there is a longstanding opinion regarding the inability of big men to move sneakers, perhaps The Brow could fall under one of the exceptions. Pretty much locked in with Nike, his performance thus far and tons of untapped potential could make him a future face for the swoosh when some their current stars are on their way out of the league.
James Harden (G, Houston Rockets)
Armed with a tremendous set of one-on-one moves, James Harden is one of most exciting players to watch in the NBA. Though his offensive repertoire may mask his defensive shortcomings on the court, his consistent All-Star status proves lots of people (Nike included) are down with The Beard.
Paul George (G/F, Indiana Pacers)
For the most part of the regular season, the Indiana Pacers as a whole were playing brilliant basketball. And Paul George was poised to be their franchise player for years to come. However, with the Pacers' implosion during last year's playoffs and George getting into a freak accident leading up to the FIBA World Championships, some of the shine may have rubbed off his name in recent times. But people love a good comeback story. If he doesn't lose a step in his return and leads the Pacers out of the slump they've found themselves in with his absence, trust that Nike will be all over that and fast.
Klay Thompson (G, Golden State Warriors)
If what he did last weekend wasn't proof enough, Klay Thompson can shoot the basketball. Far from being a beneficiary of having Stephen Curry as a backcourt mate, Thompson works hard on both ends of the floor. While seen in Nikes for the most part of his time in the league, news of a possible deal with Chinese brand ANTA could mean Klay Thompson could be splashing the signature shoe market very soon.
Blake Griffin (F, Los Angeles Clippers)
Blake Griffin has come a long way from just being a guy known for thunderous slam dunks. While he still throws them down on the regular, his game has evolved to become a more well-rounded offensive threat. He's a pretty marketable guy too, with appearances in TV commercials and making the covers of fashion magazines like GQ. Going back to the argument that big men can't sell sneakers, Jordan Brand could well have an exception on their hands. And for a brand that's handed out signature lines to Guards (Chris Paul) and Forwards (Carmelo Anthony), a Jordan Brand line for big men could have a pretty interesting position on the market.
LaMarcus Aldridge (F/C, Portland Trail Blazers)
Before Damian Lillard came along, LaMarcus Aldridge was holding it down for the Blazers. While Lillard may get most of the shine, a signature deal with Jordan Brand could very well increase his visibility beyond the sights of hardcore hoops fans.
Russell Westbrook (G, Oklahoma City Thunder)
Russell Westbrook regularly makes headlines for his fashion choices and how he deals with the press. But don't let that take away from how he performs on the court. To say he plays second fiddle to reigning league MVP Kevin Durant is a huge understatement to his game. While he may rep Michael Jordan's signature line, one of his own could wouldn't be a bad idea as well.
Do you know any more stars who should be deserving a sneaker to call their own? Let me know in the comments section!
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