The NBA is in full swing, with the playoffs hitting fever pitch despite there being no live spectators. World-class basketball is not the only spectacle on the court, though, with the players making the most of the world stage for flexing.
The hardwood court has long been a practical runway for the newest in sneaker design, be that performance basketball trainers or even lifestyle silhouettes. Lately, those two worlds seem to be merging more and more, with the Air Jordan dynasty reaching new heights of popularity after Netflix’s The Last Dance series.
We’ve been happily lapping up both the competition and the best sneakers to step onto the court, which is why we’re sharing the best silhouettes we’ve seen of the season's recommencing thus far. From rookies like Rui Hachimura to all-stars like Paul George, everyone has been getting in on the action.
Browse and buy the best on-court sneakers of the NBA restart below.
PJ Tucker in Nike Air Jordan 10 Retro Steve Wiebe HOH
PJ Tucker is one of the best-known sneakerheads in the NBA, and that's saying something. In a league full of guys who grew up watching Jordan redefine sport style with his footwear, PJ Tucker proves time and time again that he's willing to go one step further and dig a little deeper into the world of rare sneaks. He was spotted warming up in this pair of Air Jordan 10 Steve Weibe HOHs which released in 2018 and feature a buttery smooth nubuck upper paired with elephant-print leather panels which gives this pair expert texture.
Russell Westbrook in customized Nike Air Jordan Why Not Zer0.3
Russell Westbrook didn't actually sport this pair on the court, but we couldn't miss them out of this roundup. At the hands of The Shoe Surgeon, this pair of Why Not Zer0.3s has been fitted with an Air Jordan Retro 3 sole unit which completely reshapes the shoe. We love the crazy, athletic aesthetic of the original, but the addition of the Jordan 3 sole puts this shoe firmly into the lifestyle category.
PJ Tucker in Nike Air Jordan 6 Retro Motorsport
PJ Tucker makes it into this selection twice, and he fully deserves it. His second appearance comes courtesy of a super-clean pair of Nike Air Jordan 6 Retro 'Motorsport' which he wore for a quick on-court warmup before Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This pair contrasts a white leather upper with a black sole unit for impact.
Pascal Siakam in Nike KD 13 Easy Money Sniper
While he may not be having as strong an impact as he did in last season's playoffs, Pascal Siakam has upped his footwear game considerably. This pair of unmissable Nike KD 13s is not only an eye-catcher on its own, but works especially well as it stands out against the Raptors' black uniform. It's also a very welcome dose of color and positivity.
Paul George in Nike PG4 "Gatorade"
Paul George’s signature range for Nike stands as one of the more successful in the NBA thanks to its sleek, understated aesthetic. That said, they’re not always understated. PG recently teased the Nike PG4 "Gatorade" alongside a custom Gatorade bottle on his Insta before sporting them on-court. This model makes use of the NBA’s favorite energy drink’s electric colorway in volt green and total orange, but the best aspect is the transparent vamp cover that ensures you’re locked in from tip-off to final buzzer.
Paul George in Nike PG1 "Flip The Switch"
While the big names in NBA footwear like PJ Tucker and Russell Westbrook flaunt their exclusive wardrobes — which we’re not mad at, (we would too), Paul George quietly does his thing on-court by repping his own line. Securing another spot in our roundup, PG sports the ‘Flip The Switch’ colorway of his PG1 silhouette. This one really is understated. The black sneaker features a cool, contrasting blue-and-pink sole unit which is echoed by the pink strap to the vamp.
Rui Hachimura in Jordan XXXIV Rui Hachimura Japan PE
Japanese Rookie Rui Hachimura dons his very own Jordan XXXIV ‘Heritage’ style. We’re seeing the Jordan XXXIV gaining a lot of traction on the hardwood, and we’re backing it to be the silhouette of choice for forthcoming player collaborations thanks to its futuristic sole unit and easily customizable uppers. Hachimura uses his homeland of Japan as inspiration, adopting traditional Japanese motifs on the inner half of the trainer while Beninese patterns grace the outer half in a nod to his father’s West-African heritage.
Jimmy Butler in Jordan XXXI All-Star 2017 "Chameleon"
Jimmy Butler wears the Jordan XXXI All-Star 2017 'Chameleon' in harmonious tandem with his Miami Heat Vicewave socks. The baby blue and neon pink palette that honors Miami Vice’s famous color scheme works perfectly with the Jordan 11’s pearlescent heel design. The sheen of the print changes from turquoise to pink depending on the light and leads to the jet black upper of the shoe. A deep purple Nike tick reveals itself when light reflects from it to give this shoe a twinkling final touch.
Gary Trent Jr. in Nike Kyrie 1 "Driveway"
Second-year player Gary Trent Jr. stepped onto the court for the Portland Trailblazers in a pair of Kyrie 1s that caught our attention. While many players look to have the most recent drops on their feet, sometimes it makes more of an impact to turn the clock back. Trent Jr. takes us back to 2015 with this super sleek pair that features an all-black upper with green glow accents to the tongue, collar, and pull tab.
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