Image via Getty
For some it's the Met Gala, for others, it’s NBA Draft Day. Although fashion isn’t usually the most discussed topic during this pivotal moment of a basketball rookie’s career, a good fit has become essential for many of the sport’s youngest stars — just look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s tunnel fits. It’s no surprise that the NBA has partnered with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and revered streetwear brands like Fear of God, who have both released collaborative collections with the league this year. And talented artists like Daniel Arsham were recently hired to be the creative director for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Although you won’t find Paris Fashion Week street style-type fits on Draft Day, newly minted NBA players have always tried their best to stunt with a tailored suit. Trust that this is no easy feat to pull off. There are certainly more NBA players who have been clowned for their Draft Day fits than applauded for them—throwback to Lonnie Walker’s levitating fitted cap. Whether good or bad, NBA Draft Day fits are certainly memorable and go down in the history books when certain players become icons. Here are some of the most memorable NBA Draft Day fits of all time.
LeBron James
As everyone knows, the legendary first pick of the 2003 NBA Draft was LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Naturally, the all-white suit that James wore is still one of the most memorable NBA Draft fits of all time. Shouts out to whoever tailored this slightly oversized suit of an 18-year-old rookie who signed a $90 million dollar with Nike just months before. This fit is so damn iconic that Nike even turned it into a LeBron 16 Low and Drake paid homage to it in the music video for “Laugh Now, Cry Later.”
Bol Bol
When Bol Bol was drafted by the Denver Nuggets last year, he pulled up wearing a pair of rare MoMa x Off-White Air Force 1s and a custom suit made by none other than Young Thug’s brand Spider. “I’ve been friends with Thug for a long time, I met him through another one of my friends. I met him at the studio. He’s also into basketball,” Bol said in an interview with Hoops Hype. “He knew who I was and we became kind of close. [Laughs] I’m honestly friends with a lot of rappers. I’m not like “close close” with too many others besides Quavo from Migos.” After finishing up this year’s NBA season, Bol has been seen posting some crazy fire fits on his gram, still repping Spider and brands like Gallery Dept. Our favorite fit has to be this one wear he’s seen wearing a Moncler x Alyx puffer, a Rick Owens Gimp hoodie, and Marine Serre denim.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stepped into the Barclay’s Center with this floral suit by the Los Angeles designer Jhoanna Alba — who has also made suits for many of your favorite ballers — we knew the Thunders’ shooting guard was destined to become one of the best dressed players in the league.
Darius Garland
Darius Garland’s Draft Day fit was a custom 1:1 Fear of God suit by Jerry Lorenzo. The suit was hooked up by Garland’s agent Rich Paul, who told The New Yorkerthat it was an unusual request for Lorenzo. “He said that’s not really what he does. But he decided to do it for me.”
Carmelo Anthony
The 2003 NBA Draft was one of the most memorable when it came to wearing ridiculously oversized suits. Although LeBron was able to pull this off, most players weren’t able to. As one can see here, Carmelo Anthony’s fit is literally cutting the air off the heel of his loafers. Now granted LeBron’s all-white fit also suffocated his shoes, he strategically posed for his photo to hide the fact. According to Carmelo Anthony’s stylist, Khalilah Beavers, there was a reason why so many members of this legendary NBA Draft Day class showed up in oversized suits. “Where they came from, nobody wore tight clothes, everything was baggy,” Beavers told Bleacher Report in 2018. “It was a learning process for everybody, there was a curve. It may have looked good at the time, because that's what they knew. The NBA player until now has never been a forward guy.”
Drew Gooden
Speaking of oversized suits, Drew Gooden was ahead of the 2003 NBA Draft Class by pulling up in the same oversized suit that David Bryne wore on stage in the ‘80s. Who knows why Gooden picked up a suit that resembled that of Dr.Evil in Austin Powers. If it was a statement piece, it certainly made his suit one of the most memorable Draft Day fits of all time.
Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose’s iconic red pinstripe suit has frequently been cited as one of the worst NBA Draft Day suits in history. However, Rose was known for being a trendsetter. When he played with his “Fab Five” crew at U-Michigan, he sought to go against the grain by intentionally wearing long baggy shorts with black socks and sneakers. In interviews, he justifies his bold style choices as being a Detroit native. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Rose explained that he wore the red suit because he was confident that he was going to be picked up by the LA Clippers — and even packed away a lime green suit in case the Seattle Sonics picked him as well. Unfortunately, Rose wasn’t a psychic and was drafted by the Denver Nuggets.
Kelly Oubre
At the 2015 NBA Draft, Kelly Oubre pulled up in a satin red suit accented by a pair of eye-catching loafers. Yes, Oubre went down as one of the only NBA players in history to pull up to Draft Day with a pair of spiked Christian Louboutin loafers. “You can see the regular dress shoes, these are definitely dress shoes with extraterrestrial stuff going on,” he told USA Today. “They’re a little out there so I wore them to the draft.”
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
You ever think: ‘Damn, I’m trying to look like the snakeskin brim of a Don C hat.’ Likely not, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker went for it at Draft Day last year. Who knows how this fit will age in the near future.