Recently, we shared our list of the top 10 best dressed NBA players of all time on Instagram. As can be expected any time a ranking is posted on social media, people had a lot to say. Some agreed. Others (Hi Drake) questioned how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a player widely considered to be one of the most stylish players in the league today, was slotted so low. Why is Michael Jordan not even in the top 10? How is LeBron James ranked so high?
So, we figured it would only be right to provide a bit of context that went into our ranking. This wasn’t just examining who we see rocking great clothes in the tunnel most often. We also took things like the versatility of players’ outfits and the lasting impact they have had on NBA style into consideration. And don’t get us wrong, just because someone like MJ didn’t ultimately crack our list (we didn’t forget about him, he was right on the cusp of cracking our top 10), we still have to acknowledge the influence he’s had on the game. People still wear Air Jordans for a reason. His highs are very high. We just felt that these 10 names were a bit better and more consistent when it comes to overall style.
You can check out the reasoning for each person in our top 10 best dressed NBA players of all time list, below.
11.
Recently, we shared our list of the top 10 best dressed NBA players of all time on Instagram. As can be expected any time a ranking is posted on social media, people had a lot to say. Some agreed. Others (Hi Drake) questioned how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a player widely considered to be one of the most stylish players in the league today, was slotted so low. Why is Michael Jordan not even in the top 10? How is LeBron James ranked so high?
So, we figured it would only be right to provide a bit of context that went into our ranking. This wasn’t just examining who we see rocking great clothes in the tunnel most often. We also took things like the versatility of players’ outfits and the lasting impact they have had on NBA style into consideration. And don’t get us wrong, just because someone like MJ didn’t ultimately crack our list (we didn’t forget about him, he was right on the cusp of cracking our top 10), we still have to acknowledge the influence he’s had on the game. People still wear Air Jordans for a reason. His highs are very high. We just felt that these 10 names were a bit better and more consistent when it comes to overall style.
You can check out the reasoning for each person in our top 10 best dressed NBA players of all time list, below.
10.Dennis Rodman
Mike Says: Dennis Rodman is one of the most polarizing players that the NBA has ever seen. But the influence he has had on style should be recognized. No, we aren’t necessarily talking about him rocking a wedding dress to a book signing. But he was taking a lot of style risks years before it was as common as it is today. The painted nails. The always-changing hair colors. The tattoos and face piercings. Mixing skinny leather pants and fishnet shirts into his wardrobe. All of these are things you still see more widely accepted and worn today. And all of this was made even more impactful, thanks to his wild personality. He was ahead of his time.
Kam Says: You might not think of Dennis Rodman as influential when you discuss fashion in the NBA, and he might not be the direct influence or inspiration for a lot of style choices of today’s players, but he was the first when it came to a lot of different things. Dying his hair. Painting his nails. His tattoos. His leather pants. All of these things are prevalent amongst today’s players, and Rodman was ahead of his time with each of them.
9.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Mike Says: “Shai is too low.” Don’t think that us positioning SGA at 9 on this list is a knock against him. He’s easily one of the best-dressed players in the league today. Especially among younger fans, he’s already considered one of the most stylish players ever. And while the pieces he pulls out are certainly some of the best you will see, whether that’s Louis Vuitton leather jackets designed by Virgil Abloh or camo puffer jackets from ERL, sometimes it does feel like he’s just tossing on the loudest pieces from the most popular brands. That being said, he wears them all well. You don’t get invited to walk on Thom Browne’s runway if you aren’t stylish. Maybe when we look back in a few years, SGA will have jumped up a couple spots on our list. But comfortably being positioned in a top 10 of all time conversation after just five seasons in the NBA is nothing to scoff at.
Kam Says: There is no denying that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best dressed players in the NBA currently, and if you were to poll most fans from the ages of 15-years-old through 25-years-old, he likely would be their choice as the best dressed. I love his sense of style, sizing of pieces, and how he has a very distinct style that is true to himself. In a few more years, he will probably fly up the list. But to say somebody is already one of the 10 best dressed players of all-time only five years into their career shouldn’t be taken as disrespect.
8.Dwyane Wade
Mike Says: Before the NBA allowed players to fully embrace streetwear and more casual gear in the pregame tunnel once again after years of enforcing a strict dress code, few players were dressing as well as Dwyane Wade. With the help of stylist Calyann Barnett, Wade would frequently take risks with traditional suiting like wearing a blazer with no undershirt or cropping the pants to expose his ankle before it was more commonplace. He exemplified how a player could bend the rules of the NBA dress code a bit to still stand out from the crowd. Even in his post-NBA career, Wade is still keeping it classy, whether he is on a press run promoting his latest project or attending Paris Fashion Week. We'll give him a pass for this one, as big of a blunder as it may be. Everyone has an off day.
Kam Says: If we are talking strictly suits when it comes to NBA players, there aren’t many who were more groomed than Dwyane Wade. His looks often screamed professional and luxury, but also cool and laid back. It was effortless for Wade, and it still is to this very day.
7.Nick Young
Mike Says: If your nickname is “Swaggy P,” you have to make it on a list like this. Young’s outfits may not have all aged incredibly well, but at the time he was one of the first players really leaning into streetwear in the NBA tunnel. He kept brands like Supreme in the mix along with vintage NASCAR and rap T-shirts that are still go-tos for plenty of players to this day. A lot of people like to focus on Russell Westbrook when it comes to the NBA shifting away from suits in the pregame tunnel. Young is another guy deserving of his flowers.
Kam Says: When it comes to streetwear and breaking away from the typicals suits for pregame outfits, Nick Young definitely is one of the players you have to give credit to for ushering in a new era of NBA style. Whether it was Supreme, Palace, or Bape, Swaggy P was wearing the top streetwear brands as well as the top sneakers at the time. His antics and personality tend to overshadow how good of a player he was, but he also was one of the best dressed.
6.Walt Frazier
Mike Says: Walt “Clyde” Frazier was another originator when it comes to NBA style. His collection of flashy suits have become his calling card. Playing in New York City, you have to have a big personality. Clyde filled the role perfectly with his tailored suits in every pattern and color imaginable. Only the late broadcast legend Craig Sager could rival his suit collection. And you can still expect him to wear something eye-catching to this day while he’s reporting from the sideline in Madison Square Garden. He hasn’t had the same type of lasting influence as some other names on the list, partially due to men’s fashion becoming more casual as the years pass, but his style is undeniable.
Kam Says: One of the original fashion icons in not just the NBA, but professional sports, Walt Frazier’s penchant for flair is the biggest reason he is here. And that isn’t meant to sound as if he is over the top or trying too hard. In fact, it’s the opposite. Frazier made it look effortless whether he was sporting a mink coat, a freshly tailored suit, or a combination of both. To this day, his fashion choices are still discussed even with him being retired from playing. Cut on the pregame show to a Knicks game, and you’re sure to see Frazier wearing something that only he could pull off.
5.Russell Westbrook
Mike Says: Russell Westbrook is probably the most divisive name on the list. But his impact on NBA fashion is undeniable. You don’t have to necessarily agree with some of his more unconventional outfits that have included things like sweaters that appear to have been ripped to shreds by a wild animal or a fluorescent construction worker’s vest, but Westbrook is certainly one of the main figures responsible for pushing the NBA tunnel into the spotlight it still holds to this day. He’s even been able to parlay his signature style into his own brand, Honor the Gift. Love or hate him, Westbrook deserves to be here.
Kam Says: Russell Westbrook often gets mocked for some of his left field fashion choices, but there has to be credit given to the risks he takes. And more times than not, those risks pay off well for him in the form of a good fit. He has started his own brand Honor The Gift, which quietly has become one of the better up-and-coming streetwear brands out right now. And as Mike said, Westbrook is one of the key players that has influenced fans and media to care about what a player is wearing to the arena on gameday.
4.PJ Tucker
Mike Says: Many people immediately think of his insane rotation of sneakers on the court when they hear PJ Tucker’s name, but let’s not sleep on his style either. Tucker stays in the biggest designer labels and streetwear. Marni. Valentino. Cactus Plant Flea Market. Supreme. The list goes on. But he isn’t just wearing a popular label for the sake of it. Always expect him to experiment with bright colors and patterns. He mixes up silhouettes as well, a two-piece vacation set one day and a vibrant trench coat dragging to the floor the next. You can always expect to see something unique from Tucker’s tunnel fits. And don’t forget about the coffee cup or ultra rare pair of sneakers he’s always carrying, the perfect finishing touch to all of his pregame looks. We’d be remiss not to give a shoutout to stylist Kesha McLeod for helping him hone his look over the years.
Kam Says: P.J. Tucker’s insane sneaker collection is what he might be most known for, but the man knows how to put fits together. Whether he is wearing a suit, jeans, or the latest pieces from the biggest brands in the world such as Louis Vuitton or Christian Dior, Tucker has solidified his spot as one of the most stylish players to grace the NBA.
3.Jordan Clarkson
Mike Says: When you think of Jordan Clarkson’s style, you probably think of the countless amazing outfits he’s worn during his tenure with the Utah Jazz. He’s certainly leaning more into streetwear these days with pieces like throwback hockey jerseys, baggy cargo pants, and varsity jackets staying in the mix. He’s even pulled off a Lululemon trench coat with ease if you can believe it. While these are undoubtedly some of his best, don’t forget about the versatility he’s displayed throughout his playing career. He was one of the players alongside LeBron James who was wearing custom Thom Browne suits to the NBA Finals. Remember when he showed up to the arena with silk scarves wrapped around his head like a true babushka boy? No matter what era of his career you are talking about, it’s clear that Clarkson is comfortable trying something new and stays confident no matter what he’s wearing. The result is outfits that always hit the mark.
Kam Says: Jordan Clarkson will wear just about anything, and that is a positive. When you hear people say “wear what makes you comfortable,” Clarkson embodies that. Whether it’s baggy jeans, oversized shirts or hoodies, or a pair of the hottest kicks, there is no denying Jordan Clarkson is always comfortable and feels good in what he wears. And the outfits almost never disappoint.
2.LeBron James
Mike Says: There were a lot of people questioning LeBron’s positioning on this list. Some didn’t feel he should be on the list at all. Now, we realize part of this is likely just because so many NBA fans love to hate him. But the biggest reason that LeBron is so high is because of the versatility he has displayed with his style for the past 20 years. Whether he’s in a bespoke Thom Browne short suit on his to drop a triple double in the NBA Finals or helping Nike preview its latest big collaboration months before it releases, he wears pretty much everything well. It’s even more impressive when you realize he’s 6’9” and 250 pounds. LeBron has come a long way since his infamous white suit on draft day. His consistency should be commended.
Kam Says: People might try to spin this as LeBron getting a placement because he is LeBron but in reality his inclusion is warranted. Over 20 years in the NBA, James has managed to adapt with the times while still having his own distinct identity when it comes to style. If you take a look at the fits he has been getting off since his second stint in Cleveland, there shouldn’t be any real debate about him being on this list. Whether it’s a Thom Browne suit, or wearing some exclusive Nike merch, he is sure to always catch the eye with whatever he has on.
1.Allen Iverson
Mike Says: Iverson taking the top spot shouldn’t need much explanation. He’s still influencing players to this day. His on and off court style changed the NBA forever. The shooting sleeves. The cornrows. The baggy throwback jerseys and du rags in the tunnel before the game. Need further evidence? Here you go.
Kam Says: When it comes to being a trendsetter and tastemaker amongst NBA fashion on and off the court, there are few, if any, that rival A.I. Everything he did was cool, everything he wore was emulated, from his baggy sweatsuits, the headband and arm sleeve on the court, he’s in a league of his own.