In the NBA, Converse has rediscovered his form. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is spearheading the brand’s revival, which aims to take on Adidas and Nike. The Massachusetts-based company has been associated with basketball since its inception in 1908.
As a league, the NBA had meteoric growth in the 1980s. Starting with the ‘Bad Boys’ duo of Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, the Celtics and Lakers rivalries, and Jordan’s Bulls, the greatest basketball league in the world began to expand internationally.
Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson and… Converse.
Prior to the rise of Nike, Jordan, and Adidas, the illustrious sneaker company enjoyed a golden age during which it produced some truly remarkable sneakers for professional athletes.
Their decline is directly attributable to the meteoric rise of competing brands. However, Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and a star in the league, has been responsible for reviving their memory as an integral component of the league.
From young stars to old, they all sported the American label. Present on all courts at all times. Aguirre, Bird, Magic, Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Bernard King, Dr. J. Product promoters from the upper class, who have dwindled in number over the years.
Pick out a weapon. The Lakers-Celtics and Magic-Bird rivalries in the 1980s served as inspiration for Converse’s catchphrase, which aimed to appeal to a wide audience. The timing could not have been more perfect, as the world was experiencing unprecedented growth at the time.
The Chuck Taylor, a popular style, is likewise named after a player who began wearing them on a regular basis.
Converse and Gilgeous-Alexander (1922)
In Thunder’s 109–128 win over the Warriors at Chase Center, the point guard wowed onlookers with a pair of peculiar, all-gold Converse during pregame warmups.
He scored 24 points and added 7 assists while wearing the Willy Wonka x Converse All-Star BB Trilliant CX Low, which helped him become the game’s best player. One of the early adopters of Converse’s resurgence, Gilgeous-Alexander inked a deal with the brand in the summer of 2020.
Kelly Oubre, another one of the most fashionable players in the league, was also associated with the label. Recent seasons have seen Draymond Green’s exponential rise to stardom, and the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox has emerged as the other major player.
Other NBA players wearing these shoes include Malik Beasley (Milwaukee Bucks), Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz), PJ Tucker (Los Angeles Clippers) and De’Anthony Melton (Philadelphia 76ers), among others.
Time travel that leaves one hopeful for what’s to come. Those shoes, which were pivotal to the league’s early success, appear to be trending again. From Shai to Larry and Magic. In the NBA, Converse were a constant.
