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Which Brand Will Give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a Signature Sneaker?

A complete list of sneaker brands that could sign Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a signature deal.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will hit sneaker free agency this summer, and the timing for the budding superstar could not be better. Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off two Western Conference All-Star appearances and has a legitimate shot at winning the 2024 NBA MVP award.

After starting his career with Nike and spending the last few seasons in Converse, Gilgeous-Alexander could soon end up with a third sneaker company in his young career. But which brand makes the most sense? Assuming he leaves Converse, we at FanNation Kicks have developed a list of sneaker brands that make the most sense.

Nike

Side view of Ja Morant's orange and white Nike sneakers.

The Nike Ja 1 in the 'WNBA' colorway.

It's a pretty open-and-shut case for the Swoosh. Nike already had Gilgeous-Alexander on its roster and opted to build around other players. Not to mention, Ja Morant and Devin Booker just launched signature sneaker lines. Adding a third guard's shoe right now doesn't make any sense.
Verdict: Not happening.

Adidas

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards' blue and black adidas sneakers.

The adidas AE 1 in the 'New Wave' colorway.

Adidas has made great strides in a short amount of time. No brand can capture that futuristic energy like the Three Stripes. But there is no room for Gilgeous-Alexander on the adidas roster. Damian Lillard, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, and Anthony Edwards are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Verdict: Not happening.

New Balance

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray's green and yellow New Balance sneakers.

The New Balance TWO WXY V4 in a player-exclusive colorway.

New Balance would not be a bad fit for Gilgeous-Alexander. The Boston-based brand has a firm standing in performance and lifestyle markets, which is suitable to Gilgeous-Alexander's dynamic appeal. Plus, Kawhi Leonard is the only signature athlete on its roster.

However, several players are waiting in the wings (Jamal Murray, Zach LaVine, and Tyrese Maxey). It is hard to imagine Gilgeous-Alexander jumping the line like that for New Balance.
Verdict: Unlikely.

Jordan Brand

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum's animal print Jordan Brand sneakers.

The Jordan Tatum 2 in the 'Wild Child' colorway.

Jordan Brand is part of the same family as Nike and Converse. So, Gilgeous-Alexander could hit all three corners of the triumvirate. But once again, we run into the same issue as other brands. Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Zion Williamson all have nascent signature lines. Adding a fourth is impractical.
Verdict: Unlikely.

Under Armour/Curry Brand

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry's blue and white Under Armour shoes.

The Curry Flow 11 in the 'Dub Nation' colorway.

Under Armour needs more help in the NBA. Stephen Curry has moved his signature line under the Curry Brand umbrella, which also signed De'Aaron Fox to a signature deal last October. Plus, Joel Embiid is officially out after just one installment of his signature line.

Gilgeous-Alexander could add a lot of energy to the brand, which has a long history of brash marketing campaigns. His presence would also be felt down through the college and AAU ranks. I still prefer the idea of WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum getting a signature sneaker with Under Armour, but Gilgeous-Alexander makes sense, too.
Verdict: Somewhat likely.

Skechers

LA Clippers guard Terance Mann's white and black Skechers sneakers.

The Skechers SKX Resagrip sneakers.

Since entering the basketball market, Skechers has made a lot of noise. In less than one full NBA season, the Los Angeles-based brand has signed Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, and Terance Mann (plus a cool collaboration with Snoop Dogg).

Skechers already has a strong foothold in professional baseball, soccer, and golf. Gilgeous-Alexander could be the perfect player to build its basketball division around. Sleep on Skechers at your own risk.
Verdict: Very possible.

PUMA

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson's orange and black PUMA sneakers.

The PUMA Scoot Zeros in the 'Cheetos' colorway.

PUMA picked up a major win by signing LaMelo Ball to a signature sneaker deal before his rookie season in 2020. Despite his injuries, Ball's career and sneaker line are both well-positioned for a bright future.

PUMA took another big swing this year by giving Scoot Henderson a signature line. Adding a third star in Gilgeous-Alexander would be a smart hedge for the brand. Even better, their exciting designs and marketing campaigns lend themselves to Gilgeous-Alexander's cool demeanor.
Verdict: Very possible.

ANTA

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving's animal print ANTA sneakers.

The ANTA Shockwave 5 in the 'Feline' colorway.

ANTA decided to go all-in on Kyrie Irving last summer, naming him Chief Creative Officer of ANTA Basketball. Irving leads a roster that includes Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, Donte DiVincenzo, and a handful of other role players. Given the ANTA's growing influence in the NBA, it is safe to assume it will make a strong run at Gilgeous-Alexander this summer.
Verdict: Very Likely.

Li-Ning/Way of Wade

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler's green Li-Ning sneakers.

The Li-Ning Jimmy Butler 2 in a player-exclusive colorway.

Li-Ning is another Chinese brand with a well-established foothold in the NBA. Several hoops legends have represented the company on the court (which also led to the creation of the Way of Wade brand).

Currently, Jimmy Butler has a signature sneaker line with Li-Ning that is largely being ignored by the sneaker community. Gilgeous-Alexander would be a huge get for the Li-Ning, making its footwear impossible to overlook.
Verdict: Highly Likely.

Other Brands to Watch: Reebok, Rigorer, Peak, and 361.

In This Article (3)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Sneakers
NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder

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