OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder ... [+]
While in Indianapolis for NBA All-Star Weekend, Gilgeous-Alexander stayed busy as he not only participated in Sunday night’s game but also appeared at several Converse events. Little did the public know that two months later, Converse would announce an extension with Gilgeous-Alexander, also testing the launch of a signature show in 2025.
The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar served as the face of the historic Converse Weapon re-launch earlier this year, which was a truly iconic moment in basketball history and a significant milestone in his partnership with Converse that dated back to 2020. He was given the rare opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in elevating Converse to being a premier brand in the basketball space.
"The underdog mentality that the brand has and that I've had my whole career," said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of his alignment with Converse during the NBA All-Star break. "Our stories kind of align with that. We have the same vision for the future of Converse basketball."
Now with a signature shoe on the horizon, Gilgeous-Alexander is officially the face of Converse basketball.
Before the extension, Gilgeous-Alexander was set to be a sneaker-free agent this summer. Given his status as a bonafide top-five player in the NBA, there was no doubt he would have the opportunity to go any direction he wanted to and also be given a signature sneaker, which is something only the premier players around the league get an opportunity to have from their respective shoe partners.
Along with this multi-year extension and signature shoe in 2025, Gilgeous-Alexander will also be given the title of Creative Director of Converse Basketball, which is something that was likely a very attractive piece of the extension given his affinity for fashion.
Shortly after the announcement of the extension, converse released a statement on the news.
“Converse is proud to strengthen our relationship with NBA All-Star and Oklahoma City Thunder guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As part of our expanded partnership, Shai will serve as a creative director of Converse Basketball, effective September 2024, with a forthcoming signature shoe and accompanying line of footwear and apparel slated for 2025. Together, Shai and Converse will bring a hands-on approach to the creation, execution, and overall aesthetic of his collections, which will provide a new style-driven perspective, taking inspiration from various aspects of his life.”
Gilgeous-Alexander initially joined the Converse roster as a 21-year-old in the summer of 2020. A rising star and established fashion icon off the court, Gilgeous-Alexander was the perfect signing for Converse at the time, but now is the face of the brand moving forward.
"The exclusiveness of the brand, not having so many guys, and the ability to express myself on and off the court in so many different ways appeals to me so much," Gilgeous-Alexander said in 2020. "The biggest thing early on is I've been able to bring my ideas and my creativity to life. That's something that not a lot of players in the NBA get to do."
As the new Creative Director of Converse Basketball, he will get to continue bringing his ideas to life, most notably with that signature shoe coming next year. As Gilgeous-Alexander continues to ascend on the court, he becomes even more of a worldwide icon. Moving forward, he will only continue to make more of an impact on the next generation of basketball players and fans as they get an opportunity to wear his signature shoe.
