Keep your eyes on the court in 2018. Not the ball, the shoes.
The NBA has relaxed its sneaker policy for the upcoming season, allowing players to wear shoes of any color for all games.
Players had been required to don shoes with black, white or team colors. Exceptions were made for a few “theme games,” including the All-Star Game, during which players could sub their daily pairs with something more colorful.
The policy move, aimed at giving players more expression, was first reported by ESPN’s Nick DePaula.
The NBA is removing ALL footwear color restrictions for the upcoming 2018-19 season.
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) August 29, 2018
Players can wear whatever colors they want, every night:https://t.co/1xC5ZN2q8b
The move comes a year after former Cleveland Cavs star LeBron James debuted 51 unique versions of the 15th edition of his Nike shoes on the court, marketing at least five of those models for retail. Nearly 70 percent of the players in the NBA wear Nike sneakers. (Nike manufactures the uniforms for all league teams.)
Stars like Oklahoma City’s Paul George have voiced their excitement.
Others may be seeing an opportunity ... (Kanye West designs shoes for Adidas).
adding basketball pic.twitter.com/S61SkXdY7A
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 27, 2018