Give credit to Charles Hollis Taylor, the man who gave his name to the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, for proving that personality and performance are a winning combination for sneakers. Chucks go all the way back to the 1930s. Celtics legend Bob Cousy put his name on a pair of men's basketball sneakers back in the 1950s. And in the 1970s, Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Adidas), Walt "Clyde" Frazier (Puma) and Julius "Dr. J" Erving (Converse) hit the hardwood in signature shoes.
Air Jordans kicked the idea of NBA players with signature shoes into overdrive in the mid-1980s, paving the way for the explosion of sneaker collabs in the '90s, ranging from the Reebok x Allen Iverson connection to Penny Hardaway's love affair with Foamposites.
Nowadays, of course, signature shoes are a cornerstone of the sneakerhead scene. Jordans are still out there, years after Mike quit the court. And there are established lines carried by a new generation of superstars, past and present, ranging from Kobe to LeBron, Ja Morant and Trae Young.
In 2025, it feels like we've hit a turning point with both NBA and WNBA players demanding attention for their style on and off the court. WNBA stars like Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu are leading the way with signature women's basketball shoes. And, we expect to get our first look at branding for Caitlin Clark's signature sneakers by the end of this year.
