It's been a wild year in the NBA thus far and this past Thanksgiving holiday week was no different. Fans of the Association saw LeBron James surpass 39,000 points, an all-time clash between Chris Paul and Scott Foster, along with countless upsets and unlikely wins from underdogs each day. For sneaker fans, the holiday marked an occasion for players to bring out a special pair of sneakers for their nationally-televised games. Check out our Sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!
The past week in the NBA has been heating up with the In-Season tournament continuing and teams finally getting into the swing of their schedules. Let's take a look at some of the best sneakers that appeared throughout Thanksgiving week.
Kevin Durant's Nike KD 16 ‘Wanda' vs. Warriors
The Phoenix Suns met with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 for a pivotal Western Conference tilt. Kevin Durant decided to lace up his Nike KD 16 ‘Wanda', which pays tribute to his mother. The bright emerald green colorway was clearly visible on the court and it was the perfect shoe for KD to rock while feeling thankful this holiday. He finished with 32 points and eight rebounds as the Suns got the 123-115 win at home. Take a closer look at the Nike KD 16 ‘Wanda'.
LeBron James' UNKNWN x Nike LeBron 21 vs. Jazz
The Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 with a chance to clinch their spot in the NBA In-Season Tournament bracket. The Lakers dominated with a 131-99 win as they advanced to the next round with a perfect 4-0 record in the group stage. LeBron James scored 17 points and became the first player in NBA history to reach 39,000 career points.
James also debuted his upcoming Nike LeBron 21 in collaboration with UNKNWN, a Miami-based streetwear brand that he co-founded. The shoes are draped in a beautiful brown suede and include hits of tropical pink throughout. While these are still Friends & Family exclusives, LeBron rocking them could indicate a second collaborative release could be on the way. Check out the first UNKNWN x Nike LeBron 21 collaboration.
Klay Thompson's ANTA KT9 ‘Rocco' vs. Spurs
The Golden State Warriors met with the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, November 24, 2023 as the two teams battled for position in the NBA's In-Season Tournament. The Warriors got the narrow 118-112 win and kept their tournament hopes alive while bouncing the Spurs' chances simultaneously. Klay Thompson finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and six assists.
Thompson has a lot to be thankful for, but perhaps nothing is more important to him than his English Bulldog Sir Rocco Von Thompson, or just ‘Rocco' for short. Since becoming a signature athlete for ANTA, Thompson has paid tribute to his dog with a special colorway of his ANTA KT sneaker line. This latest iteration takes shape in the KT9 and features personalized bulldog etching throughout the uppers. Rocco's face, name, and some of his favorite things are seen throughout the heartfelt homage to his best buddy.
The ANTA logo is seen on the front of the sneaker with a thicket carpet-like material, finished with a light blue underlay. Thompson's personal moniker is seen on the heel as the shoe is completed with hits of safety orange. Out of all the shoes worn during NBA Thanksgiving week, these have to be the most creative.
Domantas Sabonis' Nike Kobe 6 ‘McFly' vs. Pelicans
The Sacramento Kings fell to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. During the 112-117 loss, Domantas Sabonis notched 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. More importantly, however, were his never-before-seen Nike Kobe 6 PE's with a Marty McFly twist. The colorway has become immensely popular since the Nike Air Mag came to fruition and has been seen on other released Nike models.
However, we've never seen a Player Exclusive don this type of colorway on a Kobe sneaker. The neutral gray uppers are highlighted by white accents and a clean white speckled midsole. The outsoles are the classic “Back To The Future” blue that we saw Marty McFly rock on the hoverboard. Without a doubt, these are probably the cleanest sneakers we saw all week.
James Harden's Adidas Harden Vol. 8 vs. Mavericks
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, November 25, 2023 as the new-look squad passed a major test with the double-digit win. It hasn't been easy for them to find a new rhythm with James Harden in the lineup, but their win against the Mavs proved that they can still compete with the best of the West any night.
James Harden tallied eight points, four rebounds, and seven assists during the win. He also rocked his newest Adidas Harden Vol. 8 sneaker, which continues to be one of the more unique models we see in the game today. They were seen in a loud “flamingo” colorway with hot pink and hot orange draping the entire shoe. The shoes were extremely noticeable on the broadcast and it was clear Harden shined with his footwear on that night.
Bonus: Scott Foster's ‘Triple Black' HOKA Bondi 8 vs. Chris Paul
This list wouldn't be complete without mentioning the ongoing feud between Warriors' Chris Paul and longtime NBA referee Scott Foster. The two have a history going back almost 20 years and we've never quite seen the type of animosity between a player and referee as these two have towards each other. During the first half of the Warriors' game vs the Suns, Foster and Paul exchanged words which unsurprisingly reached a boiling point.
Following the scuffle, Paul's former Suns teammate Mikal Bridges came to poke fun at the situation on Twitter. Scott Foster was wearing the HOKA Bondi 8 in the infamous ‘Triple Black' or “referee” colorway. It's a shame the shoes are getting a bad rep, because they're insanely comfortable and great for running. However, no one in the NBA is safe from getting trolled and if you're going to have a viral moment, you might as well look good doing it.
That's all we've got for this past week in Sneakers. Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know!