ATHLETES usually choose their footwear based on comfort and fit, among other common factors that they feel will enable them to deliver optimum performance on the court.
But sometimes, they pick their shoes to make a statement.
Here are five cagers who have worn shoes on the court conveying strong messages that resonate off it.
Montrezl Harrell (Jordan 12)

The Los Angeles Clippers forward is one of the NBA’s most famous sneakerheads, known for his rotation of retro shoes every game.
And this Jordan 12 was one of the pairs he wore, underlining shoe companies’ overlapping of the entertainment and cultural world for years partly with their emulation of black culture, like Nike’s “Air Jordan” campaigns featuring Michael Jordan and Spike Lee.
Kent Bazemore (Curry 4)

The Atlanta Hawks guard was seen wearing a pair of Curry 4 shoes that depict Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the late social activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached.
Chris Ross (Kyrie 4 “BHM”)

It's not just in the NBA where cagers are making their statements.
The San Miguel Beer star playmaker wore a Kyrie 4 “Black History Month” pair that shows “Equality” last January in the wake of a commotion with NLEX coach Yeng Guiao, who, according to SMB coach Leo Austria, threw a racial slur at the Filipino-American Ross during their game days back.
Steph Curry (Curry 4)

Aside from being a devout Christian evidenced by the “I Can do all things…” quote from Philippians 4:13 he wrote on his Under Armour shoe, the Golden State Warriors superstar wanted to also express his stand against racism by wearing a pair of his fourth signature shoe that has a My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an American group that takes “action and stand for the idea of opportunity for everyone.”
LeBron James (Lebron 15)

The new Los Angeles Lakers cornerstone has faced racism at the highest level, with US President Donald Trump’s attacks on James online.
James has let his shoes do the talking, wearing a pair of his 15th signature shoe where “Equality” is inscribed at the back.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph