As of writing, we’re about 48 days into the 2019-20 NBA regular season — an exciting one, no doubt. This also marks the seventh week that we’ve been keeping tabs on players’ outfits from the pre-game tunnel walks, and it’s clearer than ever that these are the new runways of menswear. And from these new runways, new trends and patterns have surfaced.
For example: the slim jogger pant is still in. These guys are athletes, after all, and few articles of clothing have defined the “athleisure” style that dominated the past decade like jogger pants, which taper at the leg and show off sneakers.
Now that we’ve mentioned it, sneakers. The tunnel walks are processions of the latest and most covetable sneakers. Eyes here if you want to see what’s hot.
Because of their cold weather, we’ve seen cozy outerwear take center stage over the past months: fleece jackets, tweed trench coats, bombers, and of course, hoodies on the loose.
And because the trends of the tunnel walks are driven largely by a streetwear-with-a-limitless-budget aesthetic, Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton reigns supreme. But there's room in those tunnels for underground brands like Cactus Plant Flea Market, Pleasures, and even some vintage Ralph Lauren.
Part of what makes the NBA’s tunnel walks so exciting is that many players are empowered to dress however they like, and can take style risks on a whim. So as soon as a trend starts to take form, one player or another is going to want to buck it — and that yields a lot of stunning failures and successes alike. Here are some such successes and failures.
ON FIRE:
Blake Griffin, before Pistons vs. Cavaliers
The Detroit Pistons big threw on a standard North Face jacket — an almost fatherly piece of outerwear that you could likely find in a mall right now. It might even be hanging on the sale rack. But Blake Griffin chose a great color, then paired it with navy trousers and low Jordan 1s, and suddenly, “standard” became “standout.” This outfit is plain in exactly the way it needs to be when you’re surrounded by loud-and-out clothes.
D’Angelo Russell, before Warriors vs. Bulls
DLo has always been a stickler for snazzy dressing and long coats, so this look is much better looking than it is surprising. This outfit also shows how far a good pair of jeans and white sneakers can take you.
Paul George, before Clippers vs. Bucks
Matchy tracksuits are always a style risk — and even more so when they’re patterned. By throwing a utilitarian parka on top of it, though, Paul George reined this tracksuit in and toned it down. That’s an advanced style move.
Anthony Davis, before Lakers vs. Trailblazers
For most people, wearing clothes with your initials on it is pretty corny. But somehow it works on Anthony Davis and his Amiri sweater. Maybe because it doesn’t even seem to take itself too seriously, and that “A” was really just incidental. Also, props for rocking the Travis Scott 1s without the zipper flap.
LeBron James, before Lakers vs. Nuggets
LeBron James’ recent outfits have been quite like his game: predictably spectacular. He’s consistently well-dressed, and it really isn’t very surprising anymore to see him put together a great outfit. Here, though, it seems he took a risk with that full hood — a risk that paid off because he paired it with a great coat and sneakers to match. The Supreme x Rimowa roller is also a perfect flex.
Kristaps Porzingis, before Mavericks vs. Timberwolves
We’ll say it once and a thousand times: simplicity is key. Good ol’ uncle Kristaps has a pretty standard outfit here, but it looks sharp and very well put together. Maybe it’s the bomber jacket itself, or maybe it’s the decision to wear all black under it. Whichever the case, chalk one up for the league’s Euro players.
BIG FAIL:
DeMarre Carroll, before Spurs vs. Rockets
If a Spurs small forward went straight to the game after an afternoon at Comic Con where he cosplayed as Spider-Man villain Kraven the Hunter (seriously, look him up), this is what he’d look like. If you look closely and squint really hard, you can see a rogue PETA activist in the background, getting ready to splash paint on this god-awful outfit.
Bismack Biyombo, before Hornets vs. Warriors
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, before Thunder vs. Pacers
No one — no matter how high they jump or how well they can shoot a basketball — is allowed to wear a ribcage-printed hoodie if they are above 14 years old. And no one — not even Russell Westbrook himself — should have to wear those drawstring-laden pants.
Darius Bazley, before Thunder vs. Timberwolves
We repeat: NO ONE!
Damian Lillard, before Trailblazers vs. Lakers
Okay, we get what Dame — and this suit — is trying to go for, in principle. There’s something pretty compelling about the idea of a double-breasted suit, cut nice and sleek like this, with horizontally mismatched colors. But green and pink just aren’t right for this vibe. Batman Forever -era Harvey Dent, anyone?
Dwight Powell, before Mavericks vs. Timberwolves
Dwight Powell is now a starter for the Mavs, alongside Luka and Kristaps. That’s his job, and what a cool job it is. So why is he dressed like that old high school buddy suddenly pestering to meet up with you in Starbucks? That shiny pink suit jacket and the mismatched trousers — which, somehow, are also shiny — have the energy of a class-B con artist.
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