2. Which player, so far, has made the biggest impact with variety, fresh colorways and new sneaker debuts this season?
Schwadron: I’ll take Sixers guard Tony Wroten. He’s really burst onto the scene as one of the most sneaker-conscious players in the NBA, and not by accident. He takes sneakers very, very seriously. I spoke to him back in December and I was really struck by how serious he was about his kicks. Wroten told me that he watches other guys around the League, like Nick Young, and enjoys the friendly sneaker competition, but that he considers himself the clear No. 1. He’s already rocked rare Air Jordans like the Raging Bull Vs and the all-red XXIs, not to mention Pippens, Pennys, decade-old Foams and new stuff, too. Plus he’s teamed up with Mache for customs that are out-of-this-world fresh, like the Air Jordan XII “Sixers” PE on Opening Night.
Holdahl: I’ll go with Kevin Durant. The KD VI is wildly popular among NBA players (I heard a couple guys trying to get Earl Watson to part with the BHM versions of the KD VI before they hit the market) and the level of customization and varied colorways Durant breaks out on a regular basis put it at the top for me. And for me, high-profile guys like Durant get more credit for shaking up their game than players lower on the NBA pecking order. No offense, guys.
Kiel: Tony Wroten was an easy choice for this question after the first two months of the season, but Nick Young has undoubtedly been the most consistent in regards to variety, closet appeal and neoteric colorways. I honestly thought that Young would struggle to maintain the wow factor this season – considering there is not a bunch to choose from to coexist with the Lakers’ color scheme, but once again, Swaggy P has commanded attention on a nightly basis through his kicks on court.
Cason: It’s got to be Nick Young, so far. Retro Jordans, Kobe’s, iD’s. He’s gone all out and I believe the best is yet to come when he comes back from his current injury. Being out only gives him more time to select what to wear when he comes back. Derrick Williams was affected by the trade from Minnesota to Sacramento, but I expect him to finish the season strong as well.
DePaula: I’m a little biased ’cause I’ve always followed the Kings as a Sacramento native, but it was interesting to see both Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams get traded there early in the season. They’ve both brought out some cool Kobe IVs and Vs, older Hyperdunks, Jordans and some other stuff, and I’ll be keeping an eye on them going forward. Those two and DeMarcus have a bit of a rivalry going now.
