10 NBA Players Whose Sneakers Are Better Than Their Game Right Now

Nick "Swaggy P" Young - Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

Standout sneaker worn: adidas Yeezy 750 Boost
Points per game: 7.9

Nick Young is one of the highest-profile players in the NBA, but it’s not because he’s the most talented player on the court. The self-proclaimed “Swaggy P” is constantly in the limelight, usually for his style decisions, such as wearing a pair of Kanye’s Yeezy Boosts during a game or for the latest news regarding him and his fiance, Iggy Azalea. Young, unknowingly, made himself a bigger target for detractors thanks to Kanye’s lyrics about him “running up the budget” for adidas on his recent anti-Nike song, “Facts.”

The sad thing, though, is that Young is more synonymous with missing three-point shots—​while looking away in celebration—​than he is for hitting game-winning ones. He gets a lot of media coverage, but he’s scoring just over eight points per game on one of the worst teams in the NBA. Perhaps he should put less consideration into his on-court sneaker choices and focus more on improving his game. —​Matt Welty

Jared Cunningham - Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers

Standout sneaker worn: Older Nike LeBrons
Points per game: 3.3

Jared Cunningham was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012—only to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks almost immediately. This set the tone for his young career, and in his first four seasons, Cunningham has already played for five different NBA teams. While Cunningham appears to be on pace to be the NBA's next big journeyman, he's actually made a name for himself in another area that he should be proud of: Sneakers. As of member of the Cavs this season, the guard has definitely taken advantage of his 11 minutes of play, and we're not talking about his 3.3 PPG average. On the court, Cunningham has laced up a bevy of Air Jordans, including notables like the "Bordeaux" VIIs, "Bred" XIIIs, and "Stealth" XX3s. While the Air Jordans are undoubtedly impressive, Cunningham's biggest sneaker move of the season is perhaps a tribute to teammate LeBron James. While talk of retroing James' Nike line has already started, Cunningham has dug deep into his archive of sneakers to lace up original gems like the LeBron II, III, and IV. He's even busted out a pair of the LeBron 20-5-5. Last season, as a member of the Clippers, Cunningham went into his stash of Penny Hardaway's sneakers, lacing up the "Royal" Nike Air Foamposite One and Air Flight One. Cunningham won't be making an All-Star team or earning MVP, but he might just be recognized this season as the biggest sneakerhead in the NBA. And, as a member of the Cavs, he very well could just earn a ring. —​John Marcelo

James Johnson - Forward, Toronto Raptors 

Standout sneaker worn: Air Jordan XI "72-10"
Points per game: 5.1

James Johnson looks like a long lost Wayans Brother, and I hate him for it. He also usually plays well versus my Knicks for whatever reason. I remember when he beat New York with a last second buzzer-beater while he was on the Kings after we erased a 27-point lead. Fun times. In his seventh year in the league, Johnson is averaging five points and two assists a game in 14 minutes of play. Johnson pulled out O.G. Nike Zoom LeBron II Lows against the Hornets on New Year’s Day and scored 0 points in five minutes. A few games later he scored five points in 12 minutes versus the 76ers in the 72-10s. Maybe he would be a better player if he stopped focusing on his various hairstyles and which kicks he’s going to rock on game night. —​Angel Diaz

P.J. Tucker - Guard/Forward, Phoenix Suns

Standout sneaker worn: Nike Air Yeezy II
Points per game: 6.5

P.J. Tucker was actually just crowned the Kicks on Court sneaker champ last season by our friends over at Nice Kicks and is doing a good job of trying to keep his crown. He might stunt on the hardwood in rare Jordan and Nike player exclusives, but he doesn’t get his talent from the shoes. Even though he has started a majority of his career, he has never averaged double digits points or been a match-up threat for opposing coaches. The way things are going, he will for sure be remembered for his kicks more than his game—​which isn’t awful, if you have your own signature series. —​Brandon Edler

Joe Johnson - Guard/Forward, Brooklyn Nets

Standout sneaker worn: Air Jordan PEs
Points per game: 11.3

Joe Johnson isn’t really a bad player; he’s just old and on the Brooklyn Nets, which is basically the same thing. The Nets traded for the seemingly untradeable shooting guard back in the summer of 2012, when the six-time All-Star had just turned 31. Now 34 and a seven-time All-Star, Johnson is a shell of the player he once was, shooting a career-low 36 percent and averaging 10.9 ppg, his lowest since 2002-03. Basically, everything is terrible. He is, however, still a Jordan Brand athlete, which means those big boxes from Memphis still show up and he still wears fire on and off the court, including some Air Jordan XVIs that still aren’t out yet. He’s primarily been in the latest Super.Fly and Air Jordan XX9 this season, but he still has an awful lot of pairs to choose from. —​RB

Tyler Ennis - Guard, Milwaukee Bucks

Standout sneaker worn:  "OVO" Air Jordan X
Points per game: 3.4

Tyler Ennis has only been in the league for two seasons, but he hasn’t found himself much playing time with brief stints on the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. Coming out of Syracuse, it’s expected that Ennis has a tight tie with Jordan Brand, who sponsors the school, and he’s exhibited that in the NBA. The only problem is that he’s not on the court a lot, averaging around 11 minutes per game this season. But, that doesn’t stop him from flexing his sneaker plug whenever he has the chance.

Ennis, being from the Toronto area, was lucky enough to get a pair of the “Black” OVO Air Jordan Xs, which never released. Quite the feat for anybody in the league today. But it’s more likely to see media coverage of Ennis’ sneaker collection getting compared to his girlfriend’s than what he did in the game last night. —​Matt Welty

Tony Wroten - Free Agent

Standout sneaker worn: Air Jordan retros
Points per game: 8.4

Though recently cut by the 76ers, Tony Wroten’s place in the sneaker hall of fame has been cemented already. Even though he has a lengthy roster of amazing sneakers, he may have confirmed it in one fateful game during the 2014 season when the sole on his Air Jordan Xs blew out and he re-emerged from the locker room with a pair of “Bred” Jordan XIs. To think that he just had that pair on ice in the locker room is pretty astounding. It only takes one situation like that to have his reputation burned into a sneakerhead's memories forever. Fortunately, Wroten isn’t a one-hit wonder, and he isn’t just a Jordan wearer either. He’s worn pink Foamposites, Zoom Gloves, Kobes, various customs and even the ridiculous Hyperflights. Sometimes wearing the most uncomfortable basketball shoe possible is a flex in itself. Now that he’s out of the 76ers organization after averaging just under 17 points on a dreadful team last year, hopefully another team will pick Wroten up, if only to get coverage on sneaker blogs across the Internet. —​Skylar Bergl

Nate Robinson - Free Agent

Standout sneaker worn: Air Jordan V "Toro Bravo"
Points per game: 0.0

I don’t know how Nate Robinson personally feels about this, but I’d venture that a lot of people—especially those in the sneaker game—more closely associate him with wearing fire sneakers on the court than they do for being the NBA’s only three-time Dunk Contest champion. But the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. Robinson may have put down a handful of theatrical dunks to get the W during All-Star Weekend, but in his long NBA career, he’s laced up more than his fair share of incredibly rare sneakers during real NBA games. While he played just two games for the Pelicans this season before being cut, Nate will probably be scooped up by a team needing a solid backup PG at some point this season, and any reason to look back on his enviable roster of in-game sneakers is fine with us. Of course, his most memorable moment was that time he wore Air Yeezy 2s, but that’s just one hit in his arsenal that also includes “For The Love Of The Game” IXs, Doernbecher IIIs, “French Blue” XIIs, and many more. —Skylar Bergl

Russ Smith - Free Agent

Standout sneaker worn: Air Jordan XIII
Points per game: 1.5

Russ Smith was a beast in high school and college, and his sneaker game has always been dope, but, unfortunately, the last few years you had to have a summer league pass or stream his D-League games online to see his shoes. The few times he did get a chance to shine in the NBA, he stepped out in some classic throwback LeBrons and Jordans, but dude hasn’t even topped 30 games in the league yet since he was drafted in 2014, averaging two points a game for his career. —Brandon Edler

Kobe Bryant - Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

Standout sneaker worn: Nike Kobe X Elite
Points per game: 17.3

This doesn’t really hurt my soul, because my hate for Kobe Byrant is authentic and pure, and has been since the day he was drafted, so I’m going to enjoy joshing him a bit here. I respect him like Wes Mantooth respects Ron Burgundy, though. He’s a great in the twilight of his career, but he probably should’ve hung it up last year. Kobe has a lot of miles on those legs and has some dope signature kicks to carry his old ass around. He’s been donning the Kobe X Elites this season, all while having one of the worst seasons of his storied career. The Mamba is putting up 17 points a night while shooting 35 percent from the floor. He hasn’t shot this many bricks since, well, last season when he shot 37 percent from the floor. Bryant should be settling into player/coach mode a la Bill Russell during his last season. —​Angel Diaz