The NBA tunnel has been turned into a runway for players in recent years—more so than even before. Not only are superstars making sure they play well each night on the court, they are arriving to the arena looking good too. Of course, that means that the rare and limited pairs of sneakers aren't just being laced up on the hardwood anymore.
A look down the tunnel at any arena around the league on any given night during the season is guaranteed to provide a look at some great shoes. Popular Nike collaborations like the Travis Scott x Air Jordan I or Virgil Abloh's extensive Off-White x Nike collection are a given, but those aren't the only pairs you can expect to see. Sometimes its a friends and family colorway you wish you could own, or an obscure throwback that you don't see everyday. Guys like PJ Tucker and LeBron James both frequently populate the list, but tons of other players deserve some recognition as well. This week is highlighted by a handful of players who chose to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant in the wake of his tragic death this past weekend by lacing up various pairs from his popular Nike signature line. Other highlights include a rarely seen Air Jordan VII and the Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.0.
Take a look at our picks for 10 of the best sneakers that walked through the NBA tunnels this past week below.
Nike Kobe IV 'FTB'
Nike Kobe VIII 'What the Kobe'
Nike Kobe I Protro
Nike LeBron VII 'Akron'
G-Dragon x Nike Air Force 1 'Para-Noise'
Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Blazer Mid 'Sponge By You'
Off-White x Nike Air Presto 'The Ten'
Air Jordan VII 'Miro'
Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 'MCA'
Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.0
