What NBA players have been wearing in the tunnel prior to the game has garnered just as much attention in recent years as their on-court sneakers.
Week in and week out, players across the association are seen lacing up styles ranging from coveted collaborations between Off-White x Nike to Travis Scott's Air Jordans to friends-and-family exclusives coming through the tunnels. LeBron James and P.J. Tucker are typically names that readers would find on a list like this but there are also a handful of players that usually fly under the radar that's deserving of the recognition as well. Some highlights this week include Kawhi Leonard in another Kith-inspired New Balance 992, Avery Bradley in the rarely seen Nike Air Max CB 34, and Jaxson Hayes bringing back the "NERF" Nike KD 4.
Below, check out our picks for the 10 best sneakers that came through the NBA tunnels this past week.
Parra x Nike Air Max 1
Player: Patrick Patterson
Date: March 8
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles)
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Perhaps a decision to celebrate Nike's Air Max Month, Patrick Patterson decided to break out the Parra x Nike Air Max 1 this week, one of the better collaborations to come out of 2018.
New Balance 992
Player: Kawhi Leonard
Date: March 8
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles)
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
For the second week in a row, Kawhi Leonard trekked through the tunnel in a New Balance 992 clearly inspired by Kith's recent "The Colorist" New Balance 1700 release. This pair mimics the lighter color scheme of the bunch with a burgundy toe box and sky blue suede across the majority of the upper.
Nike Dunk Low 'Viotech'
Player: Rodney McGruder
Date: March 8
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles)
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Rodney McGruder arrived at Staples Center this past Sunday rocking the 2020 retro of the "Viotech" Nike Dunk Low. The popular multi-colored pair is always guaranteed to turn some heads for its rainbow-like appearance.
Nike Air Max CB34
Player: Avery Bradley
Date: March 8
Location: Staples Center
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Avery Bradley had a stellar game on Sunday to help propel the Lakers over their city rival, the Clippers. Before the game, he was spotted in a rarely seen '90s signature sneaker, Charles Barkley's Air Max CB 34.
Air Jordan I Retro High '85
Player: Trevor Ariza
Date: March 7
Location: Moda Center Arena (Portland)
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Air Jordan Is are commonplace in the NBA tunnel each week, but we had yet to see someone breakout out the recently-released Air Jordan I '85 until Trevor Ariza did this past Saturday. For those unfamiliar, this limited release was made to more closely resemble the shape of the OG Air Jordan Is released in 1985.
Nike KD 4 'NERF'
Player: Jaxson Hayes
Date: March 6
Location: Smoothie King Center (New Orleans)
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Most sneaker fans would agree that the KD 4 is Kevin Durant's best signature sneaker. Some would argue the best colorway of the many popular iterations that released back in 2011 was the nostalgic "NERF" colorway, inspired by the toy company's mini basketball hoops. While you don't see this much anymore, they were one of the biggest releases at the time they hit, and it was refreshing to Jaxson Hayes break them out on Friday night.
Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low
Player: LeBron James
Date: March 6
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles)
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
As a face of Nike, LeBron James, is a mainstay on lists like this because he is constantly showing off the latest and greatest releases the brand has to offer. This past week was no different as King James arrived to Staples Center in the Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low, one of the most hyped-up drops of 2020, so far.
Supreme x Air Jordan V
Player: Dewayne Dedmon
Date: March 6
Location: Capital One Arena (Washington D.C.)
Team: Atlanta Hawks
A highlight in Supreme's sneaker collaboration history is the Air Jordan V from 2014, which marked the first time the two brand's worked together. Three colorways released—the desert camouflage being the most —but the black pair Dewayne Dedmon went with for a recent away game in Washington D.C. is the pair worth owning if you want to be able to rock the collab often.
Travis Scott x Nike Air Force 1 'Cactus Jack'
Player: Bradley Beal
Date: March 4
Location: Moda Center Arena (Portland)
Team: Washington Wizards
Travis Scott's Nike collabs make yet another appearance on this week's roundup. Here, we see Bradley Beal arriving for a recent home game in the "Cactus Jack" Air Force 1 complete with its removable zip shroud.
Off-White x Air Jordan V
Player: Caris LeVert
Date: March 4
Location: Barclays Center (Brooklyn)
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Caris LeVert continues to break out great sneakers in the tunnel. His most recent choice was Virgil Abloh's Off-White x Air Jordan V that made its debut during NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
