Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Beyond the Court
Whether someone thinks so or not, everyone has their style and fashion sense. Even if that person has the most common style you’ve seen, it says something about them, what they’re comfortable with, and a little bit about how they are on a surface level. Oklahoma City Thunder’s franchise player, 2022-2023 All-Star, and first-team All-NBA nominee, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s style, says a lot about him. Daring, innovative, and talented. All these words come to mind when looking at Shai’s fashion choices.
This story, and many more, were featured in volume 2 of The OakA Magazine. Get a digital copy below.
Last season was a step in the right direction for not only the Oklahoma City Thunder but also Shai. Many people tend to count small market franchises out, but this Oklahoma City star decided he would make statements on and off the court that the media and fans couldn’t ignore. From averaging 31.4 points per game and keeping up with the latest fashion trends, Shai’s name slowly emerged at the forefront of many social media and television conversations. While several fans devoted to the OKC franchise would probably ask what took everybody so long, his confidence says that he knew everyone would catch on sooner or later.
The most essential part of Gilgeous-Alexander’s style is how it speaks to his individuality and his comfortability in himself no matter what.
In 2021 during an interview about his style history, he stated that when dressing for the game, “[he] started out minimalistic, then [he] expanded a little bit” and that “at all those stages, [he] was just being [himself] and being comfortable” which shows every time he steps into the arena. His attention to detail, his desire for vintage pieces, and his ability to put ensembles together set him apart from other NBA players who have a knack for fashion as well.
Much like his step on the scene of superstardom, Shai’s appearance at the Met Gala gave all those who didn’t know his name a PSA on who to look out for on the fashion scene.
