How NBA Players Dress for Tunnel Walks

Over the years, the actual show starts long before kick-off. Top NBA tunnel fashion provides pregame entrances for athletes to express their pride, personality, culture, and often lucrative brand deals and collaborations with various designers.

Modern tunnel walks have become runaway showcases that photographers and fans alike eat up. Take a look at Bleu Magazine's dive into the NBA's most famous game day style.

NBA legend Michael Jordan got the ball rolling with his highly lucrative and historic collaboration with Nike. Air Jordans created the "sneaker culture" we know and love today. However, Nike isn't the only famous brand you'll see NBA stars sporting during their tunnel walk-throughs.

LeBron James debuted his Tiffany & Co. and Nike collab in the tunnel. Other brands like Burberry, Marni, Louis Vuitton, and Google Lens have formed partnerships with star players or the league itself. Many players also work with stylists contracted with the big brands.

NBA player outfits can showcase their team pride. For example, Anthony Davis wears LA-themed attire for his LA Lakers games. One of his standout outfits featured an Amari bomber jacket patterned with an iconic city landmark.

To share messages with meaning, Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White teamed up with an HBCU art program. In this collaboration, students created custom hoodies for the player to wear before home games, recognizing Black History Month and other significant topics.

While they often don designer choices, players aren't just acting as hangers for pre-designed luxury brands. Many of them are involved in their own styling to craft more unique looks to showcase their personality.

Celebrity athletes may work with a variety of different brands to combine luxury and streetwear styles, including rare sneakers and limited-edition items. A number of players eventually launch their own clothing lines, and some even show up at international Fashion Weeks. Trailblazers in personal branding include controversial figures such as Dennis Rodman, known for continuously pushing the envelope with wild hair, colors, and piercings, and even wearing dresses.

Many players without a defined NBA style get creative and have fun with their pregame rituals. One example is Nick Young, who arrived for a game wearing only boxers and a silk robe. Kyle Kuzma proudly chose an oversized pink sweater for a pregame outfit. For a Christmas Day game, James Harden came in a fuzzy blue fit reminiscent of Monsters, Inc.