Which lucky sneaker brand will sign OKC superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander next?
Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has elevated his squad to one of the Western Conference's top seeds, which has earned him a more than deserved spot in this year's Most Valuable Player award race. Taking his game to another level this season, the 25-year-old Canadian is averaging just over 30 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on a nightly basis. He was already a blossoming star on basketball pundits and fans' radars, but now SGA has fully established himself as one of the league's brightest superstars.
SGA's popularity has seen him on the receiving end of some lucrative endorsement deals, with his most notable associations being with Converse and Kim Kardashian's SKIMS brand. SGA signed his deal with Converse back in 2020, at the time still a promising young player with tremendous upside. Now in 2024, SGA's deal with Converse is set to expire in September, and the OKC star is expected to have a long line of suitors looking to be the brand to carry his next signature shoe.
It's going to be quite the bidding war for competing sneaker brands to secure Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to an endorsement deal.
It was NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic who broke the news of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being next in line for a signature shoe deal.
SGA's time with Converse has seen him involved in many fashion and streetwear campaigns. Oddly enough, he never had an officially licensed signature sneaker released with them. This will obviously change when SGA lands a new deal with a different sneaker brand. The only question is, who might catch the eye of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?
The obvious one right off the bat is Nike, as the brand holds the rights to an All-Star cast of NBA names including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant. Right there with Nike at the top billing is Jordan Brand, with prominent names signed including Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Zion Williamson. Then, you have Adidas with NBA talents including Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, and Anthony Edwards.
Don't count out sleeper brands like Puma and New Balance, as they are making big moves to compete in the basketball sneaker market and setting their sights on some of the league's younger talents on the brink of breaking out.
There is no official word yet as to what brand Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will take his sneaker services to next, but Under the Laces will be sure to keep you posted with any new updates that become available. In the meantime, SGA will focus on his Oklahoma City Thunder team's playoff hopes and possibly securing the 2023-24 NBA Most Valuable Player award, which could likely warrant him an even bigger contract for his next sneaker endorsement.