Nike is the king of basketball sneakers, thanks in large part to the partnership that the brand developed with Michael Jordan. But Jordan isn’t to only basketball star who has scored a deal with Nike. Here are all the players who have had at least one Nike signature shoe.
George Gervin – Nike Blazer
There is some nuance to this one. The Nike Blazer, first introduced in 1973, was not made for Gervin, but the company paid him to wear them, replacing the word Nike on the shoes heel with Gervin’s nickname Iceman. The Iceman models were never sold to the general public.
Michael Jordan – Air Jordan
What more needs to be said about the partnership between Nike and Michael Jordan. The relationship is so famous that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon made a film about it. The Air Jordan is the most famous shoe in sport’s history as is the brand partnership between Jordan and Nike.
David Robinson – Nike Air Command Force
Nike waited six years to create another signautre shoe for an NBA player and they chose well, signing San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson. Robinson’s sneaker, the Nike Air Command Force a more traditional big man shoe with plenty of extra ankle support.
Charles Barkley – Nike Air Force Max CB
When Nike created the Nike Air Force Max CB in 1993, Charles Barkley was the second biggest figure in the NBA behind Michael Jordan. The rugged black shoe with white accents reflected Barkley’s personality and the aggressive way he played the game.
Anfernee Hardaway – Nike Air Penny 1
Anfernee Hardaway was a fun and marketable player in his own right, but he played alongside Shaquille O’Neal, making him an even bigger star. His first shoe with Nike was the Air Penny and the ‘Lil Penny ad campaign the brand created was a major homerun.
Sheryl Swoopes – Air Swoopes
Sheryl Swoopes was the first true legend of the WNBA, winning four straight titles with the Houston Comets and won the league’s MVP Award in 2000, 2002 and 2005. Ahead of the curve on supporting women’s basketball Nike released a Swoopes shoe in 1996 and would release 7 models.
Jason Kidd – Nike Air Zoom Flight Five
A star at Cal and one of the very best point guard’s in the NBA, Jason Kidd wore the incredible Air Zoom Flight 95’s but they weren’t his signature shoe. His first Nike signature, the Zoom Flight Five wasn’t as cool as the previous model but was the first of two shoes with the company.
Dennis Rodman – Nike Shake Ndestrukt
The Worm was a controversial and dynamic player in the 80s-2000s and Nike tried to take advantage of his notoriety in 1996 with the Nike Shake Ndestruckt in 1996 and Rodman, who had a relationship with Reebok before Nike, would later move on to Converse.
Scottie Pippen – Nike Pippen 1
It is not easy for anyone playing alongside Michael Jordan to get his due, but that finally began to happen for Scottie Pippen when Michael Jordan temporarily retired. In 1997, Pippen received his first actual signature shoe with the the Nike Pippen 1.
Alonzo Mourning – Nike Air Alonzo
By the mid to late 1990s, Alonzo Mourning was the star of a very good Miami Heat team and one of the more prominent players in the game. Nike created a signature shoe for the center though it was criticized for its bulkiness and lack of performance elements.
Gary Payton – Nike Air Zoom GP
Gary Payton’s most famed Nike shoe was the Nike Air Zoom Flight with a shroud, but it was not tecnically a signature shoe for the then-Supersonics star. Payton’s first signauture shoe with Nike was the Air Zoom GP.
Jennifer Rizzotti – Nike Air Zoom LLS
Jennifer Rizzotti and Rebecca Lobo teamed to make the 1995 UConn Huskies one of the great teams in college basketball history. She didn’t enter the WNBA right away, instead opting for the ABL’s New England Blizzard. During that time, Nike released a signature shoes for the point guard, the LLS.
Tim Hardaway – Nike Air Zoom T-Bug Flight
Nike was all over the Miami Heat in the last 1990s, producing shoes for both Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. The high-scoring Hall of Fame point guard had one signature shoe with Nike, the T-Bug Flight, released in 1998.
Cynthia Cooper – Nike Air C14
Already in her mid-30s by the time the WNBA was established, Cynthia Cooper only played five seasons, but won four titles, four Final’s MVP Awards and two league MVP Awards. Nike released Coopers signature shoe in 2019.
Lisa Leslie – Nike Air Leslie
People were wondering what Lisa Leslie would be capable of in the WNBA even when she was back in high school. A three-time league MVP, Leslie was drafted into the NBA in 1997 and had her first Nike signature shoe dropped in 1999.
Kevin Garnett – Nike Air Garnett
Kevin Garnett was one of the earliest and most successful players to jump from high school to the pros and he made his first deal with Nike when he was just 22 years old. He didn’t stay long, leaving Nike in 1999 and later endorsing And1, Adidas and ANTA.
Tim Duncan – Nike Air Max Duncan
The number one pick out of Wake Forest in 1997, Tim Duncan wore the famed Foamposite Nikes, but would later receive his own signature shoe in 1998. After 3 models with Nike, the Big Fundamental would later take his talents to Adidas.
Chamique Holdsclaw – Nike Shox Mique
A two-time College Player of the Year at Tennessee, Chamique Holdsclaw was considered to be a can’t-miss prospect and Nike quickly snapped her up. Her signature shoe was impressive as it featured the Shox technology that was all the rage for Nike in the early 2000s.
Vince Carter – Nike Shox VC
Vince Carter burst onto the NBA scene in such a dramatic manner, scoring in bunches and producing incredible highlight film slam dunks that Nike had no choice but to give him a signature almost immediately. The long-time NBA star would have six models with the company.
Kobe Bryant – Nike Kobe
Nike had initially lost Kobe Bryant to Adidas when he first entered the league, but they got their man in 2001 and would have an iconic partnership with the Los Angeles Laker. Despite Bryant’s trafic death, Nike is still releasing signature shoes thanks to an agreement with his family.
LeBron James – Nike LeBron
Even when he was around 15 years old, people were calling LeBron James the next Michael Jordan. So it was fitting that he would sign with Nike as soon as he entered the league and the relationship has flourished as James has made good on all of his massive promise.
Diana Taurasi – Nike Air Taurasi
Soon after LeBron entered the NBA, UConn star Diana Taurasi entered the WNBA with similar expectations. Like James, she made good on her promise, winning three titles, making 11 All-Star teams and having 2 models made of her Nike signature shoe.
Paul Pierce – Nike Air Max P2
Paul Pierce was fitst drafted into the NBA in 1998, but it took him until 2005 to land his first signature shoe with Nike. The partnership worked out well for both parties and Pierce was a Nike signature athlete when he won his first and only NBA Championship in 2008.
Steve Nash – Nike Steve Nash
Steve Nash was a really nice player during the first near-decade of his career, but he took it to a whole new level with the Phoenix Suns, winning the MVP Award in 2005 and 2006. Nash would sign with Nike in 2008 and see 4 models of his sneaker made.
Kevin Durant – Nike KD
Kevin Durant came into the league with the height of a center and the athleticism and shooting ability of a guard. Those gifts have helped KD become and all-time great and his relationship with Nike, which started in 2009.
Kyrie Irving – Nike Kyrie
Kyrie Irving had a seven-year signature shoe relationship with Nike and his shoes were considered to be some of the best performance shoes available. Irving now wears ANTA sneakers and also works as a creative director for the company.
Paul George – Nike PG
Los Angeles-born Paul George was drafted 10th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2010 and rapidly developed into one of the better two-way players in the league. He earned his first shoe with Nike in 2017. George is also known for often wearing Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Nike Zoom Freak
During the 2013 Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks took a chance on a little-known Greek power forward. Giannis Antetokounmpo preceeded to max out his potential and become a two-time league MVP. Nike produced his first signature shoe in 2019 and the relationship continues today.
Elena Delle Donne – Nike Air DelDon
Elena Delle Donne went from the best high school player to the best player in college basketball to a WNBA MVP in rapid fashion. The wing player earned her first signature shoe in 2022 and there was a special version released aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community.
Sabrina Ionescu – Nike Air Sabrina
Sabrina Ionescu was a megastar at the University of Oregon who had the good fortune of being drafted into the New York media market. Her first signature shoe with Nike was a major hit and seveveral players in the NBA, including Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton have worn them in games.
Ja Morant – Nike Air Ja
Ja Morant was an All-Star level player almost immediately upon being drafted into the NBA in 2019 and Nike signed his as he ascended towards MVP-level status. While he is amazing on the court, Mortant has been dogged by injuries and legal issues.
Devin Booker – Nike Book
Devin Booker has been one of the most electric scorers in tle league since he was drafted by the Phoenis Suns in 2015. The four-time NBA All-Star has long worn Nikes, but received his first signature shoe with a 2024 release.