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KZ Okpala Is Your New NBA Style God

The Heat rookie is already making waves

Jennifer Pottheiser/Getty Images

Published Oct 3, 2019

With the highly anticipated 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, it’s time to reactivate that League Pass account and get all your hoops-related affairs in order.

The year of the duo is nearly underway, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook all contending for a title. Giannis Antetokounmpo will look to reach his first NBA Finals, including becoming the first Bucks player to win back-to-back MVPs since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it more than 45 years ago.

Zion Williamson is largely expected to run away with rookie of the year honors, quickly trailed by Memphis Grizzlies top pick Ja Morant. But aside from what these incoming rookies do on the court, many will be intrigued by what they wear off of it. In the recent past, players like Kelly Oubre Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyle Kuzma and Dwayne Bacon have impressed with God-level signature style. This year’s incoming crop of rooks is expected to offer similar excitement.

But who will be the best of the bunch?

Our vote goes to KZ Okpala, the Orange County native and second-round pick of the Phoenix Suns who was later traded to the Miami Heat. The Stanford alum will be getting fits off this season alongside the likes of Jimmy Butler, Justise Winslow and fellow Miami rookie Tyler Herro. Our guess is he’ll hold his own and then some.

Okpala, who grew up in Southern California and remained in-state for his two seasons at Stanford, has strong roots in the motherland. Both his mother and father were born in Nigeria and Okpala actually speaks a little Igbo, one of the region's many native tongues. The 6-foot-7 wingman also speaks fluent fashunz, quickly emerging as one of the most stylish incoming NBA rookies. He’s also been championed by the popular Instagram account LeagueFits, as a player to keep an eye on next season.

Blending elevated athleisure with a bit of Seattle grunge all wrapped into a modern streetwear sensibility, Okpala’s eye for style and unique taste is a credit for his fashion savvy. He’s also no slouch where sneakers are concerned, often lacing up Jordan 1s and SB Dunks. His Nigerian background doesn’t hurt either; it makes his drip just a bit left from his counterparts.

Playing in South Beach will only elevate Okpala’s magnetic style sensibility, and he'll have to rev up the competition to compete with Herro. He’ll be wearing unbuttoned silk shirts and fine-tailored trousers in no time. There will also be an abundance of loafers in all flavors.

Yes, KZ Okpala is already extremely stylish. But by the end of the season, he’s going to level up in a major way.