style

The 5 Biggest NBA Sneaker Free Agents In 2021

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

Published Jan 25, 2021

Basketball is the only sport where sneaker culture is nearly as prodigious as the actual games played on the court. In the NBA, the sneaker game is usually super competitive with numerous shoe companies competing to sign some of the top players. However, this year is different. Sneaker companies like Nike and Adidas were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower sales numbers have limited the market for sneaker free agents. According to The Undefeated, 175-200 players are expected to play without a shoe deal this season.

With honorable mentions like Goran Dragić, Andre Iguodala, Derrick Jones Jr. and practically the entire 2020 draft class without shoe deals, this was a deep pool of players to select from. Here’s a look at the top sneaker free agents in the NBA right now.

Bam Adebayo

Notable Shoes Worn: Jordan React Elevation, Jordan XIV Retro “Candy Cane,” Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Kay Yow,” Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Bruce Lee,” Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Alternate Bruce Lee”

The anchor of the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Miami Heat, center Bam Adebayo is a rising star. At the age of 23, Adebayo has the offensive skills of a guard and can defend all five positions. An All-Star last season, Adebayo spent much of Miami’s Finals run in the NBA bubble in Kobes. He’s continued that trend this season while blending in a few Jordans, old and new.

Prediction: Adebayo has worn Nike throughout his entire pro career. He’s one of the top players in the league playing for one of the more respected franchises in a great market. Adebayo would be a great addition to the Jordan Brand with his athleticism and penchant for highlight-reel plays on both ends of the floor. Remember the game-saving block on Jayson Tatum in the Conference Finals? Hopefully, we get some Flintstones-themed ideas for Bam down the road.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Notable Shoes Worn: Nike Zoom Rize 2 PE, Nike Hyperdunk X PE, New Balance OMN1S “White/Gold”

A two-time All-Star, Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best players in the league. A multi-skilled big man that can dominate in the post but can also step out and knock down a three with extreme accuracy, Towns is an intriguing sneaker free agent.
A Nike brand athlete since he signed on as the first overall draft pick in 2015, Towns was spotted in New Balance last month and in Adidas last summer. However, Towns has yet to wear a new brand in an actual game. He’s stuck to various PE colorways of the Nike Hyperdunk X in the four games he’s played so far this season. Towns wore a PE of the Nike Zoom Rize 2 in the preseason.

Prediction: Towns would be a great addition to the Adidas roster that currently features Kristaps Porzingis as it’s primary big man. As long as we see some of the custom collabs that Towns and Kickstradomis cooked up a few years ago in the near future, it doesn’t matter what brand the All-Star center wears.

John Wall

Notable Shoes Worn: Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Bruce Lee,” Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Alternate Bruce Lee,” Nike Kobe 5 Protro “PJ Tucker,” Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch,” Nike Zoom LeBron 3 “Houston Oilers”

Wall made it clear earlier this year that he probably won’t be signing a big shoe deal at this stage of his career. His play on the court has been a pleasant early surprise. A deal with Nike would make sense as he re-establishes himself as a star again. Also, if he’s going to bring this heat on a nightly basis, Nike makes the most sense.

Prediction: It’s been a winding road of a sneaker career for Wall. He started with a signature shoe with Reebok before heading over to Adidas. Wall eventually received another signature line with the three stripes before leaving, coming back and now reaching free agency yet again after his sneaker contract buyout.

Lonzo Ball

Notable Shoes Worn: Nike Kobe 5 Protro “Chaos”

The only player to make this list from last season, Ball has stuck with the tried and true Kobe Protro line. In fact, Ball has only worn the Chaos colorway of the Kobe 5 Protro line this season. A former Big Baller Brand signee with his family, his large social media following doesn’t hurt either. Teamed up with young stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram in New Orleans, Ball has a bright future.

Prediction: Ball has entered his second season without a shoe deal, but it seems like he’s comfortable wearing the same exact model and colorway all season. He’s worn Nike every single game post-BBB. I predicted Nike last year, and I’m sticking with it.

James Wiseman

Notable Shoes Worn: Nike Kobe AD Mid “Andre Iguodala PE,” Nike KD 12 “Don C”

The second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, James Wiseman, is off to a solid start to his NBA career. Wiseman has donned Nike so far, wearing an old team PE of the Nike Kobe AD Mid in all but one game. Though big men notoriously get the short end of the stick on shoe deals, Wiseman’s quality skill set makes him an interesting young player for brands to look at. He can block shots, handle the ball, run the floor and shoot from the perimeter.

Prediction: Wiseman is playing in a premier market with a team that has some cache. He’s flashed some skill already and looks like he could be the Warriors’ starting center for a very long time.

Though he’s worn Nike in every NBA game he’s played in, Nike would make a lot of sense for the young center. With Golden State having Stephen Curry (Under Armour), Klay Thompson (Anta) and Draymond Green (Converse), there’s an opening for Wiseman to eventually take on the swoosh.

Slide 1 of 3