NBA Fashion – Russell Westbrook

Posted on August 17, 2012 by The Milk Man

Russell Westbrook. These two words say so many things to so many people.

For those who live in various caves around Australia, Westbrook is a quiet country town in Queensland. For everyone else its the finals making, gold medal winning and balling bum chum of Kevin Durant.

He is at the forefront of the ‘new age’ point guard: the PG that can dunk over an opposition centre, with the likes of D Rose and Rajon Rondo. However, he also raises an insight into an interesting subject off the court.

In my first ever article, I talked about his fashion sense and style. Hundreds of publications, blogs and online magazines later, I saw journalists scrutinise Westbrook’s attire during his press conferences and the like.

I read a lot of things like: “Worst Dressed Athletes” or “Top Ugly Shirts Worn in Oklahoma.”

I always was under the impression —  in my twisted and full cream brain – that the things Westbrook chose to wear were, in fact, clothes that I would aspire to wear one day. How could you not associate such absurd and statement-making apparel with wealth, youth and personal success? And that’s not to mention 45 inch vertical leap.

This lead to an argument with my schizophrenic self. He kept telling me that what these NBA players chose to wear was simply to gain higher publicity and awareness from the public, that these wacky suits and glasses were just ploys for attention. Basically, what I understood was that the whole NBA community had been trolling the public since day one. I’m not saying this isn’t a real possibility; Kobe’s publicist probably gets a boner every time he sees him wearing that tight leather jacket.

Then it was my turn to argue.

When you’re in supreme physical shape, are the best at your profession in the world, have millions of dollars, are internationally famous and have three legs, why would you have ANY reason to have to confide in general society’s idea of what fashion is?

I would, without a doubt, wear any of Westbrook’s shirts, especially that Lacoste ‘Fish-Hook’ one. They’re awesome, eye- catching and most importantly, hardly anyone would have the confidence to wear them. And that goes hand in hand; the better you are, the higher your confidence and hence the bolder your choice of clothing. You don’t see anyone writing articles about Jameer Nelson’s clothes.

And that answers why Michael Jordan has been labelled a fashion icon; the suits he wears are far from nice-looking and in any sense of the word fashionable. They are nice- looking on him. He looks gangster with his cigar and chains, but do you honestly think if anyone else wore what he does they wouldn’t be bashed and robbed if seen walking down the street, let alone be called a fashion figure. No one else can wear Jordan’s clothes because no one else is the best basketball player to have ever lived. There is only one MJ in the world…well since 25th June, 2009, anyway.

Stay tuned for more when the NBA season kicks off…