NBA players have a year-round job: play basketball at the highest level in the world. From elevating their craft in the offseason to playing an 82-game schedule to competing for NBA titles in the spring, players work hard to be the best professional ballers they can be.
But not all NBA action is on the court. Some players put in work to be ballers off the court, too, through the clothes they choose to wear.
With veterans and a new generation of players leading the way, the NBA has become a competitive place in terms of style. Fashion has become a new type of brand-building tool and a powerful way to connect with fans, as players and teams use style to make statements.
These are the most stylish players in the league.
23. Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson before a 2018 playoff game against the Boston Celtics. nbafashionfits / Instagram
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Position: Center/power forward
Rookie debut: 2011
Height/weight: 6’10″/238 pounds
Born: March 13, 1991, in Brampton, Canada (27 years old)
Bottom line: The big man for the Cavaliers has a clean fashion sense with a variety of different looks, including sweatshirts, suits, jean jackets and many other stylish outfits. However, his style is not quite as clean as a John Wall or Victor Oladipo outfit.
22. Mike Conley
Mike Conley, sidelined, in his street clothes. mac11 / Instagram
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Position: Point Guard
Rookie debut: 2007
Height/weight: 6’1″/175 pounds
Born: Oct. 11, 1987, in Fayetteville, Arkansas (31 years old)
Bottom line: Mike Conley wears a wide range of clothes off the court, including hoodies, bomber jackets, joggers, sweaters, suits and more. Like many NBA players, he enjoys fashion and documents many of his outfits throughout the season on his Instagram page.
20. Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic has become a quick study in the ways of NBA style. lukadoncic / Instagram
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Position: Guard/forward
Rookie debut: 2018
Height/weight: 6’7″/218 pounds
Born: Feb. 28, 1998, in Ljubljana, Slovenia (19 years old)
Bottom line: The rookie sensation from Slovenia might be young, but his style, like his on-court game, is growing up fast. When arriving to the arena for games, Luka Doncic likes to mix up his looks with overcoats, hoodies and Nike sneakers. He wears jeans most of the time today. Expect his style to expand as the youngster matures.
16. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis keeps it comfortable. antdavis23 / Instagram
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Position: Forward/center
Rookie debut: 2012
Height/weight: 6’10″/253 pounds
Born: March 11, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois (25 years old)
Bottom line: Anthony Davis has unique style, wearing anything from plain white T-shirts to suits. He even will break out colorful crewneck sweatshirts, covered with written symbols and brands on them, to go with distressed jeans. And when appropriate, he will slap on a pair of Nikes.
15. CJ McCollum
Make room for the baller. 3jmccollum / Instagram
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Shooting guard
Rookie debut: 2013
Height/weight: 6’3″/190 pounds
Born: Sept. 19, 1991, in Canton, Ohio (27 years old)
Bottom line: CJ McCollum has underrated style. Like his play on the court, he is a consistent producer with a wide variety of jackets, coats, sweaters and other outerwear. It gets cold in the Pacific Northwest, so he has to keep warm with A-game coats. He also likes to wear suit jackets and make sure everything is memorable.
12. Paul George
When you’re a big dog like Paul George, you can wear whatever you want. ygtrece / Instagram
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Small Forward
Rookie debut: 2010
Height/weight: 6’9″/220 pounds
Born: May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California (28 years old)
Bottom line: Paul George sports a variety of looks, including T-shirts, joggers and jackets. Sometimes, he will complete his look with a golden chain. And his shoe game — showcasing all kinds of different Nikes — always is on point.
6. D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell at an Us Weekly style event. dloading / Instagram
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Position: Point guard
Height/weight: 6’5″/198 pounds
Rookie debut: 2015
Born: Feb. 23, 1996, in Louisville, Kentucky (23 years old)
Bottom line: Money can buy a nice wardrobe. A 2015 first-round pick (No. 2 overall out of Ohio State), D’Angelo Russell has many looks — from long overcoats to suits, joggers, distressed jeans, jean jackets, checkered pants and more. At times, his style seems limitless.
5. P.J. Tucker
P.J. Tucker has veteran style. pjtucker / Instagram
Team: Houston Rockets
Position: Small forward
Rookie debut: 2006
Height/weight: 6’6″/245 pounds
Born: May 5, 1885, in Raleigh, North Carolina (33 years old)
Bottom line: Playing overseas in Israel, Italy, Germany and the Ukraine introduced P.J. Tucker to international flavor. Now, he has an array of intriguing, eye-popping outfits, wearing anything from suit jackets to bomber jackets to gold chains. The uniqueness of Tucker’s style is second to none. Maybe only Russell Westbrook is in the same class.
4. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook. #fashionking russwest44 / Instagram
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Point guard
Rookie debut: 2008
Height/weight: 6’3″/200 pounds
Born: Nov. 12, 1988, in Long Beach, California (30 years old)
Bottom line: The Southern California native learned early how to get people’s attention growing up in the shadow of Hollywood. Russell Westbrook stands out in a league of style standouts, wearing just about any color and clothing imaginable, including red coats, light green shirts, yellow pants and denim. He’ll top off his looks with Jordans or other trendy shoes.
2. Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala’s style is no accident. andre / Instagram
Team: Golden State Warriors
Position: Small forward
Rookie debut: 2004
Height/weight: 6’6″/215 pounds
Born: Jan. 28, 1984, in Springfield, Illinois (35 years old)
Bottom line: Andre Iguodala has become one of the most fashionable players in the league. It helps to play alongside Allen Iverson, a fashion icon of basketball in the early 2000s. Iguodala wears coats, distressed jeans and sometimes different kinds of shoes, not just Jordan shoes. Call him the elder statesmen of modern-day NBA style.