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New York Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The evolution of NBA Draft fashion and the most emblematic suits from each era
The contemporary NBA Draft broadcast is so many things. It's a coronation of new talent and a hinge point for each franchise. It's a festival of 'what if' and a convention for trade-making. It's also basketball's closest thing to a red carpet. The draft has been televised since 1980, and players' styles have been molded and informed by the passage of time. We won't be able to fully appraise this draft class for at least a few years. We will instantly know who looked fresh, though. Advertisement In honor of this year's draft, we decided to revisit past eras of NBA Draft fashion and see how the league's most emblematic draft-night suits reflect its fashion evolution. Coverage will also be streamed on ESPN+. Round 2 is on Thursday with the same 8 p.m. start time and will air on ESPN. One of the most dominant, graceful players in NBA history made his national debut looking like Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall' album cover. The advent of basketball sartorialism was slow and modest, starting with an aesthetic somewhere between the Rat Pack and the stock traders. Michael Jordan wore a navy suit with faint pinstripes. Patrick Ewing rocked straightforward charcoal. Straying from the white dress shirt was, in the early days, a non-starter. Sounds like: 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' Variation begins with the ties. The No. 1 pick of the 1991 draft wore an aqua tie with a busy pattern. It could be grafted straight from wallpaper in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.' LJ wasn't alone, either: Jerry Tarkanian poses with Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony and Larry Johnson during the 1991 NBA Draft. — SI Vault (@si_vault) June 22, 2017 A super-chill palette of teals, purples and oranges. Here's to the halcyon days of the early '90s. Sounds like: 'Electric Relaxation' No one will ever look this good across all possible mediums. The mere sight of this draft night 'fit can boost serotonin and end grudges. Walker ended up having a journeyman's career as a backup big man, but he led the decorated '96 class in looking cool. The ivory get-up with its matching bowler should be enshrined in Springfield. Of critical importance, the late '90s suits started getting bulkier. Sounds like: 'Hypnotize' We can safely declare these suits as the biggest in recorded history. The popular pick for this phase of fashion is the 2003 class. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and company donned a small nation's worth of fabric on their big night. But the true gem was dropped one year prior — Gooden's XXXXXXXXXL baggy suit had not one single button in sight. Did anyone in the NBA press pool ask him about this? Did his lack of buttons hinder his NBA career? From the looks of it, Gooden's fashion inspiration was either Doctor Evil or a waterproof garment bag. Advertisement Sounds like: 'Hot in Herre' This is where our modern suiting style first comes into focus. The suits slimmed down, while the accessories got more subtle. There was an early bend toward minimalism, but it was still the pastel accent and cufflink era. Wide ties were a necessity, but color options definitely expanded. Jennings pulled up dressed exactly like David Stern. Lesson learned — before leaving the house, always call the commissioner and ask what he's wearing. Sounds like: 'Cooler Than Me' By the mid-2010s, players had leaned into the sleek tapering, ultra-skinny ties and artful patterns that we recognize as today's baseline. Karl-Anthony Towns' 2015 threads fit the aesthetics of the Tumblr times. Brandon Ingram's grayscale suit offered restrained elegance and supreme hipness. Sounds like: 'Bad and Boujee' All bets are off at this point. The button-down dress shirt went from humble whites to altogether unnecessary. Like the past few drafts, Wednesday night's fashion maximizes creativity and customization. Everyone is now encouraged (if not expected) to wear something one of one. Now, the only thing considered unfashionable is a lack of inspiration. Sounds like: Whatever you're listening to at this present moment! We're all caught up for 2025. See you Wednesday night for the next stage of the NBA fashion evolution. Streaming and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Samaki Walker: Andy Hayt / NBAE via Getty Images)
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"LeBron has no chance to win another trophy so now they don't matter" - Colin Cowherd rips LeBron James for his take on NBA ring culture
"LeBron has no chance to win another trophy so now they don't matter" - Colin Cowherd rips LeBron James for his take on NBA ring culture originally appeared on Basketball Network. Even though LeBron James isn't competing in the NBA Finals this season, he still managed to grab headlines when he discussed the league's infatuation with ring culture, stressing that the lack of NBA championships shouldn't diminish the accomplishments of the sport's all-time greats like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone. Advertisement Many analysts have pushed back against the narrative James is trying to promote. Among them is Colin Cowherd, who contends that a team's lack of championship prospects — like the Los Angeles Lakers' current situation — shouldn't diminish the importance of titles when evaluating a player's greatness. The NBA's ring culture For many, the number of championships an NBA superstar has won is the ultimate measure of success. Players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are often praised for their multiple title runs, while others who have yet to win a title are considered "less than" in the eyes of fans and analysts. However, James recently argued on the "Mind The Game" podcast that this mindset is flawed, especially since basketball is a team sport wherein individual players cannot single-handedly win championships. Advertisement Several all-time greats had incredible careers but were never able to capture an NBA title. Does this mean they should be disregarded when discussing the greatest players in NBA history? "I don't know why it's discussed so much in our sport and why it's the end-all-be-all of everything," LeBron, who has won four championships in his 22-year career, said. "You tell me Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley and Steve Nash weren't f**king unbelievable? They can't be talked about with these guys because they won rings?" However, Cowherd countered on his show that nobody is actually saying that those players weren't amazing players. However, there's a reason why they aren't discussed with the same reverence as champions. "The reason is the trophies," Colin emphasized. "And LeBron knows that." Advertisement Related: When Rick Fox turned down a $33 million deal from Boston only to take a million from the Lakers: "I bet on myself" A lackluster Lakers team Although LeBron has yet to officially declare what his plans are for his player option worth $52.6 million, many expect him to return to the Purple and Gold and play in his 23rd NBA season. Unfortunately for him, his team has far too many holes to fill to become a championship contender. Cowherd feels that's what prompted James to criticize the ring culture. "LeBron has no chance to win a trophy with the current Laker roster," he said. "So now they don't matter. He spent his entire career pursuing titles. You think he went to Miami to land the beach? He went there for Riley and Spoelstra and a better owner and a better roster. He didn't go West. He stayed in the weak East to keep getting to finals. LeBron pursued finals." Advertisement For years, James has pursued the ghost of Jordan, who went six-for-six in the NBA Finals. He went from one team to another, trying to add to his championship total. After winning the title in the Orlando Bubble in 2020, the farthest LeBron and the Lakers have come is the Western Conference finals in 2023. This season, they nabbed the third seed in the West but fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. "So back when he knew he had a chance to win several more, the ring mattered. Because he was still back then like, 'Hey, can he surpass Michael and get to six, seven, eight?'" Cowherd stated. "Now he can't. Now, rings don't matter." James' resume speaks for itself. With numerous championships, countless entries in the league's record books and a longevity that has now spanned over two decades, it's clear that he is one of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood. However, when all is said and done, he cannot escape the fact that he's two titles short of Jordan's six. Related: "They are going to have to start to paying guys" - Doc Rivers breaks down why OKC won't be able to keep this team together This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
21-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Tanking NBA Finals ratings go beyond small-market problems
Surely it wasn't selected to make a point or to lament what the NBA has become, but it was, nonetheless, a picture worth a thousand 3-point heaves. During Thursday's Game 6 of the Thunder-Pacers Finals, ESPN/ABC went to commercials with a full screen color photo of Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon trying to gain position on each other. Presumably the picture was taken during the 1994 NBA Rockets-Knicks Finals, won by Houston in seven. That was in a time — a long time, but not long ago — when riveting center vs. center games made nationally televised NBA games extra special. Didn't matter if your team was playing, an epic was in the wind and it was headed your way. 5 Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) dunks against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the third quarter during Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Maddie Meyer-Pool Photo via Imagn Images Outside of Michael Jordan, the game's appeal since the late 1950s began with the opposing centers. Willis Reed vs. Wes Unseld or Gus Johnson, Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal vs. Tim Duncan or Dikembe Mutumbo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Bob Lanier or Moses Malone, Robert Parish vs. Bill Laimbeer.
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Knicks fans have one clear beef with the The Post's Mount Postmore selections
The Post kicked off its 15-part Most Postmore series Wednesday, starting with our selections for the Knicks. And as you'd expect with one of the most passionate fan bases in sports, the list elicited a range of reactions. The biggest gripe in response to the list — which featured Patrick Ewing, Jalen Brunson, Walt Frazier and Willis Reed — was the inclusion of Brunson. Despite his tremendous output since arriving at MSG, Brunson has only spent three seasons in New York and hasn't reached the Finals, which appears to be the most common argument against No. 11.
Forbes
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Knicks Seek To Prolong Their Best Season In 25 Years
Entering Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night, the New York Knicks listed Karl-Anthony Towns as questionable, a major issue considering a loss would end the team's season. The 7-foot All-Star, who sustained a left knee injury in the previous game, didn't participate in his normal pregame shooting routine, either. Still, after helping the Knicks defeat the Indiana Pacers 111-94 to cut their deficit to three games to two, Towns said he knew all along he would play. 'I looked at the game and it said Game 5, do or die,' Towns said. 'That was pretty much all I needed to see.' Now, Towns and the Knicks will have another chance to prolong their season and pursue the franchise's first NBA title since 1973. On Saturday night, the Knicks play the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Pacers are looking to advance to their first NBA Finals since 2000, while the Knicks haven't played in the Finals since 1999. The Knicks are seeking to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win a 7-game series. The franchise is 0-14 all-time when falling behind 3-1 and has forced a Game 7 only twice in those scenarios: in the 1951 NBA Finals to the Rochester Royals and in the 1995 conference semifinals to the Pacers. Back then, the Knicks defeated the Pacers 96-95 in Game 5 when star center Patrick Ewing made a game-winning jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining to keep the Knicks' season alive. Thirty years later, Ewing was back for another Game 5 at Madison Square Garden Thursday night as a spectator. This time, the Knicks didn't need any Game 5 heroics as they dominated from the start and never trailed. Point guard Jalen Brunson scored the game's first six points and scored 16 in the first quarter. Towns had 12 points and seven rebounds in the second quarter alone, giving the Knicks a 56-45 lead at halftime. The Knicks then led by double digits throughout the second half, a welcome respite for the home fans who had seen the team lose the first two games at Madison Square Garden, including blowing an eight-point lead with less than 40 seconds remaining in Game 1. Brunson finished with a game-high 32 points on 12 of 18 shooting and added 5 assists. He is averaging 30.1 points and 7 assists per game in the playoffs, including 33 points and 5.4 assists in the Pacers series. With Thursday's performance, he joined Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only players in NBA history with at least 30 points and 5 assists in 10 playoff games in one season. Towns, meanwhile, had 24 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Despite his knee injury, he was aggressive on offense, a change from many other games when he settled for long jumpers and 3's. On Thursday, seven of his 10 field goals were layups, while the others were a dunk, a driving 4-foot floater and a 3. Towns, though, admitted afterwards that he needs to do a better job of not committing fouls. During an interview with TNT's Inside the NBA program, Charles Barkley asked why Towns committed 'dumb fouls,' while Shaquille O'Neal said he was going to ask the same question. 'God only knows,' Towns replied. He added: 'I've got to do a much better job of that…You ain't wrong. That hurts our team.' On Thursday, Towns was called for his fourth foul midway through the quarter, sending him to the bench with the Knicks up by 20 points. The Pacers then went on a 12-2 run to cut their deficit to 74-64 before Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa entered the game to replace center Mitchell Robinson, whom the Pacers had intentionally fouled the previous possession due to Robinson's poor free throw shooting. Even with Towns and Robinson off the court, the Knicks extended their lead, thanks in part to Achiuwa, who had a floater and steal and played strong defense as New York ended the third quarter ahead 90-73. It was only the second time Achiuwa played this series, but Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is becoming more comfortable with his reserves. For the past three games, the Knicks have inserted Robinson in the starting lineup, replacing Josh Hart, who averaged more than 37 minutes per game in the regular season and started all 77 regular season games he dressed for and the team's first 14 playoff games. Hart on Thursday had 12 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes, while three other reserves (Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Delon Wright) each played more than 10 minutes. Wright missed all four of his shots, but he had three assists, no turnovers and a steal in 10 minutes and 13 seconds. Wright also played 13:20 and 9:04 in Games 3 and 4, respectively, but he had only appeared in two of the Knicks' first 14 playoff games for a total of 3:32 without having a field goal attempt, rebound or assist. McBride, who along with Robinson were the only two bench players to have much of a role in the previous two series, had 5 points Thursday in 18:14, while Shamet scored 5 points in 14:14, the most time he has seen all playoffs. During the fourth quarter, the MSG crowd even shouted Shamet's name, showing their appreciation for the little-used player. 'I think everyone on the team is just continuously ready for their moment,' Towns said. 'Even the guys who don't play and that haven't gotten a minute in these last two games, what they bring to our bench and the life they bring to our team can't be understated. It can't be undervalued. One through 15, everybody's doing an amazing job wanting to win and being there for each other. This team's special.' Towns added that the Knicks 'haven't been able to close out games the way we wanted to,' but that changed on Thursday when they excelled on both ends of the floor. The Pacers scored fewer than 100 points for the first time this postseason, made a playoffs-low 40.5% of their shots and had 20 turnovers, including 14 in the second half. Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who had 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and no turnovers in Indiana's 130-121 Game 4 victory, scored only 8 points on 2 of 7 shooting. Forward Aaron Nesmith, who had 30 points and made 8 3's in Game 1, had 3 points on 1 of 8 field goals and only played 15:52 as he was limited with a right ankle sprain. 'We didn't play with the level of force that we needed to,' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. 'We lost the rebound battle, we lost the turnover battle, we didn't shoot well. They had a lot to do with it, so give them credit. We're going to have to play much better.' The loss snapped Indiana's six-game road winning streak in the playoffs and extended the tight series. While the Knicks won by 17 on Thursday, the first three games were decided by six points or fewer while the Knicks were within six points with less than three minutes remaining in Game 4 before the Pacers took control. The Knicks are facing long odds even though they have outscored the Pacers by a total of six points in the first five games. No team has ever lost the first two games at home in the conference finals and won the series. Still, the Knicks have won six of their eight road playoff games and are determined to get back to MSG for Game 7 Monday night, continuing their memorable season and playoff run.
