Supreme Coats and Bape Full-Zips; The Athlete’s Runway Looks Like My Grailed Wishlist

It’s been ten years since what some consider a “peak” year. The NBA has changed in many ways since then; The Warriors are no longer a dynasty, LeBron is a Laker, and Kelly Oubre is a vet now. Most importantly, their pre-game drip has taken a step to the streets. Streetwear brands and clothing have swiftly taken over the pregame tunnel.

Last night's NBA slate was another example of that reality. Looking at the player outfits that each team provided, there was excitement with each click. Mostly because for me it’s the perfect place for outfit inspiration.

Starting off with arguably one of the flyest teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder. You may have instantly thought of SGA, but if you follow the team, then you know just how fly this forward gets. Luguentz Dort, who really came onto my style radar last year, is at the top of the list for style  before yesterday’s game. My favorite thing about Dort is his creativity in taking formal pieces and blending them into a street-like style. It was no different when he arrived at Scotiabank Arena to face off against the Toronto Raptors. Which was almost like a homecoming for the Canadian player originally from Montreal.

Dort came home looking like he was signed to Opium. Much like the Atlanta artists, he came in an all-black look. He wore a raw-edge-hooded trench coat that swallowed the black shirt and baggy jeans he had on. At the bottom, his gigantic Balenciaga Stomper boots peeked from under the jeans. On top, a knit Chrome Hearts beanie with a leather cross emblem appliqued to the front. The frames and ski mask hid his face as he walked in, looking to handle business.

The darkness of his outfit was like looking into the night sky; In that regard, the iced-out chain and wolf pendant were the moon and stars, as it shined even without the flashing cameras.

He was able to light it up on the court as well, leading the team to a win over the Raptors. He ended up with 15 points, cashing in three three-pointers, pulled in five boards and had a steal on defense. It was a solid performance to continue their three-game win streak. They look to keep it up tonight as they play the first-place Pistons in Detroit.

Keeping the winning spirit and showing the Eastern Conference some love this time around. 76ers guard Kelly Oubre comes in with my second-favorite look of the night. Oubre is known for his off-court style and fashion sense as he is signed with The Society – a talent agency for celebrities, influencers and athletes alike. In his tenth season now, Oubre has been mentioned on lists like Sports Illustrated's "Fashionable 50" and Slam Magazine’s "League Fits All-Drip First Team," so he’s true to this sense of style.

Last night, he went into the archives and pulled out an SS16 Supreme faux-fur coat. He looked as if he were on the hunt, sporting the leopard-print coat as he entered the arena. The coat matched his spotted loafers and was paired with straight-leg blue jeans. The jeans are simple but have a stitch detail above the left knee and studs along the pockets. A black beanie and a black strapped watch accessorized the vet's outfit. With the cherry on top being the wired headphones, which have earned the "performative" title all over social media.

Unlike the talk around wired headphones, Oubre actually came out and performed in his role. His shooting percentage was above 60 percent as he knocked down two three-pointers and totaled 12 points on the night. All in all, he helped his team get the win.

The next player really could have been in the two spot — we will say 2b — he came down the tunnel just like Oubre with the wired headphones in. Except this player's style was on a different vibe altogether. Jaden Hardy, a guard for the Washington Wizards, came down the tunnel extremely fly. At first glance, it looked like an OG Bape zip hoodie, but in realtree camo, it turns out it's a collaboration with SAINT Mxxxxxx. The distressed hoodie opens to a brown thermal lining, with a cream zipper that ties the pants in beautifully. His color coordination in this outfit was on point. The bottoms were just as much of a statement as the jacket: a pair of Sekrit chopper carpenter pants that swallowed the Rick Owens vintages he wore. Even though Hardy did not play in the game, his outfit was a big statement off the court.

Flipping back to the west with another guard who has been known for his sense of style, Jalen Green. The Suns recently acquired Green, but his outfit showed he’s a true West Coast native. He entered the arena sporting the Los Angeles brand Enfants Riches Déprimés; wearing their woman in sheet raglan t-shirt, a pair of shorts I couldn't identify – I think they are Kapital, but there is also a small Chrome Hearts emblem, so idk… – and spotted Vans Old Skools. I just know it's always hot in Phoenix, so the fit choice makes sense. Those shorts are definitely being added to my wishlist as we move into the summer.

Green’s off-court performance on the athlete's runway was chill and got the job done. However, that wasn’t the case on the court for him and his team. They lost to the Celtics in a relatively low-scoring game, by today’s standard, 97 to 81. Green was the third-highest scorer with 13 on the night. The Suns aren’t too many games back from the sixth spot in the West, so they look to bounce back in their game tomorrow against the Lakers. Who happens to be ranked one spot ahead in sixth.

We started the top five with a forward, so it’s only right that it ends with another big man. Naz Reid from the Timberwolves comes in to wrap up this list. It just so happened that they were both wearing Chrome Hearts yesterday. Reid’s piece was more of a statement in comparison to Dort's, though. Reid wore the brand's Timmy cashmere varsity jacket with blue jeans and classic Chucks. I could only imagine he felt like Will Smith in “I, Robot” when we unboxed his fresh pair.

His off-the-court style translated well to his play on the court. He had eight points coming off the bench on 2/3 shooting from three-point, a few boards, a steal and a block. The defensive bug seemed to be in the air for Minnesota as they grabbed their 36th win of the season. They finished with 14 steals as a team and pulled away by 3 points.

After last night's games, I am excited to see what everyone has in store for tonight. Will streetwear continue to dominate, or will some players decide to pop out in their best formal wear? Who knows, but right now the athlete’s runway has me doomscrolling through Grailed looking for my next piece.