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Writer's pictureKyah Harris

Culture on the Courts

Updated: Jun 4, 2023

"Fashion can be used as a cultural translator and a tool against colonisation; it re-establishes the balance between symbols, stories and different worlds through style."

~STELLA JEAN


Culture is something that we all take pride in. What we wear represents who we are. When we put on clothes, people are allowed to make assumptions at first glance. Fashion is one of those exceptions to judging a book by its cover. You can look at someone and make try to make up their life based on their outfit. Although it may not always be true, the eyes see what the mouth can't speak, therefore presentation matters. Fashion presents us in ways we cannot present ourselves; it is an outlet for creativity and expression.


Something that I find intriguing is how specifically black people can be culturally adaptive to fashion. Different generations take pride in different aspects of the culture. Gen Z, younger people, may accommodate trends Millennials can not, but we all have a part in the culture. We take pride in styles and trends from our culture, such as Y2K, rap fashion, and sneaker culture. With the help of young people, these trends are reoccurring and transcending into modern fashion. Black people continuously contribute to trends not only for Western fashion trends but also influence other countries' trends as well.


Black culture is often the representation of black people in pop culture. One of the main blueprints we focus on is black people in the media: sports figures, artists, and influencers. Although all are important aspects of the fashion industry, this blog highlights black basketball players who treat the entry tunnel as a runway to a fashion show.


The first person I want to analyze is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As of today, Shai is the best-dressed NBA Player. When you visualize black culture, you should think of Shai. Shai openly posts pictures of items black people are continuously stereotyped: durags, cornrows, grillz, saggy pants, etc. Back in the day, the ultimate person who was known for these things was, Allen Iverson. Black fashion has been presented on the courts for many decades, Shai is one of the players who is keeping the image alive. Analysing him from top to bottom; his braids to his shoe game, he contributes to black people's inclusion in mainstream media.


A lot of people who are into fashion are not given the platform to showcase that love for clothes. Shai once said,

I've always been into fashion. I guess the NBA kinda gave me a platform to just express myself through my clothes.

And that he does. With consistent Instagram post, Shai is always somewhere showing off his outfits. He also appeared at the Met Gala, one of the biggest fashion fundraisers for celebrities.


Still wearing cornrows, Shai presented himself in an over-layered trench coats with a monotone color palette accessorized with pearls. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to prove that he puts it on no matter where he is.

Other Fashionable NBA Players : Jarred Vanderbilt, Tyrese Maxey, David Duke Jr.


Similar to Shai and other fashionable NBA Players, WNBA also has the light on them when it comes to black representation for fashion in the sports industry. WNBA Players like DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Williams also walk the tunnels like the red carpet. DiJonai Carrington's style highlights the feminization of hip-hop based on clothing. From her long hair to her long heels, DiJonai constantly walks with confidence as a black woman in sports entertainment. Being able to confidently wear knee-length box braids, waist beads, and big gold hoops, Carrington's style will go on to represent black women in this industry.



Different from DiJonai, Courtney Williams is a WNBA player who we see representing the masculine side of a fem-dominated sports association. For people a part of the LGBTQ+ community, masculine clothing is a derivation of empowerment, in which Courtney showcases all of her outfits in that manner. As seen below, Williams explore the unexplored use of patterns in her outfits. Patterned bottoms with a simple, yet sophisticated top seems like Courtney's go-to style. Williams continues to represent fashion for the underrepresented population in the black community and also in the sports/media industry.


Other fashionable WNBA Players: Lexie Brown, Jewell Loyd, Skylar Diggins-Smith


A fashion style on the contrary of players mentioned above, is Lebron James. Lebron James is more minimalistic and modernized, in which age may have a huge playing role. Being one of the older players in the league, we can see how much Lebron changed his style as he got older. Following fashion trends from Y2K to popular trends as of today. Drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, Lebron James would rock snapbacks with baggy pants and oversized shirts layered with chains. We can see this same trend today in fashion.


Today, Lebron is seen in more formal and casual attire. He attempts to look relaxed but stylish when puts an outfit on.



Lebron James illustrates a black man in luxury, who is still underrepresented in entertainment media as of today. We can always catch Lebron in sophisticated attire that is simple, yet pleasing to the eye.


These players are just a few of those who I believe represent black culture on the courts. They highlight greatness and luxury, constantly outliving stereotypes about black people portrayed in fashion-based media. Treating the tunnels like red carpets into the courts, these athletes will always put on a show on and off the court.

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