The NBA Draft has long been a signature moment of the year in sports fashion, with multiple players dressed for the occasion making a statement about their new career.
As Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, told a small media gathering earlier on Wednesday: “The work starts now. It’s not just about getting your name called in a rookie contract; it’s about your second contract and third contract. This is the time to work on yourself, work on your brand.”
Increasingly, athletes are turning to fashion to build the brand of themselves.
As curated by The Athletic’s Bre’ana Singleton and Hannah Vanbiber, these 10 players from Wednesday’s first night of the 2025 draft stood out for their looks, fits and overall aura:
MVP: Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears, drafted No. 7 by the New Orleans Pelicans, wore a Gucci suit on Wednesday. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Fears brought the “No Fears” mantra to life in a bold, all-maroon Gucci suit. The textured logos brought just the right amount of depth and shine, while his all-black sneakers, also Gucci, grounded the look with an understated edge. What set off Fears’ fit were a pair of massive chains layered over his tie — one an Oklahoma Sooners number “0” and another underneath it spelling his last name. It was a confident, cohesive fit — sharp and intentional with family photos lining his jacket. The Oklahoma star proved his game isn’t the only thing with flash. — Singleton
First Runner-Up: Carter Bryant
New San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant wore his double-breasted suit without a shirt Wednesday. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
The Arizona Wildcats power forward created a deep-V moment with a double-breasted maroon suit, turning to the suit-without-shirt trend popularized by multiple stars, including Timothée Chalamet who debuted his at the 2022 Academy Awards. Bryant credited his “mom and sisters going crazy” for how the look came together, and fittingly, he has his family’s names stitched on the inside of the jacket. My favorite touch? The sleeves acted as a gilded mirror of his forearm tattoos, almost as if the ink was projecting through the fabric, transformed into embroidered gold: the word “ilaya” (which his mom has tweeted to him, too) and an embellished infinity symbol. This look, for me, is the word “drip” personified. — Vanbiber
Most ‘Boss’ Look: Cooper Flagg
The No. 1 pick Wednesday, Cooper Flagg (right) went with a dark Hugo Boss suit for his big announcement. (Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
Here’s one way to describe Flagg’s night: With his selection at No. 1, the young forward became one of an elite group of just 79 people in history, a list that includes immortals like LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal. To match the occasion, Flagg flew in BOSS. The meticulously tailored three-piece suit by Hugo Boss is almost understated on the star’s 6-foot-8 frame: sharp, classy, calm, cool, collected. He paired it with velvet loafers from Christian Louboutin (a favored brand among this draft class) that retail for $945 and a Hublot timepiece. Want to dress like Flagg? BOSS is selling the suit off the rack for $999. — Vanbiber
Best Group Effort: Ace Bailey (and family)
Ace Bailey, headed to the Utah Jazz, wore a bejeweled suit with custom family photos on the lining. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“Without the ones that’s in the jacket or the ones that’s there, I wouldn’t be in this position,” Bailey said before he got dressed for the biggest night of his life — and he wasn’t kidding. His loved ones were by his side on draft night — in matching Christian Louboutin red bottoms. A pair of black high-top lace-ups were the No. 5 pick’s selection for the occasion. While Bailey had some questions entering the draft, his suit compensated with shine and shimmer. A bejeweled black suit honored his family with custom pictures on the jacket’s lining. A red shirt, lapels and cuffs paid homage to his Rutgers allegiance. With every step and sparkle, Bailey made it clear: One life and one franchise would be changed forever. — Singleton
Most Deceptively Simple: VJ Edgecombe
VJ Edgecombe didn’t need a ton of colors for his ensemble to pop on Wednesday. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
I guess when you’re as explosive an athlete as Edgecombe, you don’t need bursts of color to make a fashion impact. The No. 3 pick’s striking all-black fit was interwoven with deeper nods to his home and family. Styled by his older brother, the suit sported a subtle latticework pattern paired with YSL shoes, Prada glasses, silver and diamond jewelry and — perhaps best of all — the colors of the Bahamian flag flashing at his wrists. The all-business look opened up to reveal a collage of family photos sewn in the lining, a long-standing tradition in NBA Draft fashion. — Vanbiber
Glintiest (much like a Spur …): Dylan Harper
Harper is going from Rutgers to San Antonio, and Wednesday’s suit was a representation. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
The No. 2 pick looked understated — until he walked into the light. Harper’s all-black jacquard suit shimmered under the bright spotlights of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. His black Louboutin loafers were studded with silver spikes, completing a smooth look. The former Rutgers guard was a massive favorite to go second in the draft: Could his glinting black suit be a nod to the black and silver of the San Antonio Spurs, his new home team? Inside the bright red lining of his jacket (matching his red-bottom shoes!) was sewn the quote “Never too high, never too low,” a phrase he credits to his mother. — Vanbiber
Riskiest Move: Tre Johnson
Tre Johnson chose a bold look at Wednesday’s draft night: baggy shorts, slouched socks and a double-breasted jacket. (Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
Suit shorts? Slouch socks? Why not? It was business up top, party down low for Johnson. The 19-year-old made one of the boldest fashion statements of the NBA Draft, mixing preppy with playful as he makes the jump to the big league. Johnson paired a navy double-breasted suit jacket with tailored shorts that fell below his knees with a casual flow before rounding it all out with slouch socks and Dr. Martens’ Adrian Bex loafers. The Texas Longhorns star ditched the “corporate climb” look for more of a “creative direction” feel. Trae Young wore shorts on draft night. It’s worked out for him; maybe it’ll do the same for Johnson. — Singleton
Most Old-World Slick: Collin Murray-Boyles
Collin Murray-Boyles became a top-10 draft pick while wearing a blue pinstriped suit. (Mike Lawrie / Getty Images)
Pinstripes on pinstripes on pinstripes! The No. 9 pick from South Carolina recalled the suiting of the Jazz Age with his sharp-cut, blue pinstriped number, featuring pants cut narrow at the knee and slightly wider at the ankle, which gave him a dapper, lengthened look. His equally famous girlfriend, fellow Gamecock baller Chloe Kitts, watched alongside his family as Murray-Boyles went in the top 10 to the Toronto Raptors. — Vanbiber
Best Character Development: Nique Clifford
Nique Clifford’s gradient jacket was a hit during Wednesday’s draft. (Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
Clifford brought color and character to the draft with a bold gradient jacket, fading from a deep violet to a softer pinkish hue. He paired the jacket with black pants and custom two-tone Air Force 1s, which were a drip of their own. The Colorado State star fully leaned into the Gen Z draft night ethos with a nod to Clifford, the Big Red Dog, his namesake. The iconic animated pup was stitched inside Clifford’s jacket lining for added internet flair. The look was playful, polished and hard to forget. — Singleton
Most Understated Luxury: Asa Newell
Asa Newell, who is headed to the Atlanta Hawks was stylish with a double-breasted suit and jewelry. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Newell brought understated luxury to the red carpet on a night when plenty of players opted for bolder, more in-your-face styles. The Atlanta Hawks’ No. 23 pick sported a double-breasted suit and accessorized his look with silver and diamonds. He topped off his look with a pair of Louis Vuitton Time Out sneakers originally designed by the late fashion icon Virgil Abloh. The sneakers Newell wore — currently sold out in the white colorway on Louis Vuitton’s site — normally go for $1,360. The creamy-white leather kicks, adorned with the brand’s signature monogram and a subtle pop of metallic, grounded his suit with quiet confidence and balanced street-smart swagger and designer polish. — Singleton
Newell’s shoe choice do not come cheap. They retail at more than $1,300. (Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
(Top photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)