has motion, and OKC matched his energy.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the celebrated Oklahoma City Thunder point guard coming off an MVP Award and Finals championship, released his first signature shoe with last week. The was only available at four stores; SGA himself was present at Toronto for the release. The exclusivity left fans on the outside looking in, particularly Thunder devotees who were eager to support their favourite player and his debut shoe.
But the game changed when word of a restock surfaced last week. Oklahoma’s only sneaker boutique, Grinmore – located in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District –was the sole recipient of the fresh pairs.
How the SHAI 001 Restock Went Down
Restock day was all set to hit 90-degrees-plus, as many early September days in Oklahoma tend to do – but the heat didn’t deter the swell of fans who came out in support of the event. Over 300 disciples lined up for a chance to purchase the SHAI 001, a large percentage of whom camped out for over 24 hours in an effort to increase their odds of securing a pair. Countless more people attended the block party that Converse and Grinmore threw across the street while the release was ongoing. The bash featured free food, gourmet popsicles, drinks, a live DJ, photo ops, and a basketball-shooting game for free prizes such as SGA-branded water bottles and socks.
Hospitality was on full display, as workers repeatedly checked in on those waiting in line, providing refreshments and encouragement. Those in line themselves also showcased the Oklahoma standard of taking care of one another, holding places in line for each other so everyone could experience the block party while awaiting their turn to go inside the store.