“Denim is a huge part of my style. A pair of jeans can just change you.” Russell Westbrook, True Religion
You could argue that part of Russell Westbrook‘s success — on and off the court — is linked to Allen Iverson. On the court, both men play(ed) point guard with an individuality that makes it virtually a different position when they’re running the show. But off the court, they’re linked too. Though many NBA players have embraced high-end haberdashery in inimitable style, Westbrook may be the #1 style icon of the NBA right now.
All the glam post-game (and pre-game) runway looks today’s NBA stars rock so fluidly aren’t just the result of a group decision to dress things up. Back in 2005, the NBA — in a veiled attempt to reverse a hip-hop style personified by Iverson — implemented a dress code. No baggy jeans, big jewelry, hats — you get it. Iverson said the “dress code is not who I am and doesn’t allow me to express myself.” Players following in his wake — especially Westbrook — have found a way to abide the dress code and still express themselves. Not least with jeans. Westbrook has become such a fashion icon that he’s signed a big endorsement deal with True Religion, where he has his own Russell Westbrook line of jeans, t-shirts and hats. That’s right, just as Iverson rewrote the rules on his way to the Hall of Fame, so does Westbrook. This is a man who signed a huge deal to endorse a bunch of stuff that he’s not even allowed to wear to the games where most people see him. Like Iverson, that’s style.
