The One Before The 1: A Star's Journey to a Signature Sneaker

Not every signature athlete can be LeBron James, Allen Iverson, or Scoot Henderson with a signature sneaker awaiting their arrival in the league. Being a signature athlete stems from equal parts cultural impact and proven hardwood production.

Oftentimes, when searching for their next signature star, brands will bestow an athlete with a particular inline model and allow them to cement themselves as marketable stars while also setting the foundation for their future signature lines. This has happened plenty of times across history, so let’s take a look back at some NBA superstars and “the one before the 1.”

Michael Jordan - Nike Air Ship

Even His Airness didn’t earn the right to step on the court as a signature athlete. While the story goes that the Air Jordan 1 is the legendary banned sneaker, it was actually the Nike Air Ship that was bestowed that dishonor, with Jordan officially debuting the Air Jordan 1 on November 17, 1984, a month into the NBA season. The Air Ship so closely resembled the AJ 1 that they were able to pull the wool over our eyes for decades until the Air Ship’s return. 

Penny Hardaway - Nike Air Swift/ Nike Air Up/Nike Air Flight 1

Nike didn’t have to wait long to find their next on-court star after MJ’s retirement. Whereas other models fade away after the athlete moves to a signature shoe, Penny was so popular that even PEs often get brought under his umbrella. The Nike Air Flight One would go on to be an unofficial member of the Penny signature line. The Flight One would also have the honor of being one of the only models Michael Jordan would wear on the court that wasn’t his own.

To take it a step further, Penny’s most iconic sneaker moment comes from a stopgap between the Penny 2 and 3, when 1 Cent decided to lace up the Air Foamposite One ahead of the ‘97 Playoffs. Pippen’s decision to turn down the Eric Avar-designed sneaker changed the history of Penny’s line forever, with each model implementing Foamposite accents.

Scottie Pippen - Air Swift/Air Up/Uptempo

You wouldn’t realize it because Scottie has so many memorable footwear moments, but it took Scottie ten seasons to get a signature sneaker. Scottie made the Air Maestro a household name and rocked the Air Jordan 10 during Michael’s retirement. Notably, Pippen led the way for the More Uptempo line with its plush Zoom Air units leading up to Pippen’s own signature line.

Kobe Bryant - adidas EQT Elevation & Nike Huarache 2K4

So nice, he did it twice. Before getting his signature adidas KB8, Kobe Bryant laced up the adidas EQT Elevation, which is seen in the DNA of his first adidas signature. After migrating from The Three Stripes during his sneaker free agency, Bryant moved over to Nike where he would don the Nike Huarache 2K4, which melded elements of the original Huarache and the Air Force 1 with the then-modern basketball sensibility. The Huarache 2K4 was developed by Eric Avar, who would go on to helm most of the Kobe line.

Ja Morant - Nike Adapt 1 and 2

After a season of dazzling on-court play as a rookie that almost got the Memphis Grizzlies a playoff berth, Nike knew they had the next star in Big 12. With a combination of cerebral passing and out-of-this-world athleticism, Ja Morant was destined to create highlight reels. Soon after, Morant would pick up the reins of the Nike Adapt BB line, regularly debuting new and custom colorways of both models. While his signature line didn’t quite go laceless, Ja did borrow the wrap-around Swoosh that serves as a heel tab from the high-tech model.

A’ja Wilson - Nike Cosmic Unity Line

For three seasons, A’ja led the charge for the Cosmic Unity line, which used recycled materials as a part of Nike’s Move to Zero sustainability campaign. As the line grew, elements that A’ja favored would go into her own line, like the shank from the Cosmic Unity 3 and the heel counter and TPU heel counters found on the Cosmic Unity 1 and 2. She even dropped her own Cosmic Unity 3 PE.

Jayson Tatum - Air Jordan 37

This list has had plenty of defectors, but Jayson Tatum didn’t have to go far after switching from Nike to Jordan Brand. In his time with Nike, JT led the charge alongside Ja Morant for the Nike Adapt BB. Once at Jordan, Tatum had a wealth of PEs including, some celebrating his love for cars and, of course, the Taco Jay colorways. Tatum introduced the AJ 37 before being handed the reins of his own signature line.

Devin Booker - Kobe AD

After Kobe’s retirement in 2016, it was announced that Devin Booker and DeMar DeRozan would continue leading the way for the Mamba’s line. Booker was amongst the stars of Team Kobe to get a colorway of the Undefeated x Kobe Proto 4. Before getting the Book 1, Booker frequently laced up the Kobe AD, which has essentially become lost to time as the focus shifted back into the Protros following Kobe’s untimely passing. Luckily, the Kobe AD is getting its first Protro release later this year.

Cade Cunningham - ST Charge

Nike’s latest signature athlete has risen through the ranks quickly. After unveiling his signature logo at the start of last year, it was only a matter of time before the Pistons guard was charged with the stewardship of a Nike line. That sneaker ended up being the Nike ST Charge, a sneaker initially crafted for the outdoor game and released internationally. Cade’s initial Detroit Tough colorway was so clean that a handful of other colorways were unveiled for the All-NBA first teamer. We’ll have to take what we can get since Cade’s signature Nike shoes aren't set to release until at least 2027.

Paul George - Nike Hyperlive

Outside of Scottie Pippen, Paul George may have had the longest wait for signature stardom. George laced up several pairs of Hyperdunks and Kobes before his signature line, but the Nike Hyperlive was truly a prequel for PG13. George even got a Canadian-friendly rendition of the model for the 2015 NBA All-Star game, just a year before his signature line would debut.

Kawhi Leonard - New Balance OMN1S

In 2018, Kawhi made the decision to turn down a contract extension with Jordan Brand in favor of becoming the first signature basketball player for New Balance since James Worthy in the 1980s. Kawhi’s deal with the Beantown brand coalesced with New Balance’s resurgence in popularity. Before his signature sneaker was released, Kawhi consistently wore the New Balance OMN1S.

In a nearly unmatchable arrival, Leonard debuted the sneaker during that fateful Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, where the ball bounced for ages on the rim before sending the Toronto Raptors to the finals on a timeless game-winner. The silhouette even got a remix from Joe Freshgoods as a part of the No Emotions are Emotions collection released during that year’s All-Star festivities alongside his famed New Balance 992.

Dwyane Wade - Converse Icon Warrior/ Converse Baseliner | Air Jordan 2010

D. Wade’s sneaker history is quite different from everyone else on this list. Before Shai joined Converse, Dwyane Wade was the poster boy for the One Star. He swapped between the Converse Icon Warrior and Converse Baseliner before getting his own signature sneaker line, the Converse Wade. Soon after, Wade would switch sides to Jordan Brand, where he helped debut the polarizing Air Jordan 2010 and followed it up with a signature Jordan line called the Jordan Fly Wade.

LaMelo Ball - Puma Court Rider/Puma Clyde All Pro

LaMelo Ball’s ascent came at the perfect time for Puma. After leaving his father Lavar’s Big Baller Brand, LaMelo joined a young Puma hoops team that was rebuilding the legacy of the storied sneaker company. Before his eye-popping and ultra-popular MB.01 dropped, the Charlotte Hornets point guard laced up the Puma Clyde All Pro in a special mid-cut with a padded ankle collar and the Puma Court Rider religiously before donning his signature sneaker, which carries the design-heavy legacy of the latter model.

Kevin Durant - Nike Vis Air Sweet

Kevin Durant didn’t have to wait long for his signature moment. As soon as he landed in Seattle as the number 2 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Durant lived up to expectations, averaging 20 points as a rookie and nabbing Rookie of the Year honors. He spent one lone season in the Nike Vis Air Sweet before getting his signature line as a member of the relocated Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.

Damian Lillard - adidas Crazylight Boost

Damian Lillard and The Three Stripes are locked in for life. Lillard has had ten signature sneakers with adidas, all at an affordable price point. For Lillard, the shift began in 2013, after helping to shift the Trailblazers’ fortunes, Lillard laced up the adidas Crazylight line. After three seasons in the NBA, Lillard debuted the adidas Dame 1 in 2015, which, despite lauding the Boost line, lacked the extra cushioning in the midsole.

Sabrina Ionescu - Kobe 5 & 6

Sabrina Ionescu’s Nike Sabrina 3 cracked the NBA’s 3rd most-worn sneaker during the 2025-26 season, only behind the Nike Kobe 5 Protro & Nike Kobe 6 Protro. That level of reverence likely stems from the Kobe-esque nature of her line, as Ionescu is a known disciple of the Mamba. During her college career and before her Sabrina 1, she was constantly spotted rocking the Kobe 5 and 6. She made history in the Kobe 5. Against the Chicago Sky, Ionescu became the first player in the W to drop a 30-point triple double in a rare pair of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro Fade to Black. Her line maintains Kobe’s low-profile and ethos of improvement on each iteration instead of complete reinvention each season. 

Derrick Rose - adidas TS Supernatural Creator

In the season before becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history, Derrick Rose was still blooming on the court. Rose led the Chicago Bulls to a .500 record and earned a postseason berth while wearing the adidas TS Supernatural Creator. Elements of the Supernatural Creator like the patent leather toe and PureMotion pods in the outsole carried over into Rose’s debut model.

Luka Dončić - Jordan 36

Luka’s blend of on-ball wizardry and deadly scoring talent immediately made him a candidate for a signature shoe, but before he earned his signature model with Jordan Brand, he donned the Air Jordan 35 and 36. In these PEs, Luka would go on to create his own staple colorways like the recurring monochrome red Matador colorway that draws from his time in Spain. Luka’s line has gone on to become so popular that he’s even received his own takedown model, the Jordan Luka .77.

Donovan Mitchell - adidas ProBounce / adidas Mad Bounce

adidas knew Spida was more than a friendly neighborhood hero after his defiant “Rookie?” campaign that took shots at Ben Simmons, earning Rookie of the Year honors over Mitchell. Donovan helped propel the Utah Jazz into the playoffs and in turn launched himself into the stratosphere. After rocking the adidas ProBounce and Mad Bounce for his first two seasons, Mitchell earned his signature model in 2019. The silhouette utilizes the ribbed Bounce cushioning and the TPU-coated FORGEFIBER yarn.

James Harden - adidas CrazyLight 2016

When James Harden signed that massive 13-year, $200 million deal with adidas it was clear a signature sneaker was on the way. James Harden spent the 2016 season in the Crazylight Boost 2016, which preceded the adidas Harden 1 that continued the line’s use of Boost in the midsole. Now, it's ten years later and The Beard's Vol. 10 was one of the best sneakers of this NBA season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Converse All-Star BB Trilliant CX

When Shai signed with Converse ahead of teams returning to play in the NBA Bubble, the One Star was still in the process of restating itself as an on-court brand. In the season before securing his signature sneaker, SGA laced up the Converse All-Star BB Trilliant CX. The Shai 001 would borrow many elements from the Trilliant CX, chiefly its general low-profile shape, full-length foam midsole, and outsole.

Anthony Edwards - adidas BYW Select Low

If you ask Anthony Edwards, he'll probably say he always knew he'd be a signature athlete. It didn't take many seasons to make that dream come to fruition for the Minnesota Timberwolves' big dawg. Before he took off with the eye-catching adidas AE1, Ant-Man laced up the adidas BYW Select Low, which is one of the rare models that has little in common with the ensuing signature.

Caitlin Clark - Kobe 5 & Kobe 6

Caitlin Clark’s signature sneaker has been on the horizon for some time now. In the lead-up to the debut, the Indiana Fever point guard has been a steadfast supporter of the Nike Kobe 5 Protro, rocking a multitude of colorways throughout her NCAA and professional career. This includes a Sonic the Hedgehog blue colorway, a patent leather red and yellow pair, and a cream and green PE. Alongside the Kobe 5, Clark also regularly pulls out the Kobe 6 Protro. She pulled a Parent Trap-inspired colorway that had the internet going nuts. Who knows how her love for the Kobe line will play out for Clark’s signature shoe? Perhaps a low-cut sneaker with forefoot flexibility for stability on stepbacks and Cushlon 3.0?

Victor Wembanyama - Nike GT Line

Victor Wembanyama's ascension may have even surprised the Swoosh. Everybody expected the French phenom to be a great player, but no one expected him to lead his team to the NBA Finals in his third season. Throughout the Wemby's monstrous DPOY, All-NBA season, he's been rocking the Nike GT Cut 4 and Nike GT Hustle 3 in varying spurts.

He laced up the holographic Warning Label colorway of the GT Cut 4 during the All-Star Game. Then he followed it up with his own black and gold spotted Gold Panther PE that received a wider release. With the GT Hustle 3, Wemby leaned into the alien theme with a cow-printed upper with green details, resembling an alien abduction. With Wemby making a name on the biggest stage, that signature shoe is likely looming like Wemby on the weak side.

Devin Robertson

Devin Robertson is a writer and sneakerhead from Memphis, TN. Outside of sneakers, he enjoys film, comics, and music.