Anthony Davis has always longed for a signature shoe.
Throughout his NBA tenure, Anthony Davis has established himself as a top-tier player in the league, amassing 8 All-Star selections, 4 All-NBA acknowledgments, 4 NBA All-Defensive team appearances, and clinching an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Despite his impressive resume, one notable absence is a signature shoe, a topic Davis himself broached in 2020 following his championship win.
Since joining the NBA in 2012, Davis has been a Nike endorser. Speculation has arisen multiple times that Nike might leverage his distinctive unibrow for a signature shoe. However, over a decade into his NBA career, Davis remains without one.
In 2019, a sports marketing executive shed light on the situation, explaining why Davis has yet to receive a signature shoe and why it may not materialize.
“You look at someone like Curry, with his quick smile, boyish face, and deadly shot – he embodies the complete package,” remarked Matt Powell of the NPD Group. “LeBron serves as the face of the Nike brand. Harden boasts his distinct style and persona. While Davis is undoubtedly an exceptional athlete on the court, he might not possess the same level of marketable personality.”
A silent superstar
In a league characterized by vibrant personalities, Anthony Davis stands as a stark contrast to the modern NBA archetype. Despite being a standout talent on the basketball court, he maintains a private demeanor, divulging very little about his personal life to the public. Davis maintains a minimal presence on social media platforms and refrains from actions that could thrust him into the media spotlight, whether positively or negatively. He tends to avoid engaging with the press, rarely offering quotable remarks or controversial opinions.
“Even in high school, at Kentucky, here, I was always a quiet guy. Outside the locker room, we can talk and kid all day. But I’ve always just been a guy who is real laid-back,” Davis once said.
Traditionally, there’s been a disconnect between big men in basketball and signature shoe deals. Shaquille O’Neal stands as the sole exception, not solely due to his unmatched dominance on the court but largely because of his larger-than-life personality. Without such a captivating persona, Anthony Davis may find himself unlikely to secure a signature shoe deal.
AD came close before
The nearest Anthony Davis came to having a signature shoe was when Nike launched an All-Star edition of the Nike Air Audacity, affectionately named “The Brow.” Davis sported these shoes during the 2016 NBA All-Star game. Notably, the sneakers featured Davis’ trademark unibrow motif throughout the design.
Nike Brow All-Star Air Audacities
Subsequently, Anthony Davis has predominantly sported Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes. He initially favored the Nike Kobe 4 Protros, later transitioning to the Kobe 5 Protros, notably donning the Gold 5s during the 2020 NBA Finals. During 2021, Davis primarily wore the Nike Cosmic Unity silhouette, while in the most recent season, he opted for LeBron James’ LeBron 20s for the majority of the games.
“As a kid, you always want your own sneaker,” Davis said. “You go on “NBA 2K” and create your own shoe and do all those things. So honestly, it is a goal of mine, but I know it’s not given. It has to be earned, and if Nike comes to me and wants to give me a signature shoe, I would be more than happy, and it will be a dream come true. I just have to keep working, and hopefully, that time comes.”