Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not only has an NBA championship ring but also his own signature shoe with Converse — and the star athlete, known for his fashion sense, was deeply invested in its creation.

After the 2024-25 NBA MVP wore a special gold pair of the Shai001 around his neck upon winning the championship in June, the sneaker was released in a Butter yellow colorway on Sept. 4, and it’s already sold out, with more colorways anticipated for an Oct. 2 release. On Saturday, at the Black Footwear Forum held at Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design in Detroit, the story behind the buzzy shoe was revealed as part of a breakout session titled “Athlete to Architect: The Shai x Converse Journey” by Nike Inc.

PLC Detroit president Dr. D’Wayne Edwar

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