Sports

Converse – Not Nike – Takes Center Stage at NBA Finals With Thunder Star

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Finals.
Photographer: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

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By Kim Bhasin

June 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM UTC

Updated on

June 5, 2025 at 5:25 PM UTC

When the NBA Finals tip off on Thursday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be considered by many as the best player on the overwhelming favorite to win the championship.

And like many stars, SGA — as he’s known — will be wearing his own signature sneakers when his Oklahoma City Thunder face the Indiana Pacers. But the shoes won’t have a Nike swoosh or a Jordan logo — the brands that have long controlled the basketball sneaker market. Instead, he’ll be wearing Converse.