Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Signs 'Lucrative' Converse Signature Shoe Contract
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVApril 18, 2024
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard and NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a new contract with Converse that includes the introduction of his first signature shoe.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Gilgeous-Alexander's multi-year contract extension is a "lucrative" one, and he has been given the title of creative director of Converse basketball.
Converse CEO Jared Carver confirmed in a statement that Converse will roll out a Gilgeous-Alexander signature line, and Charania noted that his first signature shoe will be released in 2025:
The 25-year-old SGA has been named an All-Star in each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Thunder secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this season with a 57-25 record.
Gilgeous-Alexander first signed an endorsement deal with Converse after the 2019-20 season, and he has blossomed into one of the NBA's best players ever since.
After showing marked improvements during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Gilgeous-Alexander exploded in 2022-23, averaging a career-high 31.4 points per game to go along with 5.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished fifth in the NBA MVP voting last season, and he has a legitimate chance to win the award this season after averaging 30.1 points and a career-high 6.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest.
SGA was also one of the most efficient players in the NBA this season, shooting a career-best 53.5 percent from the field.
With Gilgeous-Alexander headlining a young, talented roster that also includes Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey, the Thunder are potentially in line to be championship contenders for the next decade.
OKC is perhaps well ahead of the timeline most expected after it moved on from veterans like Paul George, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul a few years ago.
The Thunder missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, however, they were the best team in the West during the 2023-24 regular season and have a legitimate chance to go the distance.
There already figures to be plenty of excitement surrounding Gilgeous-Alexander's signature shoe when it is released, but if he can lead the Thunder to a championship before then, it will become a must-have product for many.
