Timothée Chalamet wore Ugg boots to sit court side at multiple NBA games last season. But he’s not the only basketball lover who wants to wear comfortable shearling shoes league players themselves have been getting cozy lately with Ugg styles on their feet. Per the footwear brand, there have been more than 50 sightings so far during the 2025-26 preseason and regular season, the latter of which kicked off in early October, with All-Stars like Kevin Durant among the players sporting the brand. From signature styles to collaborative creations, professional basketball players are embracing the comfort of shearling for pre-game and post-game looks. Notably, many are fans of Ugg’s popular Tasman style, a low-cut sheepskin-lined slipper with the signature UGGbraid along the collar, an understandable choice for on-the-go athletes who might want a comfortable, slip-on shoe on hand. The Tasman isn’t the only Ugg style showcased lately. Both Oscar Tshiebwe of the Utah Jazz and Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors like the Neumel Weather Hybrid, a lace-up boot with a lug sole. Not to mention Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Atlanta Hawks appreciates the Ugg Classic Short II. Durant, who plays for the Houston Rockets, sported the Ugg Palace Tasman, made in partnership with the skate brand Palace from London. Another player who went for a collaborative look was Javonte Cooke of the Portland Trailblazers, who wore a paint-splattered Tasman created alongside Gallery Dept., a Los Angeles-based clothing brand founded by artist and designer Josué Thomas. Jaylin Williams, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, went with a Tasman variation called Tasman Baxter, which features a suede upper with natural variations, which means each pair is unique. Back in January during the 2024-2025 season of the NBA, Williams sported one of the “Painted Hills” versions of the Tasman made in collaboration with Shoe Palace. Jarace Walker has worn Tasmans on multiple occasions recently, even going for a leather pair. His dedication to the silhouette could even be seen on the day of the 2023 NBA Draft, ahead of his being selected to play for the Indiana Pacers. (This was not the outfit he wore for the actual red carpet.) The athlete-Ugg craze may extend beyond the realm of basketball. Professional English soccer player Ruben Loftus-Cheek was photographed in London this week wearing the Ugg Heritage Utility Mini Boot, a slouchy ankle-height style. Moreover, NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs was one of the celebrities featured in Ugg’s 2025 campaign “Iconic From the First Step.” See him below alongside fellow campaign star Sarah Jessica Parker. As we approach winter, the days are only getting colder. Perhaps this is just the beginning of love story between professional athletes and Ugg.
https://wwd.com/footwear-news/shoe-trends/nba-players-wearing-ugg-shoes-1238354793/